Khanh Ong’s fitness journey: Why celeb chef never banned booze

Celebrity chef Khanh Ong has transformed his body — but giving up alcohol was never part of the plan.

Celebrity chef Khanh Ong may have transformed his body, but giving up booze was never part of the plan.

In March, the former MasterChef and I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here! contestant revealed his shock fitness transformation that landed him on the cover of Men’s Health magazine, and he admits he never gave up drinking.

“Alcohol is something that I love going out with friends for and it’s about being smart by your drinking and you don’t go crazy,” Ong told Confidential.

“It’s fine to sit and have a couple of cocktails over dinner. I’m happy to have two drinks.”

Celebrity guest judge Khanh Ong pictured at Bar Tilda in the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

“I would never push kind of cutting something completely out, or, like, restricting yourself. And that’s the way that I eat now, it’s not restrictive. I’m smarter about the way that I do it.”

Ong, who is a guest judge for this year’s Diageo World Class bartending competition in collaboration with Tequila Don Julio, said cutting out alcohol entirely was never on the cards.

“I never cut alcohol out of my lifestyle because I just think that it’s not sustainable,” he said.

“If your aim is to get really, really fit, and that means you cut alcohol out for three months, what happens after that? Does it just reverse everything?

“Instead, try to incorporate casual drinks into your life so it’s more sustainable. I think if I had to cut alcohol out for the amount of time I was training, I don’t think I’d still be okay now.”

As for his routine, the 32-year-old is still training five to six times a week, even while travelling.

Celebrity guest judge Khanh Ong pictured at Bar Tilda in the Sofitel Sydney Wentworth. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

“I actually FaceTime my trainer when I’m away,” he said.

“For me, it’s about staying accountable.”

Next up, Ong is heading to Bali for a mid-July fitness and food retreat with Michelle Bridges, where he will lead cooking classes and curate the menu while Bridges oversees training sessions. He credits these retreats with kickstarting his fitness journey and says they always leave him with new insights.

“I’ve done so many (retreats) and every time I’ve come out with something new. Last time it was food. I realised I was very indulgent with how I ate.”

It was also on a retreat seven years ago that his best friend secretly signed him up for MasterChef.

A panel of expert judges will name Australia's Best Bartender as eight finalists go head-to-head in a heated three-ro und competition at the Diageo World Class national final. Picture: NewsWire / Damian Shaw

Now in its 16th year, Diageo World Class is the world’s biggest and most influential bartending competition, and with Tequila Don Julio at the heart of celebration, Ong is excited to swap plates for cocktails as a guest judge.

“Obviously it has to be tasty — that’s always number one,” he said. “I’m a chef, so flavour comes first, but it’s also about balance. If it’s a sour, how sour is it? Can you still taste the alcohol?”