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Welcome to The Elite Health Podcast with Azri where we talk about how to upgrade your body and lose fat / build muscle through the mental shifts seen in high performers. We talk about lessons from life that help build the character traits and beliefs to overcome the obstacles which may come your way when levelling up your body and mind. We're not holding back with Azri's personal experiences from losing 46lbs in 4 months whilst in medical school and building his business.
We want to empower you with the thoughts from our guests whom have found success in life from fitness to business as well as their personal lives. We're all in on the journey to help you reach your full potential so listen in and take notes, it's time to learn.
Today, we have Azeri Zakaria, and I'm so excited. He is probably one of my newest little pals whether or not he likes it. He's in Manuk. And, yeah, we've hit it off, so I really want you to hear his opinion. He's not only an online coach, an excellent one, but he's a doctor.
Speaker 1:Could you get that up? So today, we're gonna be talking about his journey into fitness, how he feels about managing the stress levels as a doctor, and also help me debunk to you some of the fitness myths that I have long hated for a long time. So we're very excited. Azri, welcome.
Speaker 2:Thank you for having me, Leon, Annie. Very much appreciate the kind intro as well. Thank you for the kind words about myself.
Speaker 1:Oh, you're so welcome. Okay. So tell me, how did you, you know, how does one become a doctor and then decide, that's it, actually? I'd rather be an online coach. Like, where are you at?
Speaker 1:Can I just say, guys, Ashri is still studying? So he's still in the journey. He's not gonna stop.
Speaker 2:Yeah. So it's an interesting one. I think it's one of those situations where, you know, you have purpose behind what you want to achieve. And for me, I got into the fitness space quite early as well. So that's where I knew I really liked the fitness space.
Speaker 2:I really liked training. And then you realize that, you know, medicine ends up being the plaster to the solution. And then you have the real solution on the back end, which is the actual health side of things and how to improve your health for the landlord so you can prevent those problems that inevitably come up.
Speaker 1:I love that so much because, you know, that's what we all hope is that, you know, could could I be doing more? What could I do to prevent rather than have to cure issues that come up? I absolutely wanna know about your start, but briefly, please, Azar, can you explain where do you think the prevention would start? What are the things on the ground that we could be doing to try and secure that?
Speaker 2:Very good question. So prevention does start with your general health and how you look after it on a daily basis. And that's what I really, really want to hit on. It definitely is a matter of making the changes incrementally over a long period of time. So those bad decisions early in life, don't stack up and compound into this big problem, which is a 7 thing, which really isn't selling.
Speaker 2:We know for a fact that looking at yourself sleeping well, eating well, exercising properly is going to be the base level of what gives you proper health and proper longevity In the whole world. So basically making sure that you're looking after yourself mentally, physically. So you don't have to incur these issues, which pull you down and give you these thoughts of, you know, I could I have prevented this? And could in hindsight, could I have done something impervious? You don't wanna aim to sit in that situation where you feel like that's the case.
Speaker 2:And, you know, if you are in that situation as well, after going through the medical route, if you have needed to go down that route, you will still be prescribed to solution around looking after yourself with exercise, sleep, eating properly. That's always the core of actually what gives you long lasting change.
Speaker 1:I love that. It also makes me feel like, hopefully, we're all gonna feel a bit better just by going for a walk. You know? It's in our hands. It's not something outside of ourselves that we have to hope and pray for.
Speaker 1:Right. Azry, tell me, how how Where how are you you're so young. You're so ambitious to me, like, hardworking, fierce thinker. Like, I would I could never have I don't believe I had I would have had it in nature. Have your, you know, directness and your, steady thought pattern to do the things that you're doing.
Speaker 1:How did you become a doctor? What made you wanna first become a doctor?
Speaker 2:So with medicine, my app was a doctor. So I think that was one of those things where you kind of go into a straight path because that was kind of the only thing that you knew. But at the same time, I always knew that, you know, there's only a certain number of people you can help by yourself. And being a doctor on its own is brilliant, and it's a very, very fulfilling role that it's basically limited to just yourself. So I knew I could with the time I knew I had available and with the energy I knew I could expand on doing other things.
Speaker 2:And with stacking up the knowledge and information I had around fitness, around health, I knew I could help a lot more people. So getting into medicine itself was more about, you know, this is the only path I renew and probably more out of fear getting into it. To be honest, I think fear is a big, big thing that plays into a loss of people's decision making processes early on, because you know, that there was this one out that you have to go down with university. And that's the main thing that, you know, everyone in the education system gets put into, But then you very soon realize that, you know, there is so much outside of just education in the mainstream system. Even with, you know, a role like medicine.
Speaker 2:I really do think that everyone does have the time to put outside of this and I'm not taken away from the fact that, you know, I was in a good situation, like, you know, as we talked about earlier as well, yeah, I was born in England. I was born into a good family and my parents really liked me as well. And love me. And they really looked after me as well. So I'm so, so grateful for that, and that's probably the biggest reasons, biggest reason I actually got into medicine because, you know, they wanted me to be the best version of myself.
Speaker 2:And for them, you know, that was for education. So because traditionally, that is what got people, into a successful life. Right? Which is a very big time because, I truly don't believe that I was chasing success. It was more competitive greatness, I would say.
Speaker 2:And that's where you really try and figure out, like, what more should I can I be doing to serve as many people as possible? Because I have lists from those houses actually. So success is very much limited to yourself and your own beliefs as to what you want to achieve to better yourself. Greatness is improving yourself to a point where you can serve as many people as possible. And that's where I truly wanted to be the actual best at what I wanted to be.
Speaker 2:So being the best in terms of fitness got me to a certain point, that was where I was like, okay, this is I've transformed my bag. I was in a position where I was 97 kilos, however, overweight, and I was out there for the whole time. I was hanging out, which is basically where everyone's tripping up for a long, long time. You know, couldn't fit in shirts and hated how I looked in photos. And that was the majority of my current life as well.
