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Father's bodybuilding journey proves a YouTube hit

John Devine
BBC News, Cambridgeshire
Reporting fromWisbech
Brendan Pearl Brendan Pearl is 35 and has light brown hair across the top of his head, he has matching colour beard and moustache and is topless, and has very large muscles. Brendan Pearl
Mr Pearl says prior to the show his biceps will pump up to a 53cm (21in) diameter

A father-of-three has become a social media hit whilst documenting his comeback in the world of competitive bodybuilding following a 14-year absence.

Brendan Pearl, 35, from Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, took up training again 18-months ago and has amassed more than 400,000 YouTube subscribers who follow him on his fitness journey.

Mr Pearl said he started bodybuilding "to get noticed" and later quit to raise a family, but now wanted to show his children "how dad can rebuild himself".

"I am sharing the whole experience [on YouTube]... from bodybuilding preparation, mindset and diet breakdowns, to the chaos of balancing family life as a husband and father of three - it is all there," he said.

John Devine/BBC Brendan Pearl smiles at the camera. He has light brown hair across the top of his head, with a matching colour beard and moustache. He is wearing a black T-shirt, behind him are other people on various machines and equipment in a gym.John Devine/BBC
Brendan Pearl says anyone can take up bodybuilding but it is best to start slowly

Mr Pearl said as a teenager he noticed some of his friends working out and he felt inspired to start going to the gym.

"I really just wanted to attract some female attention and it worked, because I have now been married for 14 years.

"I did my final competitive body building show in 2011 and then quit to raise a family and start up a business in double glazing," he said.

Stevie Dyer Brendan Pearl is holding two 25kg dumb bells, behind him are other people on various machines and equipment in a gym. He has a serious expression as he tenses his arm to lift the weight. Stevie Dyer
Mr Pearl says his trainings includes a gruelling 20-week low carb diet, made up mainly of chicken and sauerkraut

Mr Pearl said now that his three children were older he wanted to train seriously again.

"I wasn't exactly depressed, but I did feel I should get myself into shape.

"I wanted my kids to see dad rebuild himself from a completely untrained state," he said.

Mr Pearl added that since January his YouTube channel has hit more than 400,000 subscribers.

"The public seem to be really resonating with my fitness story and being open and honest about what it takes with my daily struggles."

Mr Pearl said the community at BoxCross UK gym in Wisbech has also helped him in his training.

"Being able to share my experiences with members and them sharing their stories with me has formed a community built around fitness, the atmosphere is great too," he said.

He will be taking part in the Physical Culture Association bodybuilding show at the New Theatre in Peterborough on 15 June.

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