FITNESS

Strong, Fit & Fierce

Fouzia Syed is a renowned Nutritionist with a Master’s Degree in Nutrition and Dietetics and an ISSA certified personal trainer. She is an IDA member, who specializes in treating PCOS, Thyroid and other clinical ailments. She currently works as a functional trainer at F45 for the past 4 years and takes both online and offline personal training sessions. She has been a part of this industry for around 10 years but active for the past 6 years. She started her journey as an Aerobics instructor. Apart from juggling work and motherhood, she is pursuing further studies for acquiring the ACSM certification.

Q. How have you managed to keep people motivated and engaged during pandemic situations? During the pandemic gyms and other public spaces were shut down. Hence, I worked diligently towards increasing my outreach on nutrition and fitness for people via my Instagram handle-@coach.fouziasyed. To keep people motivated and engaged, I had formulated squat challenges and other fitness challenges which was thoroughly enjoyed by many. I had been uploading recipes, conducting a free training class for people. I had also introduced people to various home workout ideas with minimal equipment; encouraging them to create their own mini gyms at home.

Q. What motivated you to start your fitness journey and become a coach? Was it easy to become a fitness coach? I had always been interested in fitness and sports; badminton, cricket was my favourite sport. Working as a nutritionist, dealing with postpartum weight and other health issues myself, I came across many women who struggled with maintaining their fitness. During that time, there was a high demand for female trainers since the availability was quite less. I realized that to help other people especially women, I had to train myself first. Fitness and nutrition go hand in hand. Being able to channel my knowledge in both fields made me work harder towards establishing myself as a coach. Soon after, F45 happened. Understanding clients and training them efficiently is a greater responsibility than exhausting them. Building my way up to become a fitness coach was one of the most challenging goals I have accomplished. Today being addressed as a coach is one of the most rewarding experiences of my life. I am yet to learn more and have a far way to go.

Q. What kept you going and what are your biggest personal achievements so far? My father has been my role model since childhood. His resilient attitude towards dealing with hurdles in life has been my greatest motivation. His teachings are my backbone of strength which has kept me going despite hurdles. Being recognized as a coach, completing the 10k marathon twice, being able to motivate people towards fitness, overcoming my challenge of being overweight despite having a medical condition such as hypothyroidism; getting back into shape after going through three

surgeries, was never easy to get back into shape after deliveries but my never giving up attitude kept me moving forward no matter what comes in my way, all of them are my biggest personal achievements so far.

Q. Can you mention a few exercises anyone can perform at home? Burpees, Squats, Wall push-ups, mountain climbers, crunches or cycling, are mostly bodyweight exercises a beginner can start with and if someone has access to the treadmill but I don’t suggest machinery’s much, so these are a few exercises that can be performed at home easily. Starting with a 20-minute walk, one can build a fitness routine and increase their endurance. Stairs are also a good alternative. Many other exercises are safe to be done at home only under the professional supervision of a trainer or coach. Improper posture or other errors while exercises may cause injuries.

Q. Why should fitness be important for everyone regardless of age and gender? Fitness is not restricted to any age or gender. The workout styles may vary for each, however, it remains a very important part of your life since it helps build muscle strength, increases mobility, keeps you physically active, relieves stress, keeps you motivated and so on. Fitness is as important as other necessities to ensure the quality of living.

Q. What advice do you give those who wish to begin their fitness journey? Everything takes time. Learn to listen to your body. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Be consistent towards your goal. Set small achievable goals. Stress only adds to your obstacles. Pay attention to the nutrition your body requires along with exercise. Keep an eye on your portions. Sleep well. Keep yourself hydrated. Lastly, keep a positive mindset.

Q. How important is nutrition in all of this? What's your favourite meal you enjoy? Nutrition plays a very eminent role. Maintaining a balanced diet, mindful eating, hydration is very vital for maintaining fitness. Do not restrict yourself from certain food for a long period. Practice portion control instead. Eat your food in intervals. Be conscious of what you eat. All of this helps you remain consistent with your physical wellbeing and helps you avoid developing any deficiency due to excessive restriction. Dal and rice and every other dish my mother prepare is my absolute favourite meal.

Q. Any tips for everyone to stay consistent with fitness goals? Don’t be too hard on yourself. Make realistic and achievable goals. Unrealistic goals would leave you frustrated and demotivated. Start by working out 3 days a week. Gradually increase it to 5. Brisk walk 10 to 15 minutes and increase timings eventually.

Q. What is your perspective on fitness trends and fad diets? Trends and fad diets end up stressing your body. In the long run, you might end up developing health issues as well. Everybody is unique and has different needs. Eat a balanced diet unless you are suffering from a medical condition and are provided with a specific diet. Detoxifying your body by consuming certain juices or food requires a lot of knowledge and should not be continued for an extended amount of time.

Q. Apart from physical benefits, do you think exercise also helps with mental wellbeing? Exercise is not just about aerobic capacity and muscle size. People who exercise regularly tend to do so because it gives them an enormous sense of well-being. They feel more energetic throughout the day, sleep better at night, have sharper memories, and feel more relaxed and positive about themselves and their lives. They can relieve their stress, set new goals, gain confidence and boost their self-esteem. Exercise also helps maintain mental well-being along with physical wellness.