Popular natural fitness influencer and “looksmaxing” pioneer William Li announced his return to content creation after a three-year unexplained absence from social media.
In a video titled “It’s time…” uploaded to his YouTube channel, the creator revealed that his disappearance was caused by severe physical and mental burnout stemming from the pressure to maintain an extremely low body fat percentage.
Li, who is now based in Bangkok, Thailand, explained that he reached a breaking point where he could no longer meet the strict physical standards he set for himself before appearing on camera.
The influencer stated that he previously believed staying “shredded” (having extremely low body fat and high muscle definition) year-round was the only way to remain relevant in the competitive fitness industry.
He admitted to maintaining a body weight of 150 pounds to please the YouTube algorithm, which he now realizes was dangerously underweight for his height.
This lifestyle left him feeling as though he was running on fumes, eventually leading to a total cessation of his posting schedule despite having millions of followers.
During his time away, Li shifted his focus toward science-based lifting and relocated to Thailand with his girlfriend.
He told his audience that he has since gained 20 pounds, moving to a weight that is more sustainable for his biological set point (the weight range at which a body is programmed to function optimally).
Li clarified that while it is possible to remain lean, doing so while being underweight is what caused his health to decline and his motivation to vanish.
William Li first gained significant traction in 2022 for his tutorials on “looksmaxing,” a subculture focused on maximizing one’s physical attractiveness through grooming, diet, and exercise.
Before becoming a full-time creator, he studied to be a computer engineer, a background he credits for his interest in the math and science of fitness.
With over 3 million subscribers on his YouTube channel, Li plans to pivot his content toward more practical and balanced fitness advice for his “kings,” the term he uses for his loyal community of aspiring athletes.
