He went from being an overweight gamer to an endurance athlete
Behzinga – real name Ethan Payne – is best known for his work as one of the Sidemen, a group of YouTube creators with over 10 million subscribers.
His new YouTube Originals series ‘How To Be Behzinga’ charts his rise from overweight gamer to endurance athlete. This journey culminated in Payne running the London Marathon recently.
Payne sat down with JOE to discuss his weight loss journey, how much it changed his life – and the training and diet plan that helped him shed over 79 pounds in weight.
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When the Sidemen began to publish content, Payne was on the receiving end of social media trolling poking fun at his weight.
“With the number of subscribers and comments we had on our videos, they’d go up astronomically each day,” Payne says.
“But with that, you’d still focus on the handful of negative comments that stuck out.”
The Essex native says seeing his fellow Sidemen move outside their comfort zone spurred him on to lose weight.
“Seeing KSI step in the boxing ring against Joe Weller and seeing the transformation he made – not just physically but mentally – that was inspiring.
“I just thought, ‘Let me find a purpose like that. Let me bounce out of bed in the morning’. I wanted to feel good about myself.”
Payne says he woke up the following morning, and from that point onwards did not have a cheat meal for six months. He also drank nothing but water for the same period.
He added that whenever he encountered doubts, he’d simply remind himself of why he was in the gym, or eating a particularly healthy meal.
Ethan ‘Behzinga’ Payne got the chance to train with 2017 World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall. (Photo: YouTube Originals)Behzinga’s daily diet
- Breakfast: Granola or porridge
- Chicken, rice and mixed vegetables
- Beef and mixed vegetable stir fry
- Snacks: Protein shakes and bars from Bulk Powders
- Supplements: Pre-workout, fish oils, multi-vitamins
Payne says adopting this new diet wasn’t easy.
“I’ve got a real issue with Pringles, I love Pringles. If the tube opens, it’s finished!”
In order to cope with junk food cravings, the 25-year-old says he would keep himself distracted.
“Whether it’s video games, admin or sending emails, I always try to keep busy. But you also need to ensure your meals are satisfying you.”
Eating meals high in protein and fibre and rich in green vegetables will ensure your body is keeping you satiated and digesting what you eat gradually.
Although Payne set himself the target of completing the London Marathon, it wasn’t just cardio that fuelled his 36 kilo weight loss transformation.
“I’ll get my cardio done in the mornings, that’s the first thing I get done.
“In the afternoon then I’ll lift weights – and I’ll follow a push-pull-legs programme.”
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Behzinga’s workout routine
- Monday: Push (chest, shoulders and triceps)
- Tuesday: Pull (back and biceps)
- Wednesday: Legs
- Thursday: REST
- Friday: Push
- Saturday: Pull
- Sunday: Legs
With this routine, you take a rest away from the gym each fourth day.
“I love doing deadlifts,” Payne says.
“It’s the one exercise I love doing the most, and seeing how much progress I’m making. My one rep max at the moment is 180 kilograms.”
In episode one of How To Be Behzinga, Payne got the chance to train with Eddie Hall, the 2017 World’s Strongest Man.
If you know someone who deserves to have their transformation or fitness journey featured on JOE, get in touch. Email Alex.Roberts@JOE.co.uk.
