For over a decade, Eugene Teo's life was measured in reps, calories, and skinfold thickness. The fitness coach, who began lifting weights at 13, dedicated his youth to the punishing pursuit of bodybuilding perfection, only to discover that his extreme physique came at a profound cost to his health and happiness.
The High Cost of an 'Exceptional' Body
From ages 16 to 24, Teo's existence revolved around the gym. He trained for up to four hours a day, driven by deep-seated insecurities and a negative body image. His diet was rigidly controlled, consisting of 'clean' foods like sweet potato, brown rice, broccoli, and boiled chicken breast, eaten six to ten times daily. The obsession was all-consuming: he skipped birthdays and took scales to Christmas dinner to weigh his turkey, alienating friends and family in the process.
Even at his most muscular peak, Teo saw only flaws. "I couldn't even wear clothes without thinking, 'How do my shoulders feel in this? How do my arms feel?'" he recalls. The physical toll, however, was becoming undeniable. Despite being able to lift heavy weights, he was out of breath from simple tasks. Walking across the gym caused lower back pain, and tying his shoes required bracing himself.
A Radical Shift in Focus
The turning point came gradually. Teo began to question whether his extreme mindset was truly making him happy. He realised his pursuit had become an obsessive trait that brought no joy. This introspection prompted a complete overhaul of his approach to fitness and life.
He dramatically changed his training regimen, shifting focus from sheer muscle size to mobility, power, and cardiovascular endurance. Running, stretching, jumping, and cycling were incorporated into his routine. He also adopted a more relaxed attitude towards food, no longer skipping life's simple pleasures like sharing an ice cream with his daughter.
Night and Day: A Body Built for Function
A decade on, the transformation is profound. Now 34 and living on Australia's Gold Coast, Teo has lost approximately 15 kilograms of muscle. "My body is definitely smaller," he admits. "But performance-wise, feeling-wise – it’s night and day better."
Where his former body was built to turn heads, his current one is built for function and family life. He can jump twice as high as before and completes a 5km run in just 22 minutes – a stark contrast to the 40-minute struggle of his first attempt during his bodybuilding days. Most importantly, he is more athletic and present for his young daughter.
Today, Eugene Teo channels his experience into his work as a YouTube fitness coach and the founder of the Ganbaru Method app, advocating for a balanced, sustainable approach to health that values feeling strong and capable over merely looking a certain way.
