Former Waratah and MMA fighter Francis Cullimore says bodybuilding is the toughest thing he has done

FORMER NSW Waratah Francis Cullimore loses 30kg in torturous training campaign to become a natural bodybuilder.

Former NSW Waratahs rugby player and MMA fighter Francis Cullimore Pic: Martin Lange.

FRANCIS Cullimore has played rugby league for the Junior Kiwis, rugby for the NSW Waratahs, been a member of the Australian bobsleigh team and a successful MMA fighter.

But the versatile sportsman says the toughest thing he has ever done is preparing to compete in his first natural bodybuilding competition, the Sydney Superbodies on Saturday at the Sir John Clancy Auditorium at the University of NSW.

Francis Cullimore flexes some serious muscle.

Francis Cullimore in his rugby-playing days.

Over the past seven months Cullimore has undertaken a torturous training regimen that has seen him shed 30kgs to develop a virtually fat free physique.

“Since I was a kid I have always wanted to do bodybuilding but I never had the time because of being a professional rugby player,” Cullimore said.

“Now I haven’t got much time on my hands in regards to youth I thought ‘let’s go and have a crack at the natural bodybuilding’.

“I am 39 and I wanted to do it while I still have a bit of testosterone running around in my body.”

Former NSW Waratahs rugby player and MMA fighter Francis Cullimore. Pic: Martin Lange

To help get his body in tune for the event Cullimore is being trained by former NSW Waratahs hooker turned bodybuilder Kevin O’Kane with the aim of qualifying for the Oceania International Natural Bodybuilding tournament.

“The last month has been the hardest part but once I set my mind to something I will just keep pushing through,” Cullimore said.

“I just want to keep nailing sports but at an elite level.

“I want to push myself to extremes.”

“Everyone told me this is probably the hardest thing you will ever do and I thought I would put myself to the challenge,” he said.

“And 100 per cent, this is the hardest thing I have ever done.

“It plays a lot of mind tricks because of the depletion of calories and so forth.”

Cullimore has competed as an MMA fighter. Pic: Braden Fastier

Cullimore says he can understand why some bodybuilders turn to steroids because it is an easier option.

“Natural bodybuilding is the harder version and requires a lot more effort,” he said.

A typical day starts at 6am with a breakfast of egg whites and a couple of egg yolks, some cherry tomatoes and rocket.

“I will hit the gym for a good two hour heart flogging session,” he said.

“I will then add some high intensity burst sessions to crank up my metabolism and either am or pm I will go for a 30 minute walk.”

Two hours of pumping iron in the morning and five meals a day ... every day.

Throughout the day Cullimore will have four or five meals of chicken sweet potato and rocket.

“I probably fall asleep as soon as I get into bed to be honest because I am dead tired,” he said.

“And then I do it all over again.”