Party animal student drops 20 kilos to become bodybuilder

A 23-year-old Yorkshireman who friends termed a 'potato' dropped 20 kilos to become a bodybuilder

While an undergraduate student, Dominic O'Connor used to drink heavily and binge on takeaways. He became self-conscious about his weight; a situation worsened when friends referred to him as a 'potato'. After embarking on a study year abroad, O'Connor's fortunes began to change as he trained five or six times a week. Now a PhD student and fitness instructor, O'Connor has also taken to the stage as a competitive bodybuilder. Originally, it was life as a student that first led to weight gain. The Leeds man ate a lot of takeaways and processed food, admitting he never made a conscious effort to monitor his eating. He weighed around 110 kilograms, but rarely weighed himself. 

"I was obviously very self-conscious about my weight and I would wear baggy clothes whenever I left the house", O'Connor says. 

Even his friends and some family members used to point out his weight issues.

"My brothers pointed it out and it was pretty brutal. Some friends actually nicknamed me 'Potato', as that's the shape I was."

What proved pivotal in Dominic's transformation was the chance to study abroad. He decided a change was needed after settling in Hong Kong.

"I felt like I stood out as a big guy on the beach and I didn't like it.

"Once I was Kong Kong, in a different environment, it became easy to stop drinking and partying so much, and I started to learn how to lead a healthy lifestyle."

O'Connor dropped a staggering 20kg in just a year and after returning from his year abroad in Hong Kong, decided to join his local Xercise4Less in Leeds. Soon after he found a weight training programme that suited him, and began training around five or six times a week.

"I've always been very self-driven. I believe if you’re motivating yourself then you’re destined to succeed.

"All the work I put into the gym and the food I eat every day is for my own benefit, so I feel healthier, look better and so I’m just generally happier."

Dominic’s new-found passion led him to become a fitness instructor and not long after he began competing on the bodybuilding stage.

"I sat my Level 2 Fitness Instructor exams with Xercise4Less and that taught me a lot about the fundamentals of training and nutrition.

"I love bodybuilding because you're held accountable every second of the day. Nobody else is going to push the weights for you, and nobody else is going to make sure your nutrition is on point."

When stage-ready, he weighed a shredded 82kg, almost 30kg lighter than he was at his heaviest.

Dominic's daily diet

• Breakfast: Oats and eggs
• Lunch: Chicken, rice and vegetables
• Dinner: Fish, sweet potato and vegetables
• Snacks: (if any) protein shakes and fruit

Now undertaking a PhD in Psychology, O'Connor has his sights set on new goals. He has pledged to compete in further bodybuilding competitions and has also set himself the target of winning his next bout.

"My short-term goal is to win the overall physique title at the MASS Student Physique Championship 2019. I also want to compete at BodyPower again in front of hundreds of spectators and my long-term goal is to qualify for an IFBB Pro Card."

If you - or someone you know - has made an impressive transformation with a story to tell, you could be featured on JOE's Transformation Tuesday! Just send your nominations to Alex.Roberts@JOE.co.uk