Eddie Leahy, 29, competed in the British Bodybuilding Championships in Nottingham last weekend after coming in third place in the Scottish Championships in Paisley in May.

The 29 year-old beat hundreds of entries in his category to take third place and a place in the national competition.

Eddie (pictured) said: “I actually felt less pressure at the British Championships than the Scottish competition. I was determined to reach the top three in Scotland, but with the bigger competition I was just so delighted to get there, I could relax a bit. Its a subjective sport, so you can’t take it too personally.” Originally from Cardross Road, Eddie has since moved to Glasgow’s East End, but still trains in Marine Craft Gym, Dumbarton.

Eddie trains up to 15 hours a week before and after working as a PE teacher at Clydebank High School.

And he told the Reporter that although he was always into fitness, he felt he needed a target – so why not aim high. He said: “I had been going to the gym for about five years but needed something to aim for. I signed up for the show as a goal to achieve and I’ve really enjoyed it.

“I go to the gym in the morning and do an hour of cardio and then an hour of weight lifting after work. It’s a lot of commitment, no alcohol, no socialising, no fun. You miss a lot of nights out.” And it’s not just the nights out that Eddie goes without to get into shape. He added: “I calorie count everything in the 12 weeks running up to the show. Every weight loss is 70 per cent diet and 30 per cent exercise so I have to be really critical with my food. Everything is weighed and counted. A lot of protein and cutting out carbs.” Qualifying as a personal trainer this year, Eddie has started his own business trying to help others get healthy and motivated.

He said: “My business has been going quite well off the back of the shows. It’s been a steady flow of men and women interested in getting fit and losing some weight.” And although he tries to keep his hobby away from his teaching career, pupils have noticed Mr Leahy’s ever-expanding arms.

He revealed: “Some of the pupils make jokes, ‘We heard your a bodybuilder, let me see your muscles!’ that kind of thing. I was teaching in a primary school and a primary three said ‘Mr Leahy, I think you should go to the nurse, I can see all your veins.’” Now competition time is over Eddie is keen to wind down, but says now he’s so fit, drinking is a bigger battle: “I’m not a big drinker any more, the alcohol doesn’t agree with me and the hangovers are worse than ever.

“Its good being able to relax my diet a bit now, you get fed up eating chicken and broccoli every day and I can have a few beers with dinner.

“My next challenge is to get all the fake tan off!”