By Mahfuz Mizan and Nisha Ali
Photos: Ashraf Uddin Apu
“The starting point of all achievement is desire” – Napolen Hill
Ideas are a dime a dozen – even the great ones. But it only matters when you can churn that idea into something substantial and make it flourish. Breaking conventions is always difficult, sometimes even considered a taboo, although true success lies when you can tough it out and come out victorious. This month we bring to you men who dared to do it differently and we bring to you their riveting tales of success. Read on as they discuss their achievements and passions.
Working out in a gym on a regular basis is generally associated with an objective to lose weight in our culture. ‘Fitness training is not just about becoming skinny, it’s about being in the best shape you can. I have clients who come to lose weight, those who aim to gain weight, and also those who wish to maintain themselves overall. It’s about getting into a shape that you desire,’ says Ruslan, fitness expert and entrepreneur. Ruslan, whose humble beginnings included a one room studio for working out with one of each type of equipment is now the proud owner of a 3000 square feet gym called “Ruslan’s Studio” with a rapidly increasing client base.
It’s one thing that an overweight individual works hard to shed the extra pounds for absolute body sculpting, but to make a successful career out of it is something extraordinary. In Ruslan Hossain’s inspiring story of success, an obese person literally transforms into a “fitness expert” and runs one of the most popular fitness centres in the capital.
Back in 2005, Ruslan used to be a young, obese individual who ran out of breath climbing stairs. Fed up with his bodily encumbrance, he began working out at a gym with his friend. Not knowing much about fitness, he religiously followed whatever the trainer there asked him to do. Soon, the results were visible but he wasn’t satisfied, “I could see my arms pumping up and this motivated me to work harder, but I didn’t actually want a large build. I was aiming for a six-pack with a lean build.” He set out in search for his desired physique by following the routine of others who had that structure. ‘I often visited the bodybuilding.com forum because it’s a treasure trove of information on nutrition and workout plans. After collecting information on the forum, I put my knowledge into practice,’ reveals Ruslan.
‘First and foremost, comes the diet for sculpting your body and then a tailored workout routine to help you achieve your goal,” adds Ruslan, who as a certified nutritionist provides individualised diet plans besides workout routine to all his clients.”When I began to work out, my parents and elders used to say that being on a diet has nothing to do with fitness. Then one day I saw my trainer having chapatis with honey, that’s when I realised that my diet is a vital part to accomplish my goal.” Through studies, gradually he gained an idea of what food consists of how many calories and what proportion one should have to stay fit.
Ruslan participated in quite a few bodybuilding competitions in his initial years. He won a competition organised by Sports Zone in 2007 and was in the top four for Mr. Bangladesh contest in 2011. “I used to work out relentlessly. Even if I was ill, I would get back as soon as I recovered,” informs Ruslan. He completed a Bachelor (Honours) in Food Science & Nutrition from Kolkata in 2011. To become a professional fitness trainer, he also pursued a long distance six month course for Specialists Performance Nutritionist from the International Sports Science Association in USA.
Ruslan’s first gym set up was a spare room in his flat in Mohakhali DOHS, where his friends became his first clients who were inspired by his total transformation.”It was a small set up so I couldn’t call it a gym, hence I opted for the word studio. Due to space constraints, I couldn’t train more than ten people at a time, but I got great feedback,’ he recalls. After a while, with increased members, he shifted to another space in Mohakhali DOHS by the end of 2010.
Ruslan added more equipment along with assistant trainers and coached them on how to train each member depending on their goal. He tailored different diets and work-out plans for the members.”We’ve had clients who want to gain weight, develop a six-pack and elderly people who wish to retain a healthy lifestyle’. He monitors his clients himself and he also sits down with them for personal consultation.”If they are sincere and determined to transform themselves, I back them up a hundred percent,” tells Ruslan. Due to the personalised attention from the fitness expert and assistant trainers as well as positive word of mouth, the number of members has grown rapidly, and in less than six months Ruslan’s Studio shifted to a prime location in Banani.
Now a satisfied fitness expert, Ruslan hopes to increase his knowledge on how to train better. He plans to sit for exams for a Certified Fitness Trainer from the American College of Sports Medicine. The dedicated fitness trainer is uncompromising regarding the training equipment and keeps upgrading them on a regular basis even if it means huge sum of investment.
When asked why he opted for a career in fitness, as it’s not perceived favourably in Bangladesh, he responded, “Sheer passion. I think the social perception is changing now. People have begun to understand the significance of leading a healthy lifestyle and they are more aware regarding fitness, which brings more respect to the profession.”
Ruslan intends to eventually open up a fitness club with a swimming pool, gym and court for outdoor games and at the same time keep training individuals to stay fit.”Beginners in the gym must know that 90% of the transformation is in one’s head and the rest depend on their eating habits and work out. It is difficult and you’ll want to give up but you need to have the mental strength to keep going,” states Ruslan.