Speaker 2:And that's when, you know, you really do need to look at yourself in the mirror, ask yourself the right questions. Is this where I want to be? Why do I feel bad? And is this how my life actually looks like? Do I need to live in this state where I'm just constantly guessing whether I'm good enough?
Speaker 2:And then you go down the process of what you're always new, learning. So when you start learning, you realize that there's so much more that you do need to know to get to your goal. And then it's a master of implementing and taking action on those goals. So the only thing that got me to where that was the big steps, which aren't that big in the on that big in mindset, actually, it was more incremental sets, but what actually compounded into being a big transformation or a big step that changed the trajectory of my life. So having more energy, feeling better about myself, having more confidence to actually put myself out there.
Speaker 2:That was the end result of the 10% better every day that I was really aiming for, which I didn't know. Like I didn't know that I was trying to get better to get out of this position of feeling horrible. But when you realize that, you know, the main thing that you're really searching for is to reach your full potential And you're holding yourself back by your own self limiting beliefs and fear as to what could be done. You know, there's 3 types of fear, fear of judgment, fear of success, fear of failure. So I was heavily in this period of what do other people think about me?
Speaker 2:What, why am I going to shit trail everyday? What do other people think about this? What is the other other people? So listen, when you realize you really can't control that, you have so much more freedom around what you can actually do is when you stop caring about what other people think you get past that fossil fear, which is the fear of judgment. And then, and the fear of failure is where like, will this actually work for me?
Speaker 2:Am I actually going to make it? Can I actually do all this at the same time? Can you actually, I would say, because not many other people have done. So I always, always try to look for one person who's been there and done it. And that's the person which rebuilt that day for us to ever as possible.
Speaker 2:There's very specific people I know when I have it at the top of my head. And I truly do remember. I'm very grateful for, I met them being in my life as well, who showed me it was possible very early on. So then I just had that one model, that figure, which I could look up to. That's when I was like, okay, I know it's possible.
Speaker 2:I can, like, it can be done. Why aren't I there? And then that's the whole process of, you know, figuring out what else can you do? How much time do you actually have? How can you manage your energy properly?
Speaker 2:And just doing the thing really and relentless impression behind it. So that's where it really came came about the whole start.
Speaker 1:I love that so much on so many different levels. Can you tell me how you got through because you said that you did. You got through caring what other people think, but how did that look in real time tangibly?
Speaker 2:Yeah. So then I knew that, you know, there may be things being said about me. There are most likely things being said which aren't all positive because it's inevitable. Like, you're always gonna have people who like you, don't like you, which is fine because I still put myself out there to an extent. So I was quite outgoing, I would say to an extent, and then it was the opposite.
Speaker 2:And then it was the opposite. It was very up and down. So I always knew there were opinions about me, which did bother me, but at some point, like, more based on, you know, how I looked, maybe how I acted, how I put myself out there with social media. It's not technically normal, like, for most people, 99% of people put in pictures outlet of there where your talkers are like sharing your progress. Wasn't that normal?
Speaker 2:Like I feel it's only the past 5 years, 3 to 5 years where fitness on social media has become a lot more popularized
Speaker 1:and
Speaker 2:Shining progress has been popularized. Right. As them, but anyway, so it wasn't really the norm. And, you know, I always have thoughts about what other people might think about that, which really stopped me. And then, you know, it was just in general, like day to day life as well.
Speaker 2:So what was more important was the actual step into realizing that, you know, I have a specific goal that I'm actually going towards. Everyone else's thoughts or my thoughts or their thoughts was what was there for me. There may be absolutely nothing said. Like, I have there's always a point where other than the stuff that people say to your face, maybe there was absolutely nothing said. So it was really figuring out, like, if I can't change it, why am I thinking about it?
Speaker 2:So that's where I tried to handle every problem or thought mentally in my head as well as like, why do I think this is the reason why I'm thinking this because I'm scared of what other people think as well. So that's how I really handled everything in life with the business side of things as well. It was like, I mean, I'm not taking action right now with, you know, investing into new stuff, investing into other avenues of the business, because I have the fear of this not working out and, yeah, everything's gonna crash and I have this identity linked to wherever I'm at. And so it's always a matter of, you know, do I actually care about other people? The thing is that was actually stopping me.
Speaker 1:So good. And how do you find that now? Obviously, it would've be probably a bigger deal before. But, obviously, it comes up. It's like waves, isn't it?
Speaker 1:It's not necessarily you can intellectualize it and it never pops up. How do you deal with it now is a bit more fleeting, and so you can kind kind of run yourself through that script quicker, would you say? Or would you say that it just doesn't it just doesn't affect you in the same way at all?
Speaker 2:It, of course, affects me to an extent at all times. It's now just how I handle that, the thought process behind handling that and how I do go about that is with very delayed responses emotionally to everything. So I'm not as reactive emotionally as we talked about as well to anything, really. I'm very neutral on more most situations. I don't really get angry.
Speaker 2:I don't get too happy about step, which I also think is important. I don't get upset about stuff. I'm not saying I don't have emotions. I just don't act on them fast As in, this is what's helped me actually prevent me getting stressed, anxious about things. It's like, what does it, will this matter tomorrow?
Speaker 2:First of all, will I still be angry about this tomorrow? If it is, then will I still be angry about this 2, 3 years down the line? Or will I still be stressed about this problem 2, 3 years down the line? And if it is really that bad, then what can I learn about what's just happened, the situation, and what can I do to be better next time to change it? And how can I handle it better next time?
