A ROAD LESS TAKEN

FITNESS COACH, MINHAZ REMO OUTLINES THE IMPORTANCE OF FUNCTIONAL TRAINING AND EMPHASISES THE WAYS IT BRANCHES OUT ACROSS ALL SORTS OF EXERCISES FOR BOTH CIVILIANS AND ATHLETES.

 

 

 

What is functional performance?
Functionality means serving a purpose and functional performance came into existence to address the concern that the aesthetics of fitness was being prioritised over performance. Fitness has five components – muscular strength, muscular endurance, cardiovascular endurance, body composition and flexibility. Body composition often takes centre-stage in mainstream fitness, but in actuality, it complements functionality, lifestyle and sports. As a result, we have neglected the other four components. Functional performance came into existence to fill this current gap in training. It branches out across all types of exercises, enabling individuals and athletes to train with a purpose.

How do you address the importance of functional performance with your clients, who, like most of us, have been misguided by unrealistic fitness goals?
The pressure to conform to unrealistic fitness goals is tantamount in our society, thanks to global media. I help my clients navigate out of these expectations and find health and fitness regimes that are more suitable for their bodies. I first ask my clients to define fitness. Initially they have a hard time articulating what it means. But through discussions, I help them identify their needs. I’ve recently been consulting with a client who has been medically advised to shed 10-15 kilograms. She identified that the outcome of weight loss for her would mean that she would be able to enjoy other aspects in life. Looking good, spending time with children and having a healthy heart are some incentives to stay active. More importantly, because she has hypothyroidism, exercise would be a good way to regulate her hormone levels. She realised that she needed cardio training so she does a lot of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) now. In order to carry her children around, she undergoes muscular endurance and strength. When she was able to grasp the idea that fitness is more than just a number on the scale, the pressure was lifted off of her. I also demonstrated to her that her weight gain didn’t happen overnight, hence fitness won’t happen in a short span of time either.

As someone equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge, what myths surrounding fitness and health need to be debunked?
Myth: Fitness is about looks
Fitness is not just about looks. Functionality is a major aspect of fitness. For example, a writer who needs to sit for hours at a stretch, hunched over a computer, would need a strong mid-section and a resilient neck to reduce risk of injury. Their functional performance would require core and lower back strengthening, and developing their trapezius.

Myth: Your age determines your ability to get fit.
It’s never too early nor too late to get into fitness. You can start being fit from as young as five years old, to whatever your age is right now. What is more important, instead, is that your training regimen needs to be proportional to your strength.

Myth: Gender factors into certain workouts
When you are participating in a fitness routine, the only thing the body understands is how it adapts to certain stimulus. Women and men are different in their biological layout, but that’s only due to their hormones and sex organs. The only thing women cannot do is build as high a volume of muscles as men as their testosterone levels are lower. But women, just like men, have the ability to get strong and optimise their functional performance.

Myth: Having a six-pack demonstrates fitness
To attain a six-pack, your body weight and body fat percentage needs to be low, but if taken to an extreme, could actually be dangerous for you. Fat is essential for survival. It produces certain hormones, regulates body temperature, and provides padding for our body to sit comfortably. Be it cricket, golf, NFL, NBA or rugby, you won’t see too many athletes sporting a six-pack, but rather see them excel at functional performance.

 

 

 

 

Beyond functional training, you’re also a precision nutrition coach. Could you please share some advice on what a good balance diet should look like?
The typical Bangladeshi diet consists of large portions of carbohydrates and oily foods. While there’s nothing wrong with having decadent foods, our proportionality is really off the charts. A general civilian model should consist of 60% to 70% carbohydrates, 30% protein, and 10% fat. However, athletes might require different ratios of these three components. The timing of food intake matters as well. Some foods can help release certain hormones, while other could stimulate the appetite. Thus, the food you eat, and the time you eat it can impact your functionality.

 

IT’S NEVER TOO EARLY NOR TOO LATE TO GET INTO FITNESS. YOU CAN START BEING FIT FROM AS YOUNG AS FIVE YEARS OLD, TO WHATEVER YOUR AGE IS RIGHT NOW.

 

 

You are also an entrepreneur. Could you tell us about your venture, Momium, and what it aims to achieve?
Momium started as an effort to correct the narrative surrounding healthy foods. A client once noticed that I was having peanut butter spread and asked me why I was having something unhealthy, especially because it had chocolate in it. I gave them a nutritional breakdown of what’s in it, and they were enthusiastic to try it. I started debunking some misconceptions surrounding these foods, and from there, began the journey of the food brand, Momium. It is owned by my mother, Parvin Begum, and we like to call it, “The healthiest spread in the market.” There are 5 spreads – hummus, peanut butter, coco peanut butter, almond butter and sweet chili sauce, and new flavours will be added soon.
Through this brand, I am trying to encourage people to explore nutrition as something inclusive, rather than restrictive. It’s not what you’re eating; it’s how much. My aim is to tailor the brand in alignment with health. We’ve been distributing to different parts of Dhaka and beyond, and so far, it has been positively received.

 

Photographs: Courtesy of Minhaz Remo