Man transforms physique then quits job to help others

After building the body he wanted, Harry Lee quit his job in London and moved back to Leeds to build a fitness business

Lee originally began training at 17, but struggled to see any significant results at first. Frustrated, he undertook extensive research on training and nutrition - a decision which eventually proved fruitful.  With the results to boot, Lee realised his true passion was in helping others achieve their goals. He decided to leave his job in London and head home to Leeds. There, Lee put the wheels in motion for his own company, The Fit Body Life. Lee enjoyed sport at school, and then joined the gym at 17.  

He says: "I wanted to improve my physique as I’d always been slim, so my goal was to become bigger, stronger and more confident."

Despite training consistently five or six times per week, Lee failed to see the results he wanted.

"I loved working out and pushing myself but I became frustrated with the lack of results, even though I was constantly training and ‘dieting’".

Lee began doing research into training and nutrition so he could understand the best plan for progress.

"I reduced training from 5-6x per week to 3-4x per week, as this was more sustainable and realistic. I switched from eating 5-6 small meals per day to 2-3 larger meals because this was more convenient and enjoyable. The results of this were amazing and surprising!"

Adopting a more flexible approach to dieting paid dividends for the former finance worker. By moving away from 'clean eating' and focusing on eating a balance of proteins, fats and carbs daily, this meant no foods were off limits.

Lee says: "This was life changing as I was no longer “dieting” so I could enjoy delicious meals out with friends. I was eating all my favourite foods whilst making the best physique progress of my life."

This minimalist, less-is-more style of training initially made Lee apprehensive, but it worked wonders. 

"I thought I would see less progress, but my strength levels went through the roof! I built more muscle and got into amazing shape by training less often, plus it was a much easier routine to stick to."

He also began intermittent fasting, where he delayed his first meal of the day by four to six hours after waking up.

With the combination of diet and training paying off, Lee's progress was picked up on by his colleagues. He soon began assisting them with their health and fitness.  

Naturally, Harry’s approach to training and dieting gathered interest from his colleagues and he began helping them with their fitness goals.

"I really enjoyed this process – I felt a great sense of fulfilment seeing their transformations! This, for me, was when I realised my passion was in helping others to achieve their fitness goals, supporting them on their journey and sharing my knowledge with them."

Harry decided to leave London and move back home to Leeds. This move allowed Lee to follow his passion and build his career in the fitness industry.

"This is when 'The Fit Body Life' was born. I truly believe training and nutrition should FIT IN with your lifestyle, not get in the way of it or dictate your choices.

"This system is perfect for busy people that want to get in shape whilst enjoying life at the same time."

Now 30, Lee wants to help regular, everyday people transform their bodies, mindset and lifestyle so they can become fitter, stronger and healthier.

Lee currently trains at his local Xercise4Less in Leeds, where he’s looking to take on new clients for one-on-one training. He works part-time as an accountant, but wants to build The Fit Body Life business.

"A large proportion of my clients are from the UK, but social media has allowed me work with people in the USA, Taiwan, Philippines, Vietnam and Hong Kong.

"Hopefully, this is just the beginning for The Fit Body Life!"

If you - or someone you know - has made an impressive transformation with a story to tell, you could be featured on JOE's Transformation Tuesday! Just send your nominations to Alex.Roberts@JOE.co.uk Read more from JOE's Ditch The Dad Bod series