Speaker 2:If I did snow, if I did make an emotional decision around something instead of a logical decision, then it's always a learning process. I read it like, why did that happen? What can I do to fix whoever this may have affected? Can I actually go about, you know, with people that I am me with relationships, making sure that how may I actually been the best person I could have been to this person? If this person was meeting me for the first time, they know nothing about me.
Speaker 2:Would I have acted this way? Or should I have acted this way? Because I viewed a lot as cringey as it sounds. I viewed a lot of my life from very early on as if I were in a documentary. If there was a camera set out enemy around every single out of my, every single second of my life in my home, in wherever I go, if there was a camera set up in every single, track with every some second of my life, I would act and how would I actually behave day to day?
Speaker 2:So the actions I take, would that be in alignment to where I want to go, what I view as my own character? And is it something that, you know, would actually inspire people or would it be something that I'd be like, I probably shouldn't be doing this. I I probably should be doing work right now or actually doing something that's productive, and I probably shouldn't be acting like this. So I always always think about it that way, so I'm very aware of how I'm acting.
Speaker 1:Do you feel that that has a double edged sword? Because it could be quite stressful feeling like you're constantly on, and you have to act in a certain way. Because as much as we want to maneuver life and control the aspects that we can control, which I absolutely agree with, like, I think that's super important, We do, I think, probably need to allow for the fun, you know, the creativity, the ad hoc. How how does that matter? How do you marry that bit?
Speaker 2:Yeah. It was honestly a process I'm trying to slowly unlearn. It's one of those things that you do for so long that you feel that that's what you should do. And yes, it does definitely weigh down on you to a certain extent. But at the same time, I do think that life goes in seasons.
Speaker 2:And for me, I've seen seasons in my life in a long time horizon. So it's always like, you know, where do I wanna be 5 years from now instead of tomorrow next week kind of thing. So I'm technically I'm 2030, so I've seen the this season in my life as progress as in I've always seen this season as like a closing window. So in terms of just Parkinson's, well, you know, when you have a closing window of 10, you're most likely gonna get more done in that period of time. So that's how I'm currently viewing this season of my life right now.
Speaker 2:And you're a 100%, right. It's not served me well in so many aspects of my life and, you know, the situation where I look back and it's definitely, definitely played, a big part in me not being the best version of myself in terms of time spent with family, relationship, basically being the person that I should be. And I know I would be if I was 60 years old. And you really, I, I look up to people older than me a lot. And, you know, I've surrounded myself.
Speaker 2:I, I have so much respect for people that are older than me, especially with people who are in the situation I want to be in. And, you know, I did that very early on by cause I attribute, you know, the people that you're surrounded by who are the people are gonna mold your future as well. So because that was very difficult early on, I listened to a lot of podcasts, but that was most of my day. Like any free time I was eating sleep, and it was just around these people. And, you know, when you really figure out what actually matters in life with these people who are super successful, super accomplished, you know, millionaires, billionaires, and you realize like what's actually important in their life when they're.
Speaker 2:And you realize that, you know, the time actually spent with their family, that being 20 in their twenties is what they would trade everything that they've accomplished for to get back. Then you kind of have to reassess your thought process around this, which is why I'm saying, you know, I'm really trying to unlearn a lot of, I would consider bad habits, which got me to where I am, but that is a set of person. I understand that I'm basically giving you an idea of what works for me, but also what it costed at the same time. And, you know, that's now I'm really trying to speak to my parents more on, like, go on holidays and, you know, do things that I would, want to look back and be like, okay, these are memories which I've created and will ask. So I do luckily have the freedom to actually do that as well.
Speaker 2:I have a really good team around me. It's what's the business side of things as well. And the medicine side of things, you know, I can, I know I can allocate a certain amount of hours and say revision, getting, we'll get through it basically, and that will be absolutely fine? And now I am still in that progress process of growth, but a very self aware process. So I don't know if that makes sense.
Speaker 2:But
Speaker 1:That makes perfect sense. And beyond that, it's, I think, really helpful. I'm pretty sure I'll speak to a lot of people because that's the thing. We all wanna think that what we're doing is either right or wrong, but that's absolutely not the case. Like, what you did is how you got to where you were, but it's also good to reevaluate it.
Speaker 1:You know? I say it. I liken it with self care, for instance. What we use to relax in the car for ourselves in our teens, in our twenties, can be different from what we need in our thirties, our forties. And it's the same with a work, ethos, and focus.
Speaker 1:Because I was just about to say, like, you know, where did this come from? It's actually a young age to want to sort of be so focused and not run off with your pals and drink and run around and be silly, but to be so invested in helping other people, you know, and be a doctor or you wanna do the next stage. At the same time, I just think it's so I think it's great. I think it's great. And, also, you're paying, you know, yeah, you're paying the price, but you're paying a good price because people don't tend to be that self aware that young.
Speaker 1:You know? It's more act now, think later. So I don't know. I think it's a worthy cost. Like, yes, she's difficult to unpick, but it's that or the other way.
Speaker 1:You know?
Speaker 2:Yeah. I always say as, you know, I want to get to the end of my life and being able to be in a position where I could say, you know, I gave away everything and for me to give away everything in my life as in what I've built up that needs to be for me in my head at a certain point. And I know that can be done incrementally over a long period of time, which is something I do. But, you know, I want to make sure that, you know, my parents have everything that they deserve because of how they brought me up as well. So that will be very, very well looked after now.
Speaker 2:So basically on top of that, making sure I can serve as many people as I possibly can and give away as much as I possibly can. You know, I have big items I want to have not my own hospital. I want to, give ways to as much to charity as possible. They can, because I know at, you know, getting to the end of your life, there's nothing that you can really leave behind except what compounds for how many people you can help after you die as well. And if you're injured, I, that is probably rare.
Speaker 2:I grew up quickest as well. Just that thought of knowing that could all be over soon. So letting my, actually do it. So, yeah, no, that is a big, big thing. So as dark as somebody sound at another age, yeah, it was like just knowing that, you know, I have a greater purpose, which I personally want to work towards.
