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Lifestyle coach Mantaha Maqsood bashes fitness myths and tells us what works — or doesn't

Lifestyle coach Mantaha Maqsood bashes fitness myths and tells us what works — or doesn't

A former banker, Maqsood says she gets her edge by personalizing diet plans instead of following the fitness fad pack
03 Feb, 2016

It took a big leap of faith for Mantaha Maqsood to get where she is today.

For one, she had to leave her desk job at a prestigious firm in the Big Apple. Venturing into the unknown and pairing it with hard work, Mantaha's journey from banker to health and lifestyle coach has been an eventful one.

In a few months, Maqsood’s fitness program under her headquarters at The Wellness Company in Karachi has expanded multifold. Her vision is crystal clear: fitness is the route to a blissful life.

The beginning of the empire

“While I was working out at a local gym in New York, women started showing interest in my workout techniques instead of following the trainer. The trainer flat out said to me that this is a 'calling from God'. I was already put off with my current job and wanting to live a more active lifestyle. The next step was a phone call to my father to tell him that I was going to be a wellness coach," she shares.

"He put down the phone and didn’t speak to me for six months because he was scared of the preconceived notions about fitness instructors who wear tights and dance. Over times, things have changed; now he’s proud of my achievements and sends me his patients as he’s a dermatologist and many of them experience skin problems due to weight issues."

Maqsood is extremely focused on high-intensity physical fitness. —Photo courtesy: Mantaha Maqsood's Facebook page
Maqsood is extremely focused on high-intensity physical fitness. —Photo courtesy: Mantaha Maqsood's Facebook page

After getting the green light from her parents, she searched for the best appropriate institute in America and enrolled herself into the Cooper School run by Dr. Kenneth Cooper, the founder of aerobics.

Changing lives, one body at a time

Mantaha was driven by the idea that every “body” is different and therefore requires particular focus to flourish.

"You have got to know your trainee inside out, know every detail about them. You have to go the extra mile, otherwise it becomes a very studio-oriented class."

The required requisite to become a lifestyle and fitness coach is a test in which you have to go through changing lives whether it's through a holistic wellness approach or working of the mind, body and soul.

Mantaha teaches smaller groups so that every trainee gets her utmost attention. —Photo courtesy: Mantaha Maqsood's Facebook page
Mantaha teaches smaller groups so that every trainee gets her utmost attention. —Photo courtesy: Mantaha Maqsood's Facebook page

You are required to change the lives of "at least ten people in this way in a span of four to five months and if you can do that, they certify you as a wellness coach," she relayed.

And herein lies the difference between a trainer and a coach, according to Maqsood.

"A trainer will only guide you as far as your physical fitness is concerned which is based on four components: resistance, strength, cardiovascular training and flexibility. A trainer is a specialist in one field. When I'm focusing on strength, I do resistance training and cross fit, which is a high intensity workout where you are increasing your endurance levels and burning fat at the same time while a coach covers all four components."

Maqsood also teaches Zumba, a rigorous form of dance fitness program. —Photo courtesy: Mantaha Maqsood's Facebook page
Maqsood also teaches Zumba, a rigorous form of dance fitness program. —Photo courtesy: Mantaha Maqsood's Facebook page

There is nothing more comforting than achieving her client's goals who feel satisfied and happier when they walk out, a testament to her highly personalized and customized commitment. The no-nonsense approach she takes to exercise and nutrition is infectious; she maintains that her high-intensity workout will torch calories, speed up metabolism and boost energy levels.

She also remains positive that the workout after-burn will ensure that one continues to burn calories till the next scheduled workout. Additionally, the nutrition plan will ensure a healthy transition.

She added that although it is hard to inculcate change in a client, you know you have succeeded when you have made a difference when their personal goals go higher: "There are people who have lost the belly fat they had in the beginning but they are now aiming for a six-pack."

Shed the pounds and get buff

I couldn't help but bring up the age old question: why are people resistant to building muscle mass?

Mantaha was quick to bust some myths about strength training. "It's a myth that strength training will make you 'fat'. There's a difference between a sculpted body and being a stick figure, and you should aim for the former. Gaining muscle will actually help you burn fat and calories much more efficiently."

