A BODYBUILDER who overcame a decade-long battle with obesity and labelled himself a “freak” has transformed into a champion.
Leonardo Machado from Brazil, now in his early 30s, was told he was “too fat for sex” and revealed he was so ashamed of his physique that he didn’t lose his virginity until 29.
Leonardo lost more than 110 kilogrammes in a transformation that saw him go from a 200-kilos man into a 90-kilo hunk.
The resident of Sao Vicente, on the coast of Sao Paulo, said that he had been battling obesity and depression since early childhood.
Last weekend, the athlete participated in the Favela Classic event, held by Sao Paulo Bodybuilding and Fitness.
Leonardo won the “overall [general] overcoming” category, in which the winners from all sectors face off.
He said: “Although I’m still recovering, I was persistent and managed to compete in the end.
“That doesn’t make it any easier, but facing and overcoming each obstacle made the journey extremely rewarding.
“And as a bonus, I even got to win the trophy at the end.”
According to the bodybuilder, the herniated disc was putting pressure on his sciatic nerve.
This is the largest nerve in the human body and responsible for controlling the muscles and sensitivity of the lower limbs.
When there is a strong pressure on the disc, it can weaken and rupture.
It meant that Leonardo was struggling to walk for an agonising 30 day period.
He added: “During this period [of almost 30 days], I could barely walk, much less train or maintain the pace of an athlete.”
The muscle man is also an influencer with 124,000 followers on Instagram alone, and is known by the name “Leo the Machine”.
On the internet, his goal is to help people who are going through similar situations and bring them closer to a healthy life.
But the challenge wasn’t always easy for him.
Earlier this year (2024), he explained that he only lost his virginity when he was 29 after overcoming his obesity.
Leonardo previously said: “I was afraid to even talk to women, I thought I was a freak.”
The bodybuilder continues with mobility treatment aimed at recovery, but he said that the worst phase of the pain is over.
He joked that he had become a “champion of champions”.