Speaker 2:And for me, luckily, that is very, very fulfilling, and my actual path to getting there is very, very fulfilling for me.
Speaker 1:Love it so much. I I have to ask this question because it's just something I think people would wanna know, but I really wanna come back to the hospital, but let's just quickly ask. So a lot of 23 year olds are not meant to in the same space to you. Is there any time that you just wanna go, oh, no. I said, I wanna go and sit in Xbox or, you know, you have a thing on unhook, or where do you think what separates you?
Speaker 1:How do you think you got this perspective?
Speaker 2:It's a really good question. So I'm sure there was a time that there was a time where, you know, I was definitely at a point where I was like, okay, I kind of want to tell if I kind of want to just relax and that is it. And I would know, I just want to get through, get bio, get through medicine. That's it. But then at some point, you know, it does click that you want to be more.
Speaker 2:And I think most people, most people do have this voice inside of them that says that they could be better. For me, it was just very, very loud because like, I just knew that, you know, it's the actions that I'm taking today that are gonna produce the results. I think everything that you see as a result of this is just a lagging measure of, what's actually been done in terms of work. So it definitely was a hang up. You know, I have people I look up to and I really want to be there, like really, really want to be there.
Speaker 2:And the pain of not fulfilling my absolute potential would be so, so great that it wouldn't make sense for me to do much else. Like it just really wouldn't. I really didn't want to do anything that didn't work me towards my goals because the work, the work I say, where could I already do it as well? The stuff I was doing is exactly what I wanna do. It's like, I pretty wouldn't do anything else with my time if I had the option except, you know, maybe spend some more time with friends that found more, which I'm truly trying to do now.
Speaker 2:But, you know, I've, I, I do say, you know, I've taken kind of a selfish route around this as well, because this is exactly what I wanna do. So it's like, for me, it's great, and I'm just glad that, you know, it can help other people as well.
Speaker 1:Amazing. Tell me, let's say that you may have friends that aren't as motivated as you and they want to be successful. I'm asking because I think that's what he, let's say, parents out there, their kids, maybe they're trying to get them to be more resilient. They're trying to get them to be more focused. They want them to work harder.
Speaker 1:Do you think that this is more of a natural thing for you? Will your parents directed you in certain ways? Are they tough in certain areas? Or or do you think that this is more of a this is how you've always been? So it's not
Speaker 2:No. It was actually quite the opposite. So my parents weren't, like, on my back about me doing anything. They were actually really rats. They just wanted me to be do well.
Speaker 2:Right. They really just wanted me to do well. And they were never in a position where they're like pushy about anything. And I think that was probably one of the biggest reasons why I did push myself as well, because I was like, okay, you've given me so, so much. It's this like, ideal reciprocity.
Speaker 2:Right. You've given me so, so much and you've asked the net thing except for me to do well. Right. And then you're like, okay, what's the most I can possibly do to make my parents proud at that point. And then you do absolutely everything that you can really.
Speaker 2:And, I mean, that was just a matter of asking yourself great questions again, as we, as we've talked about, because you ask yourself enough questions about what you could do, what you possibly could be, and you eventually find the truth. So the truth is what I was really looking for early stages in my life and I still am. The truth. It has to, what is it that I am not doing today that I should be doing? And then what is it that I really want to get out of this?
Speaker 2:And then a lot of people will lie to themselves about it, which is, you know, can get you to a certain extent. Won't get you to the end goal. So if you do really ask yourself, like, why is it that you're actually pushing yourself towards this? If your intentions are true and you do, you can look at yourself in the mirror and be like, this is why I really, really want to do this. You will inevitably have the drive to do it.
Speaker 2:It's whether it's today, whether it's tomorrow, whether it's at Sandpoint, when you've, when all the pieces of the puzzle line up, you will push yourself on a consistent basis to build habits, to be able to repeatedly execute on the actions. It's more about just asking yourself those questions to begin with, and then actually looking for the truth instead of tunnel self that you want to get to somewhere without knowing why. And then, without really looking deep into why as well.
Speaker 1:So much.
Speaker 2:I know. I sound like an absolute grandpa as well.
Speaker 1:You will. I love it. I love it. Oh, honestly, I'm about ready to get pen and paper and and lean in. Okay.
Speaker 1:So with this wonderful, perspectives that you have, which, again, I love. I've always loved it, and so I've always been very attracted to another people. I think it's really wonderful. I also know the other side to that is stress, anxiety, you know, overwhelm, and managing those emotions can be quite difficult. I think, yes, we're super lucky right now in that we're we're at the age of self care, wellness, well-being.
Speaker 1:You know? We're all gonna put our hand up. We can speak. You know? That's so it is definitely better, but I still think on on the ground tangibly, how does that look?
Speaker 1:How can people help ourselves? Like, how do you how do you move through that? You know, it's got to be stressful trying to be a doctor, you know, thinking, I better learn this because I don't, this one could go horribly wrong for somebody. That's a lot of pressure.
Speaker 2:It's a very, very good question. And yeah. So at the beginning, I didn't handle stress too well because I just didn't know how and, you know, figuring out how for yourself is your own journey. But the main, main thing that helped me to begin with was going to the gym. So just working on my fitness and, you know, when you go to gym, you release the energy that you have still left and said to you or the thoughts that you have running inside your head.
Speaker 2:And it's just quiet in your head for like an hour or so when you're in the gym. And it's just that piece that you're looking for. And then you have this automatic kind of reset into a new perspective as to what to do next. And then you realize that, you know, there's maybe stuff that I've been overthinking and there's maybe stuff that just needs to be done. I truly believe trust and anxiety comes about, especially in our space from just not doing the thing that you know you should be doing.
