New Delhi, July 30 -- Thomas Derksen, a German influencer in China, transformed over five years. Check his Instagram for evidence.

His early pictures show heavy meals: big breakfasts, cakes and bacon sandwiches. Now, he looks muscular and more active. He does kickboxing, kayaking and swimming. He said the change had begun during the COVID-19 pandemic.

At 36, he realised his lifestyle was unhealthy. He had chest pain, joint issues and fatty liver. Staying home during the pandemic gave him time to learn from free online resources.

Derksen stopped crash dieting and focused on changing his whole lifestyle. Some tips worked for him while others didn't.

Derksen moved to China in 2013 to study in Shanghai and settled there in 2016. He calls ...