A Singaporean man recently made headlines after winning fifth place in his first-ever bodybuilding competition in Kuala Lumpur (KL), Malaysia.
But Muhammad Aidil Mohamed Sis, 37, did not originally intend to enter the sport.
He started training in November 2025 as a means to lose weight, intending to become fitter to keep up with his young daughters, seven and 11.
Wanted to keep up with daughters
Aidil told Berita Harian that after reaching 92kg in 2025, he realised he needed to change the way he lived.
He would get tired easily while doing activities with his daughters, he said, which prevented him from spending time with them for long.
The broadcast presenter and freelance fitness trainer had been interested in bodybuilding for a long time, but never had enough confidence and the right supervision to participate in competitions.
After he began training with a trainer in November 2025, he met others who were participating in bodybuilding competitions.
They, as well as Aidil's wife, encouraged him to prepare for a competition in January 2026.
According to him, the hardest part of the training regime was not in the gym, but rather in controlling his diet.
The sweet-toothed man said he had to limit his intake of sweet treats and sometimes opted for sugar-free alternatives.
To avoid burdening his wife, a homemaker, he would also weigh and proportion his own food.
He also had to balance his time between training at the gym, cardio exercises, work and family, which sometimes required sacrificing his free time.
"People may only see the few minutes we spend on stage, but they don't see the sacrifices that take months behind the scenes," he told Berita Harian.
"One thing I always remember is that we can pursue our dreams, but we must not forget the people who are always by our side."
10-month transformation
On Aug. 29, Aidil shared his transformation journey over 10 months on his own Instagram page, writing: "If you really put your mind to something and stay consistent, you CAN do it."
"I can finally say that I’ve achieved one of the best physiques I’ve ever had in my life," he wrote in the caption.
He was also announced as the fifth place winner in the First Timer Men's Physique Competitor category of the PCA Malaysian Championships in KL on Oct. 11.
According to Berita Harian, Aidil was one of only two Singaporeans among 12 contestants in the category.
"For some people, fifth place might not be a big deal," he told the media outlet.
"But for someone who once weighed 92 kilograms and never imagined himself standing on the stage of a bodybuilding competition, that achievement means a lot."
He added that he now plans to participate in another competition, the Dream Aesthetic, in Singapore on Oct. 24, but hopes that his own experience will be able to encourage others to adopt a healthier lifestyle.