Speaker 1:Agree.
Speaker 2:That is the main main thing. So then I was like, okay, to do list quick, like, what is it that's in my head that I know I should be doing? And I'd literally just put up my notes in my phone and write down everything that's bothering me that I know has to be done, which I feel is piling up. That's been a head into, you know, urgent to do this radar task, which is like background task, which long term projects kind of thing. And then it's rep for it step by step.
Speaker 2:How I actually learned how to handle that initially, initial manifest mentors, you know, really learning how to manage time properly was a big, big thing, manage your time and energy properly. But one thing I don't talk about too much at all is I was heavy, heavy into the trading space, early on. So I always got, I was quite successful in the trades where I was there and that's where, you know, the same concepts apply, like learn as much as you possibly could. Can do as much research as you possibly can. Because I think in the training space, you know, anything outside of extreme research and learning is just gambling at that point.
Speaker 2:So, that's where I, you really, really am, you know, the highest come with the lows, the lowest come with the highs and you have to expect it. And then when it's as significant with collateral that you have on the line as well, when you're trained as well, you really learn very quickly what it takes to handle emotions is your emotion that you have the direct tangible responses to, or do you have done from a team? And it can be heavy, had load heavy heads. So it's like, yeah, you land very, very quickly. And then, and then it's, it's the other stuff.
Speaker 2:Are you looking onto Obviously, proper health, like proper energy and you'll be so bad. It's like with stress, like nutrition plays a big, big role. Like I remember when I was eating, like, you know, too much my gut health, my digestion wasn't good. I was just like feeling bad, brain fog, everything was horrible. And the before I cleared that off, it was, like, just a constant feeling of just getting through life and feeling like there's a fuzz.
Speaker 2:I don't know. I don't know if that makes sense. I mean, you do ever the stress just pause on top a lot quicker with that and you feel bad. It's it was one of those things.
Speaker 1:It's true. That's so true. Well, 100 questions. I wanna talk about you and your parents. I think what you're gonna have to do so everyone, Azeri, has, a podcast himself, and I think that you should get your parents on your podcast and ask some questions because I would love to hear from them as well and find that really interesting.
Speaker 1:Can you tell me I think that now it's, like, it's popular to go to the gym, and it's definitely got more now to, you know, be a gym goer, which is excellent in my book. However, you know, the little known benefits of the mental health aspects, they're not they're not yeah. People know. Logically, they know, but, mostly, I don't think the connect is really there yet. Where do you think that that's gonna go for people of your age?
Speaker 1:Do you think that that they will wanna pick up exercise just for the look? Do you encourage people to do it for the mental health aspects? Like, where where how would you motivate someone else to do it?
Speaker 2:So with exercise, with actual fitness itself, I think the actual aesthetic, the look, the actual goal that most people are thinking that they're going for is what pulls them into the door and gets that foot in the door in the 1st place. And then it's the feeling that you get from accomplishing and working towards goals and I'm the endorphins drawn from actually executing on exercise consistently and howling stretch and knowing what you're doing. Having clarity, I think the biggest thing that stops people at the start is the fear of the unknown. Like not knowing what to do, not knowing what to do is the biggest thing that stops people at the beginning, because the more uncertainty there is the more doubt that you have around what you can achieve and what to, what you should do to basically get to that goal. And then of course the mental health, the benefits of exercises, just immeasurable.
Speaker 2:Of course, we both like this because we've been through the whole space, but, you know, when you get in, like, you'll want to go again and again, it will all stop feeling like a chore. And I mean, mercenaries becomes like brushing your teeth and, you know, at the beginning, you know, when you're young, for example, your parents have to like force you to brush your teeth every day. Right. It's not something that you enjoy doing when you're a baby bed. It's now something that you don't even think about.
Speaker 2:It's one of those things. It just becomes a matter of building the habits, and you weren't even thinking you'd be could you go and also pilot to a certain point, and it's something that you feel like you have to do more than anything?
Speaker 1:Absolutely. It's it's more that you notice if you haven't been able to train or have not to do anything. That's when you really notice all of my mood. You know? I can feel it, how it's coming across.
Speaker 1:So that being said, where you've, you know, seen the benefits of fitness, and, yes, obviously, it's so great to have the outside changes. I I love it. I always think of it like building a house. I've always been very practical. So I love changing people's bodies, whether it's to build, to lose, to change shape.
Speaker 1:It I think it's underestimated because people paint it in such a, you know, lose weight, skinny you know, in such a direct way. But it's like, you know what? It can be fun. It's like when you do your hair. It's like when you pick a new outfit.
Speaker 1:Like, you can change how you perceive yourself. It can mean a enjoyable thing. Obviously, this is different. People have the solid eating, all these other things, but on the whole, it can be a fun aspect. But what also is a fun aspect is is, as you say, creating the habits, creating the routines to actually make life changes.
Speaker 1:Now we're probably coming from a of understanding, because we've been through it, how great it can be. However, as we all know, the fitness space is full of this horrifying diet crazy lines that, you know, must have started, I'd probably say, way before you were born, certainly, and maybe at a stretch, but definitely before I was born as well. Like, drink these things. You can't eat carbs after 6 o'clock. You know?
Speaker 1:Certain food groups are bad. This is terrible. You know? You will be able to burn £20 of body fat in 10 days if you eat this one thing or you do this one thing. Hassan is a doctor and someone that trains and coaches thousands of people.
Speaker 1:What are the myths that you can't wait to see the back of or that you find infuriate you?
Speaker 2:That's a very good question. There's a lot of myths flying around, and that's mainly because of how many people have a very round voice on social media, regardless of how should I audition it in this thing. So I even can say anything confidently enough and it becomes truth for some.
Speaker 1:We straight you know what? That is one of my biggest pet peeves. And it's not even me pointing finger at them. It's me pointing finger at me. I'm like, I, you know, I I look forward.
