Lake Cargelligo Central School PE teacher Andrew Carter was top of the class at the ICN World Natural Games in Canberra early this month, taking home the win in the Men's Bodybuilding 40+ and Men's Novice section. 

The first competition the 40-year-old won was three years ago. After a two-year break, Andrew returned this year and qualified for the world titles, competing against bodybuilders from 20 different nations. 

"I never expect to win. All you can basically do is make sure you're ticking all the boxes, eating correctly, and pushing hard in the gym. That's all you can control," Andrew said.

He has been competing in bodybuilding for a decade but his love for fitness dates back to his childhood. 

"I grew up watching all the 80s action heroes like Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone. 

"I developed an appreciation for the physique and realized they achieved that through weight training so that is what I gravitated towards," Andrew said. 

The bodybuilding champion said his hobby was unique among his peer group. 

"When I was a kid in high school, I took to it without any encouragement. I educated myself through books and different magazines and started to develop my own method," Andrew said. 

Since first entering the world of bodybuilding, Andrew said his approach has changed drastically. 

"I've become a lot more structured. My sessions are all planned out in advance.

"I didn't really have a complete understanding of nutrition and diet. Particularly when it came to preparing for competition, you have to get down to very uncomfortable body fat percentages." 

 Andrew currently trains by himself and sets his own routine. Photo: supplied

He has always stayed on the natural side of the sport. 

"I never wanted to go down the path of taking performance-enhancing substances. Being a PE  teacher that obviously goes against everything you preach to the kids." 

Combining teaching and bodybuilding usually only gets tough when nearing the deadline for the competition and Andrew has to cut his calories. 

"You're just so low on energy and fatigued. It impacts your sleep and your mood."

If Andrew's students didn't know about his hobby before, they do now. 

"I have to apply a fake tan. So, the weeks after the competition, I'd come to school looking quite Donald Trump-esque," Andrew said. 

"I don't see a finish line. I just enjoy it. It's a part of who I am."