The Metropolitant team scour the internet and speak to folks dedicated to their craft. This new column will showcase fitness enthusiast sharing more about themselves and their favorite exercise. Stay tuned to get inspired and motivated before your next workout!
A personal trainer at Golds Gym, a CLEO Eligible bachelor and a Physique Champion from FM League’s Singapore Fitness Model Search (Nationals).
HEY DARREN, TELL US A LITTLE MORE
I’m a personal trainer at Golds Gym, and I guide people from different background to their fitness goals every day. I love what I do, and there’s nothing else I would trade it for!
I am the eldest son, I have a younger brother Derrick Wee. Both us got into the finals for the CLEO Eligible Bachelors 2016 competition recently and that was another fun experience for me as well!
Also, I love traveling and discovering new places. I travel to a new place each year to enjoy the food, culture and also the hotel gyms!
AT WHAT AGE DID YOU BEGIN BODYBUILDING AND WHAT MOTIVATED YOU TO KEEP IT?
In school before, I was a school rock-climber, so I had to be light and lean for the sport. I never really was into bodybuilding, until after NS where I started to be interested in the fitness journeys of famous body-building gurus like Arnold Schwarzenegger, jay cutler, Jeremy Buendia. I also watch motivational video to keep me driven.
From there, I started to head to the gym more regularly. Since I quit my job, to be a personal trainer, I got to be at the gym the whole day and be more motivated to work out even more with fellow trainers like Shah Cutler, Lex and more.
WHO INSPIRES YOU?
I am really inspired by ordinary people who can achieve great things, through handwork and perseverance. An example is Jeremy Buendia, who is an American IFBB professional physique competitor. He started body building at age 17. Even though he had football injuries and cannot play the sport well anymore, he turned his focus to bodybuilding and has since been a consistent body building champion year after year. His passion for fitness and hard work at the gym, which I usually see from instagram is truly inspiring.
THE POSES AT THE COMPETITION WAS SIMPLE YET VISUALLY AESTHETIC, WHY DID YOU CHOOSE THAT ROUTINE?
Upon winning the recent competition, I have many people commenting some similarities to Jeremy Buendia’s stage poses. It’s funny that some even call me “Darren Buendia” which I find funny and flattering at the same time!
I actually look through various videos of his actual competitions to see which poses will best fit me. I ultimately chose my routine, which was inspired by Buendia’s because it was simple, yet allowed me to show my muscle definition in a flattering way
WE ALL KNOW THE IMPORTANCE OF DIET. COULD YOU DESCRIBE THE NUTRITION PLAN YOU CURRENTLY FOLLOW?
I keep my diet simple and consistent. My main source of food is carbs, protein, and fats. I prefer my body to be lean all year round, for this, my diet consists of medium to high carbs, high protein, and moderate fats.
Diet definitely varies for different individuals. And it also depends on one’s fitness goals.
These are what I usually take on a daily basis
•Carbohydrate: Oatmeal, brown or white rice and sweet potato
•Protein: Eggs white, Lean ground beef, chicken breast, fish and protein powder to reach my protein intake daily
•Fats: Peanut butter, baked almonds, and whole eggs.
•Fiber: Broccoli, French beans, and asparagus
WHAT ARE SOME OF YOUR DIET TIPS?
To get good nutrients, always have a mix of complex carbohydrates, protein, and fats.
Avoid white bread, sugar loaded cereals, fried food and other processed foods that contain refined grains or sugars.
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN YOU ARE NOT AT THE GYM?
When I’m not at the gym, I really love to be at home watching netflix with my girlfriend, out shopping at town or chilling at Holland Village. I take whatever free time I have on my hands to unwind and relax and I keep my Sundays free from clients so I can recharge before the next week.
WHAT ARE YOUR PLANS IN THE UPCOMING MONTHS?
The upcoming months, will be low key for me, and I will be working out normally at the gym since I have no upcoming competitions to prepare for. I’m really excited to turn 30 in December, as my girlfriend has hinted that it’s going to be an amazing day.
DO YOU HAVE ANY ADVISE FOR ASPIRING BODYBUILDERS OUT THERE?
As cliched as it sounds, it’s really important first of all to believe in yourself. No one is your biggest supporter than you yourself. Nobody is going to cheer you on during those challenging training sessions, but your own mind! So, always be your no.1 supporter!
Also, don’t be intimated by seasoned body builders but instead find a way to learn what they are doing right. Everyone, even the best athlete started as nobody- so you too can be a Champion if you train smart and keep chasing your dreams.
A big thank you to Darren for taking his time off for this interview!