Speaker 1:Wish I had that quite good. It's So So you stop even bleeding. That's just whips. I wish I had that. I was like, yeah.
Speaker 1:Sorry. Because
Speaker 2:The the coincidence to say something that you don't actually know feel is fairly bad. Yeah. No. At that point, you know, it was sending the ad fell into a slippery slope for the earlier as well, like, when I didn't really know what to do at this step. And then it was, like, taken absolute with everything, right, taken absolute responsibility around that and absolute ownership for your hand.
Speaker 2:I've said, I was like, you know, if I'm still at the same weight or gaining weight while I'm eating healthy, quote unquote healthy, then what am I doing wrong here? And what this is, it's technically my fault that I've, just listened to someone shouting on social media telling me to cut out this food and I can eat as much of it as possible. And then that's, that's all I'm fat. That's what I tell myself. And then, you know, they advertise to every bit of my life.
Speaker 2:So it's like, so the biggest myths that you asked. So one big, big thing that I still hear is, you know, you still more fat later in the, when you eat later in the night or when you eat carbs or sugar later in the night. And it's the insulin spikes that are making you fat. And I've had this endless amount of times as well, and that needs to die because I would, I would love for people to not believe that it's just the meal timings that are making you gain weight, or it's just the carbs or the bread or the sugar or the pizza or the alcohol that's making you lose weight. And they're quote unquote unhealthy.
Speaker 2:There is no specific definition for healthy or unhealthy foods. Even health professionals, nutritionists, medical professionals who push this idea of, you know, those wide lines around, you know, what foods you can eat and you can eat. It's it has to be really, really made well aware that nutrition and diet is contextual. Everything that becomes a healthy and unhealthy is contextual. So if you eat 10 pizzas a day for 8 weeks straight, yes, that's unhealthy because you will be gaining fat.
Speaker 2:You will be gaining weight for most people. Right. Unless you're 500 kilos. Right. You, for most people, you will be gaining weight.
Speaker 2:So yes. At that point, you can say, you know, that in con only in context to your entire diet is unhealthy. But when it comes down to, okay, can, are, are these chocolate bars unhealthy? Well, if you've just eaten a chocolate bar and you know, the rest of you're and you've eaten nothing for the rest of the day, you're probably going to be burning fat. Right.
Speaker 2:So it's at that point, does do chocolate bars become healthy or is it because it's helping you lose fat? It's the same with, let's say, keto, for example. Right? You've gone into keto. Keto.
Speaker 2:You've most likely cut out most of the junk that you're eating. So you've less than air water weight to begin with. So you've rapidly lost magically less than a bench of weight because of keto and you kept losing weight and you've dropped £30 because of keto. When it was more in context with what was your calorie averages looking like across the week? And then were you losing weight also because you've cut out most of the junk that when I say, when I say junk, most of the stuff that you over consumed, which were calorically dense foods consistently over a long period of time, was that the actual actions?
Speaker 2:And then it comes down to wait, hold on. Did, did you give him that weight back? Just, and did, did you put back on more weight straight after you decided that this is actually unsustainable? And was it a measure of you feeling absolutely miserable and building up cravings to a point where you had to binge every night because you, well, at a certain point, because it was so difficult to stick to. I always say if you're starting a diet, like they would, unless you're in a competitive body, but like they would start something that you can't stick to for more than 3 weeks.
Speaker 2:Like if it's something that, you know, you're going to be bored of or miserable eating, and it just cut out all the foods that you like, you probably shouldn't be eating those foods in context because realistically, if you want to lose weight and keep it off, you have to be able to eat the foods you like, whatever. Right. You have to be able to consistently say that, you know, I can make some compromises here and there, and that's what's actually going to get me to my goal across the the level. And and then I can understand exactly what's in different foods instead of labeling it as healthy and unhealthy.
Speaker 1:A 100%. A 100%.
Speaker 2:I had a long winded answer to your questions.
Speaker 1:Hello, Garis. I no. I'm I'm I'm here because I'm like, yeah. That's you know, we we're both coaches. We both circle around the same conversations with our clients and people that we speak to on social media, and that's what it does come down to.
Speaker 1:And it's hard for people to believe, that. But that's where the yoyo comes from because, obviously, if you're restricting and you're not having the things that you want, where's that kind of you know, where are you gonna go from that? You're gonna inhale it. Well, we will do, which is also fine. I say to people all the time, like, you're not, you know, you're not an inhuman.
Speaker 1:You're not an animal for wanting to overeat some of your favorite foods. Like, it's a our human natural drive to want to eat. We want you to die of starvation and overeat. And so we our drive to eat is real. We're gonna do it.
Speaker 1:Certainly, if you're not being eaten through the day. So, yeah, like, you're setting yourself up to fail. So, absolutely, you may need to separate out. And if people didn't say, don't eat this, do eat that, they'd help me more. They'd be able to do that.
Speaker 1:So I absolutely agree. Now so tell me some of the funny things that I see that I I like. I mean, I I shouldn't even ask if this is purely b b b t h, but it's just, like, little things like the celery cleanse. Wake up in the morning and have a celery juice every morning to this is one of my favorite words that I wish I actually wish I could never hear, detoxify your body. So tell me, can I, because I'd love it if I could, can I get rid of the devil inside me, detoxify myself if I drink some of the celery juice?
Speaker 2:You actually can. So, like, you know, combining
Speaker 1:I'm excited.
Speaker 2:Combining saladry juice, cerammon juice, cinnamon powder, ginger, green tea, white tea will make you burn that 10 times faster and increase your metabolism by about 80%, I think. That's the, that's the, that's the very short answer to your question. That, that is completely false. So they're naturally, but they're very specifically foods that are going to completely detox your belly and start build up your metabolism and this and this right there. Generally just trends, which consistently fly around and that, you know, people are left being told what exactly what to do and exactly what not to do.
