Young bodybuilder Yusuf Khan to write book detailing journey to a ‘good physique’

– eyes own gym, clothing & supplement brands

Former Novice 2021 champion and Intermediate 2021 champion, 28-year-old Yusuf Khan is in full preparatory mode for the Central American and Caribbean (CAC) and Mr Guyana Bodybuilding Championships slated for later this year.
Khan, who also placed in the top three in the senior bodybuilding competition in 2023, is not only optimistic that he will be in top form for the respective competitions, but that he will do well. The Mon Repos, East Coast Demerara (ECD) resident, who works as a day trader and personal trainer, has been lifting weights for the past seven years.

He took up the sport after the passing of his mother who died from asthma topped with complications. “After her passing, I was inspired to train hard, so that I can live a healthy lifestyle and everything about my bodybuilding career evolved from there,” the former Institute of Business Education (IBE) student told

Guyana Times Sport
Currently weighing 180lbs, his goal is to reach 200lbs by competition time. For him, he does not have a role model, but was inspired by Hollywood actor Dwayne Johnson’s ethics. “In my early days, I didn’t have any role model, I just wanted to have a good physique and to this day, that’s the mindset I continue emulate,” Khan told this publication.
He is the only one in the family who has taken this path all because he wanted to “beat heredity”, but this is no easy task. It takes commitment, a good diet, and rigid training routines.
“Currently, I’ll have six eggs in the morning and three other meals before gym with 50 per cent protein and 50 per cent carbohydrates. After my workout, I would have another meal similar to my previous three meals and a protein shake. In addition, I spend 2-3 hours in the gym.”
When he started bodybuilding, he saw it as a way to impress people because of his good physique, but he soon realised that having a lean body is also inspiring to the average person given the fact that it is not something easily achieved, but requires discipline and consistency.
His first competition was in 2018, but to date, he has participated in six bodybuilding competitions with the last been the CAC Championships in 2024.
However, being a bodybuilder can also come with challenges. For him, some of those challenges include eating the required amount of food on time, wanting to work out when he knows he should be resting and not getting enough sleep.
“Around competition time, I am a little strict with my training and meals. I utilise the weekends to prepare all my foods for the week. Pack my bag the night before if I am on the go and try to prioritise training with a fixed routine and plan that I stick to. Most training is done with 80 per cent of my max weight and trying to do higher repetitions and I also try to eat a large portion of protein, so that I can achieve that shredded look and be stage ready,” he explained.
Sticking to his diet and staying away from sugar are a few of his biggest problems while preparing for competition. “That was something that I couldn’t control, but I knew if I made up my mind and I made a commitment, I handle it… as the years go by, it became much easier.”
Even though he has a lot to celebrate, the one achievement that would remain close to his heart is winning the novice competition in 2021.
“Placing first at Novice in 2021 was definitely a success for me. It lit a fire inside of me and open my eyes to see myself competing on international stages. It is my dream to become a pro athlete at the CAC competition. Along with that, I would like to have my own gym along with a clothing and supplement company branded by Yusofit,” the ambitious young man stated.
On this note, when asked about the use of supplements and PEDs (Performance Enhancing Drugs) in bodybuilding, he responded. “I have nothing against the use of these drugs. I think everyone should have a free will to do as they please. I personally don’t use any PEDs because of the health risks involved with it, so for now I’m just pushing myself to my genetic limits.”
Working during the day and also performing duties as a personal trainer at the 2.0 Gym, compounded with training, can be somewhat hectic and overwhelming, but with good time management, Khan makes it work.
“It can be a bit draining sometimes to get my workout sessions in after a long day especially on days when I skip some meals. Those are the days I rely heavily on my pre-workout to help me push through my sessions,” he noted.
Asked about the use of alcohol, he admitted that he would use two to three glasses occasionally while also acknowledging that it can have negative effects on the muscles that can result in hinderance in growth. “More importantly, using alcohol can throw you off track of training routines for an entire day or two depending on the amount you consume.”
Meanwhile, his advice to those who want to start a career in bodybuilding is to “seek proper knowledge and stick close to people who already walked the path, so that you can save yourself years of trial and errors.”
In fact, he is in the process of writing a book titled, “How I Built my Physique”, and it will be become available through his social media platforms @yusofit. During his leisure time, he plays chess and tennis. He, however, said with a grin, “Dining out every once in a while is good for the body.” And, this young bodybuilder from Mon Repos is already taken.