Eugene Teo, a fitness coach now based on Australia's Gold Coast, has undergone a profound physical and mental transformation over the past decade. His journey from a competitive bodybuilder obsessed with size to a proponent of holistic, mindful movement offers a powerful lesson in redefining health and happiness.
The Pursuit of Perfection: A Life Consumed by Bodybuilding
Teo's relationship with weights began at the young age of 13, driven by a desire for validation. "I was short, skinny and I thought it would give me confidence," he recalls, seeing bodybuilding as the ultimate expression of that goal. From 16 to 24, he dedicated his life to training and competition, sometimes spending up to four hours daily in the gym.
His pursuit of an extreme physique became all-consuming. He chased a level of leanness where the skin on his abdomen and glutes would be as thin as an eyelid. To achieve this for competitions, he followed dangerous protocols, including severe dehydration. His diet was rigidly restricted to so-called "clean" foods like sweet potato, brown rice, broccoli, and boiled chicken breast, eaten across six to ten meals a day.
This extreme mindset bled into his personal life. He skipped birthday celebrations for years and even brought scales to Christmas dinner to weigh his turkey, avoiding any deviation from his plan. "There were a lot of dysmorphic associations around food," Teo admits. The drive, he now understands, stemmed from negative body image and confidence issues, which led him to alienate friends and partners.
The Breaking Point: A Body Screaming for Change
Despite his impressive muscular appearance, Teo's body was struggling. "I could lift a lot of weight. I looked exceptional," he says, "But I was out of breath from simple tasks." Walking across the gym caused lower back pain, and even tying his shoes required effort. The sheer size of his musculature was not supporting his overall physical systems.
This physical strain coincided with a growing mental realisation. He began to question whether his obsessive traits were bringing him any joy. The project of his body, which had consumed his entire life, offered little flexibility and no fun. He viewed his own physique as a critical enemy, fixating on perceived flaws even at his most muscular.
A New Chapter: Function Over Form
A decade ago, Teo initiated a fundamental shift. He changed his training focus from pure muscle size to mobility, power, and cardiovascular endurance. Running, stretching, jumping, and cycling entered his routine. He also adopted a more relaxed approach to nutrition and exercise, no longer working out every day and allowing himself treats like ice cream with his daughter.
The physical changes are significant. He has lost approximately 15 kilograms of muscle, and his body is noticeably smaller. However, the gains in quality of life are immense. "Performance-wise, feeling-wise – it’s night and day better," Teo states. He can now jump twice as high as before and run 5km in just 22 minutes—a stark contrast to his bodybuilding days when he couldn't complete a 5km run, eventually managing one in 40 minutes.
Today, at 34, his priorities are his relationships, his work as a YouTube fitness coach, and his role as founder of the Ganbaru Method app. "Ten years ago, my body was capable of turning heads on the street," he reflects. "That was fun – but it was the only thing it was capable of." Now, his body is built for function, allowing him to be more athletic and present for his family, marking the true success of his transformation.
