When I first started working out, I wasted five years of my training following advice from anyone on the internet who had defined six-pack abs and huge biceps. I thought that because they had the body I wanted, they could show me how to achieve it. So, for five years, I tried everything—loads of chicken breasts, whey protein powder, canned tuna, and egg whites. But no matter how hard I pushed myself in the gym or followed the strict diets prescribed by these fitness influencers, I realized I would never have their bodies unless I resorted to using steroids and HGH (human growth hormones). It was a tough lesson to learn, but it taught me the importance of finding a healthier and more sustainable approach to fitness.

 

You see, I didn't pursue my fitness education with the intention of becoming a trainer. I never ever thought of becoming one. At 21, I was living the dream life, working in one of Dubai's hottest nightclubs, making friends every night, and partying hard on my days off. Living the dream. But the truth of not being able to see the results even after following every advice I could find on the internet frustrated me and pissed me off. And I am a Cancerian, and we are a lot of things, but not quitters. So, I signed up for every fitness education I could afford with my bartending salary, from level -2 fitness instructor to a sports nutritionist to Prenatal Pilates instructor.

 

Why a prenatal Pilates fitness instructor, you ask? I have no idea. It must have been on a discount or something, but that's not the point. The point is that I did my fitness education to discover the truth about my ideal shape and fitness with absolutely no interest in becoming a personal trainer. But when I found out that getting in our best shape and being fit is a lot easier with the help of science, I couldn't help but share it, and that's how I became an evidence-based personal trainer. That and the pay as a trainer are very good if you compare them to a bartender's salary.