Two open heart surgeries might have forced Matthew Larkins (22) to quit wrestling after 15 years, but certainly not his new love – bodybuilding.
After being out of action for a few years he went to watch a bodybuilding show where he met his now personal trainer George Herwill – who placed first at the time – and decided to look good as George did.
Built like a professional bodybuilder and the desire to become the next Arnold Schwarzenegger, it is hard to believe that Matthew only started training on 6 January this year.
The former Hoërskool Monument pupil and current candidate attorney describes himself as a positive, hardworking person and someone who gives 110 per cent when he focuses on something.
His secret is dedication, motivation and sacrifice.
“You need to train hard and follow a very strict diet if you wish to look good. The strict diet is the most difficult part because food is very tempting, but when temptation comes I always ask myself: ‘How bad do you want to win?’
“The way you look I would say is 80 per cent of what you eat and 20 per cent of how you train.”
Asked what the biggest negative is when doing bodybuilding Matthew said, “You won’t have that much of a social life cause you need to give your body some rest.
“The positives are that I’m healthier, get compliments and feel like a million dollars.”
He reckons one hour a day of intense training would be more than enough but one also has to do an extra hour of cardio, such as spinning.
Matthew’s major goal is to win the upcoming World Beauty and Fitness Federation (WBFF) competition at Carnival City in June and to qualify for the WBFF Worlds in Las Vegas in the USA in August.
Personal info:
• Weight: 79kg
• Height: 1,83m