Speaker 2:And that it really doesn't work like that. When it comes down to it, you probably feel like you need a detox because everything else you eat, across the feed days or the huge meals that you had filled with, filled with foods that you're wanting to binge on because you've solved yourself. What I said, I've cut everything out. It's that building out the night before that's making you feel like you need a detox and feel like your digestion's off track. But when you look into what you're actually eating and really identify the food that may be not settling well in your void, that's when you you should probably reassess, you know, what what's actually working.
Speaker 2:What's what is actually needed for you to feel better.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Yeah. I love this. Okay. So you care very, very, very much about your parents, and they sound like amazing people.
Speaker 1:Now, obviously, you wanna look after them. You know? Eventually, I think, is wonderful. I hope my kids listen to this. Yeah?
Speaker 1:Follow our 3. No. But they tell me, how would you encourage them? What are the top things that you would want them to to keep them alive and kicking as long as possible? What aspects of life would you wanna
Speaker 2:That's a really good question. So they they're both wanting to work on their fitness to an extent. I think, you know, they, I was in the person that was telling them, like, you know, this is exactly, what maybe you should be changing this and this and this. Right. So they're wanting to work on it now.
Speaker 2:So the S things I am currently telling them now is first of all, which the, my room's actually doing very consistently is going on walks. It's getting sunlight in earlier in the day and going on walks as consistently as possible. So she goes on, you know, like a 30, 40 minute walk 3, 4 times a week. And what she's also found worked really works really well for her is getting into some light sport or activity in social groups. So for her, she plays badminton.
Speaker 2:So something like that, whether there's some level of accountability as well. So that's also helped then. The main thing is like, actually maybe picking up some weights, weight training, not having some structure around some weight training is always, always going to be beneficial because you want to feel strong. You want to feel healthy and you want to feel like the best version of yourself. And the best way to do that is actually rank them your strength logically, like working on building some lean tissue.
Speaker 2:And no women are not going to turn into bodybuilders by picking up, fish it up at 5, 10 pound then there, then they're going to suddenly turn into mister Olympia and miss Olympia, basically from going to the gym. Please do go to the gym, work on yourself. It doesn't happen by accident. You will not turn into a bikini competitor like Allie overnight. She's she's put another lot of work of, Sarah Cross into getting those right, but you will do a better thing, get to that healthy confident version of yourself that you want to actually become.
Speaker 2:So going on walks, weight training and, nutrition, really making sure you're aware of calorie numbers in foods. That's one big, big thing that's going to serve you for the long run. So maybe even, you know, if you're not ready, start checking labels that, you know, just to get an idea of what's in certain foods. If you can track and that's something that you can make, at work into habit, then that's quite as rare. Like, I know Anika is quite deep inside into her, how she helps women as well.
Speaker 2:So making sure that you are able to know what you're actually putting inside your body instead of guessing. So it's very easy to guess or forget about the little snacks that you've had here and there's, or the oils, the sauces, which you may let go, but, like, may not even think adds up. That is the small things that you might not think adds up, even down to healthier foods. Right? Sure.
Speaker 1:That's a difficult one, I think, because there's definitely as you said earlier, there's healthy foods, people believe, and there's not healthy foods. And so then if we eat the healthy foods, then we're gonna see a change in our shape, and most people are wanting to then lose weight or burn body fat to eat as well as eat healthy foods. Actually, as we know, you know, some of these wonder are so wonderful and look lovely on plate and do include lots of wonderful ingredients. You know? Having a breakfast of salmon, avocados, eggs, toast.
Speaker 1:Yeah. That's that's a that's a big old breakfast. Yeah. You're not you're looking at almost half a day's a calorie there in one meal. But, you know, I think the perception is still a little bit skewed.
Speaker 1:So I think, yeah, as as we said, it's always worth you know, I encourage people to do it. Like dating, do it when you don't need it. You know? You don't wanna be looking for love when you're suddenly feeling that I want a relation. Do it when you don't need to.
Speaker 1:Go on there. Keep your eyes open. Keep it fun. Even even if you're not interested in weight loss, even if you're not interested in body fat. But just for your own health, you can say, you know what?
Speaker 1:I should I know I should be having more veggies. I know I should be having a bit more fiber. I know I should be having a bit more protein. How can I do that? You can do that by, as as we said, look.
Speaker 1:Look what you're having. I encourage people to track. Give it a go. You know? It doesn't have to be for any end result other than knowledge.
Speaker 1:And I think that, yeah, a 100% that's such the one of the best things that someone could do for themselves. And, anyway, so last, let's wrap this up because I know that you're very, very busy and important man, Kenny. We're going to do a part 2, so I wanna chat to you, but it's gonna open up a up a black hole. And I know you wanna get on. So, a couple of little questions for you.
Speaker 1:I have to say this even though I'm lying. This was not my question for you, but it's will be able to understand how young you are. I was gonna say, if you could take yourself back to 10 years ago, what advice would you give yourself? How old were you 10 years ago, Azeri?
Speaker 2:I was 13.
Speaker 1:Thank you very much. What a bunch. Right now. So okay. If I could ask you, what is one attribute that you would like to have for yourself in 10 years' time?
Speaker 1:Is it you have to wait. We can't wait now, but forward thinking, what's something you would like? Bearing in mind the things that you've said about being able to be a bit more relaxed, not worrying about how it's perceived, and having more fun. How how do you think you could do that? A person like you, you're very structured, you're forward thinking, self aware.
Speaker 1:How could you incorporate that? How could you bring that joy and that freedom in? How how did it you could do that?
