Ryan Terry has had a long road to success.

Two-time Arnold Classic winner Ryan Terry is no stranger to hard work. As an up-and-coming bodybuilder, he worked 12 hour shifts as a full-time plumber and gas engineer. Recently Terry spoke to TV3 about his remarkable rise.

“I used to get up at four or five o’clock in the morning to fit in my cardio sessions and prep all of my meals for the day. I’d start work at 7am and train in the evening when I finished at eight o’clock at night, which was a regimented routine for me, for years.

“I’d sneak to my van on dinner breaks to eat my prepped meals and I even hid my protein shakes under the floorboards while fitting gas pipes, so my boss didn’t see me taking them.

“A lot of people say, ‘I wish I had your life’, or, ‘You’ve had it easy’, but when I first started out, it was extremely hard.”

Terry was an exceptional athlete in his teen years, but an Achilles tendon injury forced him to take some time off. During this time, he gained significant weight and after recover, turned to the gym to shed it.

“I was always quite self-conscious, but I really enjoyed training and I wanted to keep improving my confidence and sculpting my body. It was only later down the line that I thought I was going to have go at dieting like a bodybuilder, just once. I won my first show and that was it – I’ve never looked back.”

Terry describes the experience of being onstage competing as “an unbelievable feeling,” but says it comes at a steep steep price.

“For the first five years of going professional, I had no time for a social life because I was so committed to the cause and a bit too obsessed. My work came first.

“Now I’ve managed to find a balance, and I’m not completely regimented anymore – I’ve become more relaxed in the fact that I can eat normal food every now and again.”

As far as advice – he keeps it short and sweet.

“It’s all about putting a plan together which is in line with your goals.”

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