A FATHER who gained weight when his son was born gave up his ‘dad body’ by exercising with his newborn, and has now won a medal in a national bodybuilding competition.
Sion Monty, 35, piled on four stone in just six months after the birth of his son Tedi, as he faced becoming a father while also running three businesses.
Then, almost in 16th place, she committed to losing weight and got her son involved in her exercise regimen by doing daily runs, hill sprints and long walks with Tedi in her stroller.
But thanks to a diet overhaul and exercising six days a week, he lost nearly nine pounds, supported by his son, now five, and his proud partner Kara Williams, 31.
He went one step further and took up bodybuilding, gaining muscle and working on his six pack.
And in November 2022 he earned a silver medal at the UK National Association of Amateur Bodybuilders Open.
He said the secret was mindfulness and manifestation: he reads a lot of books on having a positive “growth mindset,” self-confidence, and speaking things into being.
Sion is now helping to change the lives of other dads who find themselves stuck in a rut with their body image by offering personalized advice and sharing their tips on social media.
Sion works out five times a week and watches her calorie intake, but insists that the key to physical transformation is inner peace after battling anxiety.
Sion, a gym owner, from Porthmadog, Wales, said: “I gained weight in the first six months after my son was born.
“Tedi, my partner, Kara and I took a photo in a photo booth and I saw myself for the first time since Tedi was born.
“I was embarrassed and shocked that he owned a gym and had let me go.
“He gave me a kick in the butt to get back in shape.
“Now I am very happy and I am a much more active father to Tedi.
“I just want to inspire him and show him that anything is possible.”
Sion, who weighed in at 16, shredded the pounds and transformed his physique. He now tips the scales at 12th and has a chiseled physique.
He maintained his fitness and has since bought a new gym, Musclemorph Gym, Gwynedd, Wales, which he says, “come out”.
Zion said, “I read a lot of mindfulness books and do affirmations in the morning.
“I say what I want to accomplish for the day and set clear goals.
“I used to walk by this building every day and tell my partner that this would be an amazing building for a gym and I thought it would be my gym.
“I envisioned it as my gym every day, and crazy crazy, I got a call to say the building was available.”
According to the fitness fanatic, another tenant insured the building, but continued to believe he would get the premises and miraculously obtained the keys in December 2019.
Unfortunately, one month after opening in February 2020, Sion had to close the gym in March 2020 due to closure.
He said: “It was really hard, but I used that time to help others.
“I put on some weight so I documented my ‘fat loss’ phase on Instagram for others to see and started exercising at home.
“I help so many dads and men from all over the world come to me for help.
“They just want to be healthy for their children.”
Little Tedi is now following in his father’s footsteps and loves going to the gym every Sunday for a mini workout.
Sion makes sure her weekends are spent with her family and fits in their workouts at 4:30am Monday through Friday before they wake up.
“Family time is non-negotiable and I put Kara and Tedi first,” she said.
“Like normally, I just make sure to watch my calories, so I don’t get cravings, it’s more sustainable.”
When Sion was losing weight for her fitness competition earlier in the month, to weigh in at 12 pounds and 13 pounds, she limited her diet to 1,800 calories a day.
But now you’re ‘bulking’, gaining muscle, so you’ll be eating 2500 calories a day.
Despite being fitter than ever, you must feel better than ever to your mind.
He said: “I have suffered from anxiety for many years, but I feel better than ever, not because of the exercise regiment, but because of my mind and my practices.
“We should work on both the mind and the body.”
Diet before:
Breakfast: four rounds of peanut butter on toast.
Lunch – Deli takeaway – baguette, cakes, pies and chips
Dinner – Chinese takeout, chip shop or Indian food. If the food was home cooked, it had a side of French fries and garlic bread. Magnum ice cream pudding.
Diet now:
5 a.m.: training
7am: White Chocolate, Banana, and Peanut Butter Protein Shake
9am: Chocolate protein oatmeal with some fruit (usually berries)
12:00: Chicken Katsu curry and rice, with vegetables
Mid Afternoon: Protein Bar
5:30 p.m.: Chicken sausage, baked potato and cheese, baby broccoli
8:00 PM: White Chocolate Peanut Butter Protein Shake
