That sentence used to haunt me. I’d start strong on Monday. Meal prep. Gym. No snacks. Full motivation. By Friday? One slip-up — and boom. Everything gone. Back to square one. Again. It wasn’t the diet that was the problem. It was the mindset. See, most of us try to be perfect. But perfection isn’t sustainable. Life isn’t that neat. The truth? You will fall off. You will miss workouts. You will eat something “off-plan.” That’s not failure. That’s being human. The real failure? Quitting because you weren’t perfect. What changed everything for me was this simple rule: “Never miss twice.” If I miss a workout today — I make sure I move tomorrow. If I overeat at dinner — I eat clean the next meal. That rule alone built more consistency than any 6-week shred program ever did. You don’t need to go hard for 7 days. You need to show up, even if it’s just 50%, for 70 days. Discipline over motivation. Systems over hype. Progress over perfection. And most importantly — start thinking of your health like your salah. If you miss a prayer, do you give up? No. You return. You make it up. You stay connected. Do the same with your body. It’s an amanah. You don’t need to be extreme — just consistent.

I’ve had dessert nearly every night for the last few years — and i have stayed in shape the whole time No, I’m not joking. I’ve fasted in Ramadan, eaten Eid sweets, gone to countless walimas and dinner invites, and still managed to stay in shape. Over the years, I’ve tried everything — low carb, high carb, keto, intermittent fasting, carnivore, you name it. But for the last 10 years, my routine has been super simple. It works with my lifestyle, not against it. I can go to family events, break my fast with guests, or eat out with friends — and still stay lean. Many brothers I’ve coached or who’ve eaten with me end up adopting this approach. Once they do, they rarely go back. I’m not saying this is the most scientifically perfect method out there. I’m just sharing what’s worked for me. Here’s how it works: 1. Start with your goal.Are you trying to lose weight or gain it? Be real with yourself. If you want to lose weight quick get your body weight in lbs and x that by 7-9 for extreme weight loss If you want to lose weight slowly then x that by 10 -12 Want to maintain ? x by 13 - 15 Want to Gain ? x by 16 - 21 1. Multiply your bodyweight by a number based on your goal: Example: You weigh 200lbs and want to lose weight → 200 × 10 = calories (this is in lbs, but you can convert to kg or stick with lbs for easier math). Now that’s your daily calorie target. So in this example that is 2000 calories That is how much you need to be consuming in order to lose weight Now the best part is it does not matter if that is 2000 calories of fast food or clean proteins. As long as you do not go above that number you will lose weight 3. Protein first, always. You want to eat 1g of protein per pound of body weight (or ~2.2g per kg). So if you’re 80kg, aim for around 160g of protein a day. Each 100g of chicken breast, fish, or lean beef is about 20–25g of protein. So you’ll need 600–800g of lean meat total per day if you only get protein from meat.

Growing up, weight was always something I struggled with. I was that kid who got out of breath easily.The one who’d avoid PE, sit out during games, and pretend I was “just tired” when really… I was embarrassed.I didn’t like how I looked, I didn’t feel strong, and deep down, I thought maybe I just wasn’t meant to be fit. But what hurt more than the body was the mind.I’d look in the mirror and feel stuck — ashamed of how I looked and unsure of how to change it. Family meant well, but advice was either extreme or inconsistent."Stop eating rice.""Just go for a run.""You're just lazy."None of it helped. And none of it addressed the emotional and spiritual side of the struggle. As I got older, I made the decision, I didn’t want to carry this version of myself into adulthood. So I started learning. I made mistakes. I tried every shortcut.,But eventually, through consistency, training, and turning back to my faith, I started to transform — not just physically, but mentally and spiritually too. This group exists for the younger me.For the brother who’s tired of being tired.For the sister who’s sick of fad diets that don’t align with our deen.For the Muslims who want to lose weight without losing themselves.Who want to feel strong in their salah, confident in their clothes, and in control of their nafs I’ve been on this journey for over 10 years now. And if there’s one thing I’ve learned — it’s that lasting change doesn’t happen alone. That’s why I built this space:To bring together Muslims who are serious about losing weight, improving their health, and doing it in a way that aligns with Islam. Because fitness isn’t just about looks — it’s about fulfilling our amanah, taking care of the body Allah gave us, and having the energy and confidence to show up in all parts of life. Let’s grow together — for our bodies, for our minds, and for the sake of Allah. – Dawood