Speaker 2:I think what I really want in 10 years' time is just to be more present. I do still feel I'm very much wrapped in this, you know, tunnel vision kind of mindset, but that does take away from a lot of, you know, what is actually going on in real life. And, you know, you get to a point where it's, you, you always look outside and look around you and you're like, why did other people think like this? Or why is I was doing this? And then you realize that, you know, it's you're not you're not necessarily meant to like, and not everyone is meant to think a certain way.
Speaker 2:Like not everyone is, should or has to think a certain way around everything. And I think being more present, I already understand this, but it's one of those things that I understand and don't really implement with trying to be more present and trying to actually let go of this idea of working hard. Like I think that was one of the biggest things that helped me like scale up as well. Like, you know, this need to prove myself or work in Huddl is Simon said this to me a while ago. He was like, and I was like, oh, I know.
Speaker 2:I'm it was a mentor. I was like, you know, I'm doing this, this, this, and I was like, I I was so proud of myself as well. I was like, you know, I got this done, got this done, this done, this done. And I was like, oh, and then, just literally directly straight dead in the eyes and just said, like, why do you feel like you need to prove yourself? And what do you feel is making you want to tell me that you're working hard and what is the actual outcome of this?
Speaker 2:Like, but, but, but, and then you're like, okay, so what is the actual outcome of the work that you're facing in? How can you actually be doing more? I average tasks and buy back as much time as possible and get the actual outcome that you're working towards when you're working. And then outside of that, like, how can you actually have the freedom to be more present? And I hope to get to a point where, you know, I have freedom in what I want to do day to day without the feeling like I'm without the guilt around around that.
Speaker 2:So I don't know if that makes sense at all.
Speaker 1:Yeah. Yeah. That's right. I absolutely love how you speak and how you see the world. I think it's amazing.
Speaker 1:And I say this. I'm gonna say it even with fear that I'll be condescending away from that word. Is that right? Number 1, I think that your brain, even if it's full of pressure, is special because it's really exciting and where it's taking you and the things that you've done. You've had lots of big adventures in a short period of time, and they're adventures that are meaningful to you.
Speaker 1:You know, what else is there? So don't always you know, yes. You're at the right crossroads again. I need to incorporate some new virtues, but, like, it's amazing. I think it's absolutely incredible.
Speaker 1:It's wonderful. And, also, though, try not to get into the trap of thinking I need to like, presence becoming more present is something that you do when you age. That's what it is. You know? I'm sure you've been out with your mom, and she's you know, you've gone for lunch with her, and she stops in the restaurant.
Speaker 1:Come out. Cut the window. Look at that ring light. Wow. Look at that meal.
Speaker 1:Doesn't it look so nice? I think you bloody hell mom get a grip. Just some eggs and place it on a bit of plate. It's Asia that does that, and I do that with my kids. You know?
Speaker 1:Like, wow. Look at the sky. It's so big. If I just said that to myself 10 years ago, I'm like, I need to pack it in, get on with the day. You know what I mean?
Speaker 1:It just comes with because you realize that you're not gonna see it again. Whereas when you hunger, that's part of it. What I'm trying to say in a long winded way is it's like, I'd say it's normal one better that you're on that side of the fence. But, no, I think it's amazing. And then lastly, just a very silly question because it's fine.
Speaker 1:We all like to, do fun things. If you weren't a doctor, if everything got taken away from you, the business online, sorry about that. See you later, business. No more doctoring. What would you be doing?
Speaker 2:It's a very, very good question, actually. I always I thought about this a lot as well. It's like, you know, I've always thought about it, like, I kinda have to be ready to lose it all at any point, which is why I don't I hate linking my identity exactly. A certain point in my life is to where I'm at or anything. So, what would I be doing if, well, back thinking about me, like, like, working towards new avenues as to scaling my learning, like, my skill sets.
Speaker 2:Like, I would, I would do anything to train my time to basically acquire more skillsets too. That's that's, honestly, like, I don't see this. You know, let's lay back. There's what I don't see there being a day in the future where I want to like be in a place where, you know, laying back at the beach. Right.
Speaker 2:And I don't see that being the end goal. If that, if it gets to that point, then great. But that's not what I'm feeling like I would be doing if I lost everything. That's what I was working towards again. It would be normal.
Speaker 2:I'm grateful now to be able to play the game, basically. It's like, as soon as I lose momentum or anything like that, that's when I feel in my absolute worst. If we're talking mental health, it's when I slow down, like if everything is going fast, it makes it easier for me to not sit with my own thoughts. And I know that's where it can get that clear. I know that's where it can be like a very difficult road.
Speaker 2:And, you know, if I really did lose everything, I had to start over kind of thing. It would just be my own thoughts are the I feel like I would be sitting with, and, like, it's just whatever can be done to avoid that process of staying in the same place, basically. So it would be a quash once it goes. So yeah.
Speaker 1:Do you do meditation or anything like that?
Speaker 2:I've been meaning to. I've really, really been meaning to.
Speaker 1:You know what I used to do? I still do it now. I've been in a bit, like, wild stress, so I couldn't always meditate. I'd set my alarm on my little Apple Watch for 5 minutes to start, actually 3 minutes between her, and just do nothing. And I wasn't allowed to go on my phone.
Speaker 1:I wasn't allowed to jump off and make a cup of tea. I wasn't allowed to do, meaning I couldn't clean or. I just had to sit and chill. And no reaction. No social media.
Speaker 1:Nothing. The TV's not fine. Let it roll, but I think and that was my form of meditation just to slow down my thoughts. Like he's saying earlier, I just help you then react to what you're doing. I'm only saying this to you because I just feel that, yeah, you're fast.
Speaker 2:I like it this way at this point. I know it's not somewhere to live. Like, I don't think that this, mind or mindset or like this frame of mind is somewhere that's to be for me to be living in for the rest of my life. I just definitely do see it as seasons.