Man mountain Zack ‘King’ Khan shows the power of his faith – as Britain’s first Muslim professional bodybuilder.
The 33-year-old was an amateur boxer until an injury forced him to quit but he enjoyed lifting weights in the gym so much he decided to take it up professionally.
His hard work paid off when he became the first Muslim to be crowned British bodybuilding champion when he lifted the IFBB UK title.
He now tours the world and remains dedicated to his faith despite the demands of his career.
It is particularly tricky during Ramadan – when he has to squeeze in his daily 5,000 calorie intake during the hours of darkness.
Zack, who weighs 280lbs and has 32″ thighs and 22″ calves, said: “Adapting my profession for my religion is something which has just become second nature to me now.
“Every day I need to consume 5,000 calories so I have at least 8 meals a day.
“That is difficult during Ramadan so in order to get round it I have a protein shake as soon as the window for food consumption opens to warm up my stomach.
“I then leave it half an hour before eating anything else then I consume five meals taking intervals between each of them.”
He added: “In spite of my strict training schedule and the vast amount of travelling I do for competitions I ensure I remain dedicated to my religion.
“I frequently visit the mosque and I’ve never missed a Friday service.”
Zack, from Sheffield, was crowned British champ in 2009 and spends at least an hour a day in the gym training to keep in shape.
He said: “For me bodybuilding is a job, like the normal 9-5, and I am my own product, that’s why it’s so important for me to train hard.”
