The 21-year-old Dunedin man is competing in the novice junior section of the National Amateur Body Builders Association South Island championships being held today at King's High School.
Following a spray-tanning session yesterday, he told the Otago Daily Times he decided to enter his first body building competition as a 21st birthday present to himself.
The Les Mills personal trainer is hoping for a top placing, having forgone anything vaguely resembling cake for months and losing 13kg in the past 10 weeks.
Tomorrow he can satisfy cravings for peanut-butter and jam on toast, but until then his diet consists of lean protein every couple of hours.
Mr Wolffenbuttel was happy with his 80kg frame and said there was not much he would change about his preparation.
But following a strict diet proved mentally difficult and he considered it an achievement to have maintained his relationship with his girlfriend while training.
"Normally my diet's [bad]. I like eating whatever I want, whenever I want. Thankfully, my girlfriend's been great and kicks me out of bed at 4am when I have to start working out."
Fellow first-time competitor Darren Smeaton said he was naturally skinny and had to work hard to bulk up.
"My body doesn't really like putting on extra muscle," he said.
The 36-year-old's competition weight is 84kg and his body fat percentage has dropped from about 19% to 5%.
Mr Smeaton is also on a strict diet - yesterday he drank 800ml of water in the form of four black coffees and ate six meals consisting of 190g of chicken breast and diuretics, while doing an hour each of cardio and weight training.
A couple of nips of vodka were thrown in to thin the blood and make veins "pop", he said.
Mr Smeaton had been hoping to break his competition fast with a KFC Double Down sandwiched between a snack burger, but because the temporary promotion was finished he would settle for a couple of McDonald's quarter-pounders.
He was confident of his chances in the novice athletic tall section but said it depended on who turned up on the day.
Organiser Suzie Patrick said 57 men and women from throughout New Zealand had registered to compete, and late registrations would be accepted. About two-thirds were from Otago and Southland, with some coming from the North Island.
The Dunedin event was the final national championship qualifier, she said.
