This is how it all started
n 2013, I made the difficult decision to leave my beloved Sicily, driven by a desire for new challenges and opportunities. I wasn't content with my life in Italy, where it felt like there were limited prospects for someone like me. I wanted more—I wanted to grow, to evolve, and to become the person I always aspired to be. This longing for change compelled me to take a leap, despite not knowing a word of English.
After my cycling career ended at 17, I pursued my education while working various jobs—baker, crane driver, carpenter, accountant, and even a call center manager selling electricity contracts. Despite my success, especially in sales, I found myself working up to 17-hour days for three years straight. The long hours were exhausting and soul-crushing, and I still wasn’t making enough to justify the effort. I felt underpaid, overworked, and knew I needed a change.
My goal was clear: I wanted to become completely independent and succeed on my own terms. I dreamed of being an international salesman, someone who could travel the world. So, I left for the UK, stepping into the unknown.
Moving to London was a huge leap for me. Coming from Paternò, a small town with just 60,000 residents, the city's overwhelming scale was a shock. The fast pace of life, the rush-hour crowds, the high-speed trains and buses—it all felt surreal. And then there was the language barrier. I couldn’t speak English, and my inability to express myself left me feeling isolated. I missed my family and friends. I felt lost in this massive, multicultural city, without a job, money, or a place to call my own.
Those first months were the hardest of my life. The lack of familiar comforts, including a bicycle to ride or a football to play, left me feeling empty. I felt like the poorest, loneliest person on earth. I barely had enough to eat, surviving on scraps and whatever I could find. Stress and anxiety took a toll on my body, and I lost 12kg, becoming painfully thin.
Despite everything, I was determined not to return to Sicily. I refused to let anger, frustration, depression, or loneliness defeat me. I pushed those feelings aside, focusing instead on surviving and making my family and myself proud.
After three relentless months of job searching, I finally landed a job I didn’t particularly like, but it paid the bills. I decided to make the most of it, putting in 100% effort to avoid getting sacked. My perseverance paid off. After six months, I was promoted to store manager, opening a new location in central London. For the first time, I felt a glimmer of hope and pride in my achievements. I had a job, a new flat, and a sense of independence—I felt free!
It was then that I began to reassess my life. I looked in the mirror and realized my body was changing in ways I didn’t like. Without football or cycling, I felt adrift, so I decided to join a gym. Weighing only 64kg, I was determined to regain control over my body and my life.
I vividly remember my first day at the gym, surrounded by massive, muscular guys. I felt intimidated, thinking I looked like a "skinny piece of shit." But their dedication inspired me. I immersed myself in dieting, proper exercise, and the world of supplements. I focused on compound exercises—bench presses, squats, deadlifts, and pull-ups. The gym became my sanctuary.
After a few months, I started seeing results. I was gaining muscle and confidence. My English was improving, and I was making new friends. By 2015, I had put on 26kg, reaching my heaviest at 90kg. I was focused and driven, more interested in my workout than socializing during gym time.
One day, I noticed a guy named Victor Genov performing some impressive exercises. Intrigued, I asked him about his training methods. We struck up a conversation, and I soon learned that he was a personal trainer. A challenge from Victor to perform a dip exercise without weights opened my eyes to a new training approach. It was much harder than I expected, and I was hooked.
Over time, Victor and I became good friends and training partners. He introduced me to a style of training that didn’t rely on heavy weights but still built strength and aesthetics. I loved it. Inspired by this new passion, I decided to transition from being a businessman and manager to becoming a personal trainer.
By 2018, I was fully committed to my new path. My journey from Sicily to London had been filled with challenges, but each obstacle only fueled my determination. I had transformed my life, my career, and my body.
And this is how it all began...
Stay tuned for more on my training journey, self-development, and overcoming injuries in future posts.
