Sage advice from George Wong: Just do it — and do it RIGHT.
George Wong Zhen is no stranger to stripping it down for the camera. But more than just your typical eye candy, the chiseled 22-year-old is also a perfectionist. He actually requested an extra month to prepare for this topless photoshoot. Come on, folks, we’ve already seen on his Instagram how good he looks topless.
When he is not busy cultivating his Adonis physique, the NUS Business and Accountancy undergraduate captains the NUS Business faculty badminton team. This is in addition to chairing the 2017 NUS flag day committee and juggling internship commitments.
Despite the intense schedule, George still manages to gym four to five times a week. “My gym sessions are short but intense,” he says. “Each workout has to be compact and efficient!”
The former Manhunt contestant did not always have the physique he has now, saying: “I only started working out halfway through National Service (NS) because I was scrawny.”
“I needed to put on muscle mass to not look like I was drowning in my clothes,” he adds with a smile.
Fortunately, George had a couple of friends who introduced him to the gym. They convinced him that there was no shame in lifting empty barbells, as long as he ensured that his technique was correct. “They were very supportive of me, and encouraged me to pursue form over lifting heavier weights.”
“At the start, I just wanted to get bigger,” he says. “Then, I grew to like the feeling of making progress.” The rest is history.
The biggest obstacle is your own preconceptions about your abilities, says George.
“I want people to know that it is possible to achieve a better physique. Don’t be confined by your fears and limits, what your mind believes your body can achieve. You just have to take the first step!”
Here are a couple of tips that George has for those contemplating venturing into the gym:
Start now, not later
George will be the first person to agree with you that students are always struggling for more time. Unfortunately, it does come down to self-discipline and how much you want to create a positive change for yourself.
“There will never be a time in your life where you will have an abundance of time. You just have to start now.”
“It’s all about the form”
George recommends that beginners start out with compound exercises such as squats, deadlifts and the bench press. “You have to focus on your form,” he cautions. Better to lift lighter weights with the proper technique than to go heavy with poor form. “There are many tutorials on YouTube with helpful information, you just have to make the effort to find and apply them.”
What are friends for?
Without friends, George never would have found his passion for weightlifting. So grab a couple of friends and start working out together!“It is normal to feel unmotivated at times but having a consistent workout group during those periods will keep you going back.”
Yes, you still have to watch your diet
George is not the first, nor will he be the last person to tell you that you are what you eat. As George puts it: “Anyone can pay to enter (the gym) and lift weights. However, it is what you do after that with your diet that helps you achieve your goals.”
But as we all know, that is easier said than done when you live in this food paradise called Singapore.
“I enjoy my food, but I try to keep it healthy. More importantly, I try to keep my diet flexible so I can eat out.”
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