Mantaha says that healthy, balanced eating — that is, making sure your body gets all its nutrients — is a must. "You must fuel the body to be able to exercise at all," she says. "People in Pakistan must learn to ignore the weight scale and look past things like the Atkins diet; these are a thing of the past."

Mantaha has no shortage of celebs endorsing her workouts such as HSY (L) and Wardha Saleem
Mantaha has no shortage of celebs endorsing her workouts such as HSY (L) and Wardha Saleem

So what should one focus on?

"Bar training or Pilates is the way to go! It puts less pressure on bodies as it elongates your muscles and increases elasticity. For those who wish to avoid rigorous exercises, like Zumba, this is recommended, especially for women because as they grow older, their bodies are prone do osteoporosis and arthritis so this aids in alleviating that."

Bye bye fad boot camps?

"No boot camp gives you five diet plans that change every week and if my client’s cravings are going haywire then I switch the plan. I spend my weekends making those diet plans, if I have to," states Mantaha. who insists you can't be commercially driven.

Mantaha regularly posts pictures of food and shares recipes with clients to keep them motivated to eat right. —Photo courtesy: Mantaha Maqsood's Facebook page
Mantaha regularly posts pictures of food and shares recipes with clients to keep them motivated to eat right. —Photo courtesy: Mantaha Maqsood's Facebook page

"Before I give out a diet plan, I want to see the client's blood report and support every food plan with a written recipe. There are certain spices that you can’t have and certain herbs that rev up the metabolism. Each week, the intensity in the workout may vary and the diet plan fits in the weekly regimen would follow. It’s very calculated, customized and result oriented."

The proof is in the results

Mantaha had this to say about her stint in Lahore last month to test the market: "If you give Lahoris the right food plan, they respond very well."

One of her clients, Haroon Jillani had nothing but good things to say about the fitness expert.

"My time with Mantahaa resulted in me losing 8 kgs in 4 weeks! She's by far the only trainer that focuses on understanding her trainee on a personal level."

Lahore's boot camp ended with loyal clients committed to staying fit —Photo courtesy: Mantaha Maqsood's Facebook page
Lahore's boot camp ended with loyal clients committed to staying fit —Photo courtesy: Mantaha Maqsood's Facebook page

Her clientele is diverse in age, gender and proportions and there's a reason why even celebrities such as fashion designer Shamaeel Ansari and actress Aamina Sheikh are endorsing her action-packed classes.

"A change in lifestyle and the importance of a healthy routine is a battle that we must face each day and there are no cheat days," said Asim Farooqui, another dedicated fitness follower.

What lies ahead?

Planning to create maintenance guides for her customers of Mantaha’s bikini body guide plans and videos she has only one message to give that no matter who we are, we all should be exercising and engage in some form of regular physical activity in order to maintain a healthy mind and body. Finding solace in a way she interacts with people and inspire them, she likes to take each day as it comes and savor each and every moment.

