Yet that’s exactly what Jey Prabakaran did in 2023.
The Kuala Lipis-born athlete and fitness instructor worked out with 20 exercise machines, including the treadmill, cross trainer, cycling machine, dumbbells and barbells from 9am to 9pm on Aug 23, 2023.
This outstanding feat earned him a spot in the Malaysia Book of Records (MBOR) and the India-based Influencer Book of World Records for longest non-stop cardio workout session.
And if that wasn’t impressive enough, the following year, the intrepid Jey broke his own record, this time working out for a whopping 15 hours straight. This also qualified him for the Guinness Book of World Records, a feat he is currently awaiting official confirmation for.
“Working out and bodybuilding is good for both your physical and mental health. Whenever you feel like you have too many problems, you can just go to the gym and work out, and it’s a great stress-reliever,” Jey, 28, told FMT Lifestyle.
Jey is a passionate fitness advocate, and is particularly fond of bodybuilding and weightlifting, two sports in which he has competed in professionally for many years.
Believe it or not, his obsession with fitness began because he thought he was too thin. That was years ago when he used to play football. So, he headed to the gym to bulk up.
It was there that he was spotted by a sponsor of the Mr Pahang bodybuilding championships, who invited him to participate in 2013.
“I accepted the challenge and, in my very first attempt, I won third place. That was the moment my fitness journey truly began,” said Jey, who holds an Honorary Doctorate in social work from Dayspring Theological University in the United States.
Jey is now a three-time Mr Pahang winner, a Mr Selangor champion and a Sukan Malaysia (Sukma) gold medalist.
Achieving these accolades has been particularly meaningful for him, as he once believed he would never succeed in this sport due to injuries sustained in his football-playing days.
He recalled having to move his first record breaking attempt from April to August due to abdominal surgery, which meant complete rest for four months for recovery.
That was the most challenging time of his life, Jey recalled, as he had already announced his plans for April, and many doubted he would ever achieve it. Despite this, he stayed motivated and focused on his goal.
“Whenever I have tough times, however, I always want to come back and prove myself. I’m a big fan of Tamil actor Ajith Kumar. I take motivation from him. He had a lot of setbacks in his career, but always had a great comeback,” Jey said with a laugh.
(In an odd coincidence, a few days after this interview, it was reported that Ajith Kumar survived a major car racing accident in Spain, which really proves Jey’s point.)
Jey said he had two main fitness routines: one for when he was preparing for competitions or records, and another when he was off-season.
When in “competitive” mode, he wakes up at 5am, then engages in light cardio, before completing three training sessions throughout the day.
During non-competition times, he is more relaxed, but still makes sure to practise strict self-regulation.
“I love all workouts. When it comes to fitness, the most challenging part for me is the diet. But discipline and dedication are the most important things in this journey, so I always make sure to adapt to it,” he said.
Jey has big plans for the future: he hopes to succeed in the 2026 Olympic qualifiers for weightlifting. He also hopes to set more records: these include most squats, most leg extensions and most jumping jacks in a day.
“After that, I’ll see what other challenges I can take on. I will keep pushing myself until I feel I’ve reached my limit. Ultimately, my fitness mission is to be the best in the world, and to make my country proud,” Jey concluded.
Follow Jey Prabakaran on Instagram.