When did you get into the health and fitness industry and why?
I started training about 10 years ago and have been coaching for about 5.
I think the main reason why I wanted to get into the fitness industry as a coach was to spread the knowledge of keeping a healthy lifestyle and how important it is for us to incorporate it.
What is your secret to staying motivated for fitness or what drives you?
For my own personal goals what keeps me motivated is to always become the best version of myself. There is no formula or secret to be motivated to be honest. You have to get up and find that drive within yourself to keep moving, even if its a 20 minute walk. You don’t magically find motivation, action and consistency breeds motivation.
What are your thoughts on the effect of social media on fitness?
I think overall social media has made a positive impact on fitness. Not only can you connect with your clients from anywhere in the world but you can also promote your content / fitness programs with relative ease. Social media has always opened the doors for online training programs which is so important right now since Covid 19. The platform has made it possible for my online program VIRTUALETICS to kick off which I have co founded with 4 amazing coaches (Bilal Tariq, Sapna Baloch, Farzad Bagheri and Bisha Shabir).
What are the myths, misconceptions, or fads that piss you off the most?
There is a lot of dividing opinion on fitness and nutrition which I guess is present in pretty much every topic known to man.
Apart from the countless myths (lifting weights make women bulky, carbs are bad, not enough importance given to recovery) I think I just want to highlight that going on different programs and following them simultaneously is not sustainable. Pick a program that works for you, be patient and stick with it. Honest work results in honest results.
If you could change one thing about Pakistan’s health/fitness related habits, what would you change?
I think we are heading in the right direction when it comes to the fitness industry. People are being more self aware and want to adopt a healthy lifestyle.
I do want coaches and trainers to support one another a lot more for the greater good of spreading fitness. I see many professionals in this field more keen on poaching clients and throwing each other under the bus.
What would you suggest for people who consistently struggle to keep a regular fitness routine?
Its not the end of the world. Maybe you are struggling because you’ve set an unrealistic routine. Fit your training around your lifestyle, whether its working out twice a week or 5 times, it should be a plan which you can follow consistently.
How would you want the world to remember you?
I would want the world to remember me as being a good human. We fail at the basic human level and to be remembered like that would assure me that I did enough.
For all the newbies out there wanting to be fit but not knowing where to start, what’s your recommended starting line?
I would always say to be patient and never set a target or deadline for your goals. Fitness is something that is a lifelong commitment because as we grow older more and more importance is and should be given to our health.
If struggling out of bed has been a problem for you and you are managing to go walk outside for even 10 minutes then pat yourself on the back. Never undermine your efforts for wanting to change. Don’t look at those who have been in this field for years and seeing how they’re performing and getting disheartened or think it pales in comparison to what you’re doing. This isn’t a race so keep your head down and keep putting in that effort, the results will soon follow.
