Health fear led to change
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A SHIRTLESS Rafael Nadal takes a New Year’s Day dip. ★
The World No1 tennis player was on Rottnest Island in Australia ahead of the ATP Cup in Perth.
A BODYBUILDER lost a whopping nine stone after ditching his 10,000-calorie-a-day diet.
Brandon Pickup, 22, used to force feed himself steaks and burgers in a bid to bulk up, peaking at 23st.
While that meant he could lift a huge 53st it also saw him pile on pounds of fat.
He said: “When I set out all I knew was I wanted to be as strong as I possibly could and I didn’t care about the effects that had on my body.
“I had a passion to get strong and was inspired by Eddie Hall and the bodybuilders I followed on Instagram.
Gorging
“My mentality was to eat as much as I physically could.”
Brandon piled on the pounds after leaving life as a professional rugby player with Castleford Tigers.
He read about Eddie Hall and how the 2017 World’s Strongest Man scoffed 12,500 calories a day.
Brandon went from eating a regular diet to gorging 10,000 calories a day.
He said: “I used to eat so much that it made me feel sick and I was sleepy all of the time.
“But in terms of strength, I saw huge improvements.
“I went from lifting 220kg (34st) to 340kg (53st) in 18 months. I was pleased
I was able to lift a lot but it didn’t really fulfil me.”
The personal trainer was convinced to change his habits after seeing dad Jason, 48, suffer a stroke and sepsis. Now 18 months on, Brandon of Wakefield, West Yorks, is a buff 14st with huge muscles.
He eats six 400-calorie meals a day, such as eggs and oats for breakfast, beef with vegetables, and chicken, potatoes and greens.
He said: “I now wake up and look at myself in the mirror with a smile.”