Joe Lootfun, of Roll Gardens, trained for the British Natural Bodybuilding Federation (BNBF) event around working at Newham General Hospital, playing football and running.
He first got “into the gym” after caring for famous bodybuilder Bill Stevens who got shot during a robbery.
The hospital managed to save his leg and as a thank you he gave Mr Lootfun a gym membership and training gear.
“When I was younger I saw a film called Hercules and I was fascinated by his physical body,” said Mr Lootfun
“I always did a lot of sport but didn’t really go to the gym until Bill took me one day – I saw lots of American actors there.”
Today Mr Lootfun trains at Apple’s Health Club, Eastern Avenue, Newbury Park and said he only decided to enter a competition after another gym goer persuaded him to give it a go.
“Training for the completion was very hard, and I had to watch my diet,” he said.
“I didn’t eat biscuits, had hot water every morning and ate lots of salad – I dropped from 87kg to 74 kg.”
The bodybuilder, who has never smoked and doesn’t drink, came fourth at his debut BNBF competition and said he will definitely be taking part next year.
“I have motivated my wife and daughter,” he said.
“They didn’t eat fruit but now they go to the gym.
Mr Lootfun’s daughter, Hannah, said her dad is an “inspiration” and she hopes she is as fit as him when she is 67.
“My dad was always nagging me about eating fruit and vegetable and going to the gym but I never used to listened to him,” she said.
“Since he started training for the body building competition I saw him change from being overweight and stressed to being fit healthy and glowing.
“I am so proud of my dad, he is an inspiration to me.”
