(Photo: Thepaper.cn)

Years ago, much of Gu Lei’s life consisted of battling virtual monsters in the wee hours. His eyes transfixed to a glaring computer screen seen through a thick pair of glasses. Like many of his peers, Lei was helplessly addicted to online video games, The Paper reported.

Today, he has traded a mouse and keyboard with heavy dumbbells, determined to sculpt an admirable physique. Pictures of Lei as a bodybuilder has taken him on a wild ride through Chinese social media fandom.

“Weightlifting has changed my body and mental attitude. I used to have back problems, and now they are gone,” said Lei, adding that “bodybuilding has taught me perseverance and discipline.”

According to The Paper, in high school, Lei would often skip classes and play video games at home throughout most of the night. With a daily regimen in place that included junk food, excessive drinking, and an addiction to nicotine, his health deteriorated quickly.

Stood at 5’5 and barely 120 pounds, Lei was often ill. One day, after passing by a new gym close to home, he decided to give fitness a try to see if it would change him for the better.

After completing a few exercises, Lei ran outside and puked. When he finally made it home, he went straight to his bed and didn’t move until the next day as he recovered from the initial physical shock.  The following morning, he went back.

As he pushed through the first few days, he not only became stronger but also felt more positive. Lei was hooked.

After three years of training, Lei started entering local bodybuilding competitions. Noticing Lei’s physical transformation, his college roommates, who also suffered from online gaming addiction, followed in his footsteps, and tried going to the gym with him. However, they returned to their online addictions a few days later, Lei said.

Today, Lei enjoys life as a professional bodybuilder and trainer. He weighs over 200 pounds and has a low body-fat percentage. He is currently training six hours a day in preparation for a US bodybuilding competition

“After going at it for years, I have really grown to love the sport,” Lei said. “During the times when it got hard, I would remind myself that this was something I decided to do and persevere.”