Comments

Parvez Feb 03, 2016 12:41pm
What this says is that success and personal satisfaction requires one to be bold and think out-of-the-box.
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Shaz Ahmed Feb 03, 2016 01:37pm
Well done Mantaha! You are doing a great job inspiring people to be fit and look after their health especially as they grow older..
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JAWAD Feb 03, 2016 02:15pm
More and more people should be like Mantaha! this is so healthy staying fit means live longer and away from diseases such a heart failure!
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Shiraz Feb 03, 2016 03:29pm
One factor which can help everyone is the food intake. Do not over eat, avoid carbs, sugars, bad fats and with this regime, even a 30-45 minutes daily brisk walk will do wonders.
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FB Feb 03, 2016 03:44pm
As a certain proportion of the population gets richer, they have more expendable income. This allows them to spend on their well being and satisfaction. Mantaha has been able to identify this gap in the market and I think this is very intelligent thinking. There is still a big gap for such coaches in the market that can provide tailor made solutions to individual cases. I still think walking is the best and most economical way to stay fit and healthy, specially for our ladies who seldom leave home. This is the only exercise that you can do your whole life unless you are less-abled in a certain way. I have this as an example from my dad who controlled his diabetes with daily long walks for nearly 40 years, and only resorted to insulin at the later stage to support his changing lifestyle with age.
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FB Feb 03, 2016 03:44pm
With walk, you can always start slow and then build up, enjoy your time, release of energy and surrounding environment. But if you need quick results, obviously there is nothing better than to contact Mantaha as her regimen definitely works.
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M.Saeed Feb 03, 2016 08:46pm
There is book "Diet and Common Sense" which is the only definite answer to everything related with dieting. It concludes that, there is no definite rule that would work for each and every person in need of weight loss . But, the only definite conclusion is in a very simple and common formula. It says, avoid to the maximum the following "white evils" in your food intake: 1) White flour, 2)White oils, 3) White sugar and 4) White salt. There are detailed scientific reasons given for all the above food items being not good for heath, which are all very convincing.
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Arif Feb 03, 2016 09:31pm
I am so glad, finally there is some attention to fitness and diet habits. I have lived abroad since 2005 and i have seen determined people go out for a jog in -35C temperatures. Hats off to them. I have also been to the Mr. Olympia in Las Vegas. I never realized people can be so obsessed with fitness. Keep up the good work Mantaha, whether its Zumba, 21-day fix or P90X or Insanity.......we as a nation need to get fit and get rid off that obesity.
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Shakil Ahmed Feb 03, 2016 09:40pm
finally someone paying attention to fitness for Pakistani women who thinks staying slimmer is only required until you get married! after that most of them dont really care and end up piling up pounds and pounds of weight. This need to change for right reasons not just for getting the good rishta :) Staying fit will keep away the usual illnesses attach to asians.
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FB Feb 03, 2016 10:12pm
@M.Saeed : Sugar in any form is bad if not taken in moderation. As a side note, "sweeteners" (also found in soft drinks as diet options and some foods) are the worst offenders as recent studies discovered they raise insulin resistance by tricking the body into believing that food intake is sweet. This releases insulin in the blood. A persistent time use may trigger diabetes. I used to drink mostly diet drinks for the last few years to rid of any extra calories in food but have come off them in the last few months and consume only regular versions in moderation.
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shams Feb 03, 2016 10:51pm
If you are living and without broken bones, Stay in shapes!!!
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Anwar Sadiqque Feb 03, 2016 11:05pm
Good think, it could look like a gym in the US. The glaring difference is there aren't men in these photos. In the US men and woman workout at the same gym.
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Tariq, Lahore Feb 04, 2016 12:59am
Eat when your hungry and don't eat for the sake of eating. As one gets older 40+ start to eat earlier in the evenings this will allow your body to digest food before retiring for the night. And of course take regular exercise!
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Rao Feb 04, 2016 08:25am
Where can I find here
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ayazali Feb 04, 2016 09:36am
really appreciate the people who bring these ideas and make the people life style change and ultimatly good health .. .... our country is flourishing by efforts of these people ... ..
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mansoor Feb 04, 2016 02:28pm
@Shiraz Carbohydrates(carbs) is the prime source of energy to the body and avoiding carbs is invitation to high protein diet which is toxic if overdone and causes metabolic syndrome. Avoid SAD diets which are now popular the world over particularly in affluent sections of the societies. SAD stands for Standard American diet- high protein, high fat.
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Usman Feb 05, 2016 09:39pm
@Anwar Sadiqque You obviously haven't been to the US or Canada, there are many women only gyms
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A. Khan Feb 05, 2016 11:00pm
It takes a lot of commitment to visit the gym even 2-3 times a week. Whenever I visit Pakistan, I see the overweight "aunties', who sit around all day moaning about the cook, cleaner and maid. Sorry to point this out, but their lack of exercise is the direct cause of their weight issues. They should get up off their backsides and do all the house work themselves as there is no better way to stay fit. The satisfaction will be higher but the commitment is the same as required to visit the gym. Moderate food intake and exercise, which does not have to be at a gym and does not need to cost you a penny.
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