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At his heaviest, Ilia Sheludiakov weighed 132 kg. Today, he’s 88 kg and training for a marathon. But for this Dubai-based entrepreneur, the 44-kilogram transformation was never really about the number on the scale. It was about learning to master something far less tangible: time itself.
That journey, built on discipline, consistency, and an evolving relationship with time, has now become the foundation of his debut book, Temporalism: Make Time Your Ally. Rather than treating time as something to “manage” or race against, the book invites readers to see it as a conscious partner, one that can carry you forward if you choose to work with it, rather than simply watch it pass.
In this conversation, Sheludiakov opens up about the philosophy behind Temporalism, how his physical transformation mirrors the book’s structure of awareness, responsibility, direction, and action, and why he believes real change doesn’t require becoming a different person overnight, just a more intentional one.
Tell us about your weight loss journey.
At my heaviest, I was around 132 kg. Today, I’m around 88 kg. But for me, the real transformation wasn’t losing 44 kilograms – it was learning consistency. I stopped looking for quick results and started building habits I could repeat for years. Eventually, running became part of that journey, and now I’m training for a marathon.
What made you decide the timing was right to publish a book, rather than earlier or later in your journey?
I wanted to write only when I had something I genuinely believed could help others. Temporalism grew from my own experience with time, discipline, ambition, and change. At some point, these ideas stopped feeling like personal observations and became a coherent philosophy I wanted to share.
What’s the title of the book, and what’s the story behind choosing it?
The book is Temporalism: Make Time Your Ally. “Temporalism” describes a way of living in which time becomes something you consciously work with rather than something you simply watch pass. The title captures the central idea: time can either carry you forward or disappear without purpose.
How does the book structure mirror your own transformation timeline?
It follows a similar progression: awareness, responsibility, direction, and action. My own transformation started by recognizing where I was, deciding where I wanted to go, and then repeatedly closing the distance between those two points.
What’s one idea in the book you think readers will find most surprising or counterintuitive?
That we shouldn’t try to “manage time.” Time moves regardless of what we do. What we can manage is our relationship with it – and the decisions we make while it passes.
Are you planning a follow-up book, or was this a one-time project?
Writing definitely wasn’t a one-time project for me. I’m already working on new ideas, including fiction. I see writing as another long-term journey rather than a single achievement.
What would you say to someone who’s skeptical about picking up another “self-improvement” book?
I would say that Temporalism isn’t about becoming a different person overnight. It’s about understanding something we all share – limited time and becoming more intentional about what we do with it. Even one idea that changes a decision can change where you eventually end up.
What’s next for you?
Growth in several directions: expanding Temporalism internationally, continuing to write, developing my businesses and investments, and pushing myself physically. I don’t really believe in reaching a final version of yourself. There should always be another horizon.