Body transformation: how chubby, bullied teen became muscle model, beating depression on the way
- Timothy Skinner suffered from diabetes and high blood pressure as a teenager, and was pushed around and laughed at by his classmates
- Now he’s a fitness model and personal trainer, happy and at peace. Here’s how he did it
A common assumption about people who are in good shape is that it is probably genetic and that they have a been blessed with a metabolism that renders them immune to fluctuating weight.
Not for Timothy Skinner. He had to work hard for his shape.
And forget those stories in health magazines about getting a six-pack in six weeks – that’s not going to happen.
Try six years, a complete change in lifestyle and throw in a healthy dose of motivation, and you might get somewhere in the eight- to 10-pack region of Skinner, whose body-fat count mirrors that of an Olympic athlete.
While his name may not ring bells, you’ve probably seen his body: the 29-year-old Hong Kong fitness model and personal trainer has been snapped several times for adverts and magazine shoots. But when he shows images of his past, as a chubby teen who was bullied, it’s clear the path has been a long one.
“I started my transformation journey in high school, when I received news from my doctor that I had high blood pressure,” he recalls. “I was diabetic and every time I did even a mild form of exercise, I was winded. And this was at age 12.”
Fat led to fatigue and then depression. “During that period of my life, everything was hard and miserable. I’ve been through severe depression. I always got pushed around, people were talking bad about me, they were openly laughing at me for being huge.”
And at that impressionable age, other negative forces acted, too.
“I was bullied so it wasn’t an easy childhood,” he says. “But you know what, I’m grateful that it happened, otherwise I wouldn’t be the person I am today or have this motivation. One day I told myself I wanted a life worth living; since then I’ve been disciplined. And that self-discipline has led to my current state of happiness and peace.”
Skinner prefers to work out outdoors and not in air-conditioned gyms, so we meet in a park in the baking heat of humid Hong Kong. We chat under the shade of a tree.
Many gym folk say working out helps them de-stress and makes them happier thanks to a post-workout natural high. Do you get that?
Definitely. The adrenaline rushing through my veins gives me the drive to go further and prove to myself that I’m more than what I think I’m capable of.
How long did it take to get so toned?
It took several years to get defined and certain skill sets that I have gained through time and experience. But in general, I shredded the weight in six to eight months with absolute dedication and discipline.
You will have bad [diet] days, but start again the day after. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon
There are so many magazines and products that promise quick results – are they fake?
All fake! There’s no short cut to success. You have climb the ladder.
I’ve been reading about the importance of failure. You fail that diet and regime, but get up again.
Oh yes. It’s not easy, day in, day out. Sometimes you only have 10 to 15 minutes a day. It’s better than getting nothing done at all. As for diet, it’s different for everyone so it’s best to find one that you can incorporate with your lifestyle. You will have bad days, but start again the day after. It’s not a sprint, it’s a marathon.
Do you have a cheat day?
I have cheat days every week, you’ve got to otherwise there won’t be a life. When it’s my cheat day I tend to eat anything – burgers, pizzas.
Tell us five things people can do at home without expensive gym memberships
There are lots of movement exercises you can do with just your body weight. When I go to the park or beach, I don’t carry equipment but can still do push-ups, core exercises such as planking, locomotion exercises such as high knees, squats and pull-ups.
Tell us about easy food habits to adopt – without getting a nutritional dietitian
First, focus on your veggies, eat more plant-based protein, eat more fish for your Omega 3, use herbs or spices to flavour your meals. For snacks, go nuts: walnuts, almonds, trail mix. Limit your sugar intake. None of this is news but it’s surprising how quickly one forgets.
You also had a day job in the food industry. How did you resist temptation?
I get that question a lot, but it’s simply self-discipline and consistency. I eat according to what my body needs to support my mental and physical wellness.
Where do you work out?
I like to work out outdoors, in parks, on the streets and rooftops – safety first, of course. I train anywhere, since I master in body weight movements, yoga and total body awareness.
You are also a personal trainer?
I do one-on-one personal training with my clients in their gyms or club houses. I also do outdoor group training sessions every week. I coach every Tuesday at Warrior Academy [in Sai Ying Pun] and I’m a specialist in callisthenics movements.
When you reflect on your fitness journey, what stands out?
Training is what I do full time, but on the side I’ve modelled and I’ve been in action films. It’s all been fun.
I used to be so shy about taking my shirt off because of my belly. Fast-forward a few years and I have a massive billboard of my abs on show in Central. You could not see my face but anyone who knows me would recognise my tattoos – they knew my body was hanging above Lan Kwai Fong.
