The Project: Kuwait

Summary:

Mahdi’s guest on this episode of the Project Kuwait podcast is Coach “Fit Marky”. Mark quit his office job to pursue his dream of being a personal trainer and coach, and he has done very well for himself. After several years of working for a big box gym, he took the leap to start his own facility and he is working hard to make that happen. He shares with us his insights about the industry and the way he has found a good balance between work time and family time.

Time Stamps:

1:41 – Mahdi introduces Coach Mark.

3:21 – Mark talks about why he does what he does.

4:04 – It all started in 2005 when Mark moved to Kuwait. He had never considered being a trainer before.

5:18 – After he quit smoking, he realized how much his body was capable of, and he started reading articles about fitness. He quit his office job to pursue a career in personal training and coaching.

8:12 – Mahdi and Mark talk about feeling great leading your to being great. Your mind will follow your body.

9:21 – Mark discusses the uselessness of trying to make your body look a certain way. It is not sustainable for everyone because everyone is different.

10:07 – After Mark quit is office job, he sent his CV to all of the local gyms and offered his training services for free for a month, and he ended up getting a job at a big box gym quickly.

11:20 – Shortly after Mark started this first gig, he met Mahdi, who was impressed by his passion and extensive knowledge of training.

14:00 – Mark learned how to coach his clients through trial and error and by doing endless reps.

15:58 – Coach Mark has never been involved with steroids because of his own ethical convictions.

17:00 – Mark was focused on learning all that he could about training and nutrition to help his clients.

19:00 – He had a chance to go into managing all of the other coaches at his gym, but he instead decided to keep his current position and begin taking some online training courses to better himself.

22:51 – Mark says that the main challenge with being a trainer at a big box gym is keeping up with the hours required of him. He had to reach certain quotas in order to qualify for his commission payments, which often caused him to work 12 hour days.

25:45 – He made up his mind to just accept what the gym wanted to give him and be the best coach he could be.

28:58 – Coach Mark reached his breaking point when, after taking a few days off to focus on training himself for a triathlon, his gym bumped down his pay grade. At the same time, he had started reading more from Jon Goodman and decided to go through the online training course.

31:00 – With his new online platform, he realized that he could do this on his own, so he started renting a studio to train his clients. He noticed a huge difference in his overall wellbeing.

33:05 – Mark talks about the differences between high-end and low-end personal training clientele, and he sees himself in the middle-tier right now.

37:00 – Mark says that he found true freedom in scheduling his own time and focusing on the “personal” aspect of personal training, catering his coaching to the client’s preferred modality.

40:40 – Mark talks about the challenges of being a dad in Kuwait and the fact that his new work structure provides him with more needed time with his wife and kids.

43:12 – Mark is currently working on starting his own facility with a partner in 2020, so he is learning how to market himself and getting all of the details in place. He is also going to Dubai in 2019 to do an assessment course that will help him coach the coaches.

46:13 – He is excited about the future and the prospect of changing his clients’ habits one at a time.

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Summary:

On this episode of the Project Kuwait podcast, Mahdi and Liam are joined by Lulwa Alarmali, “The Functional Nutritionist.” Lulwa shares abundant insights into the impacts of food on the physiology of the body as well as gut health and inflammation. If you have ever wondered if what you are eating is beneficial for you, this episode is for you!

Time Stamps:

0:46 – Lulwa introduces herself and gives her background.

1:30 – Lulwa explains that a certain amount of protein jumpstarts muscle protein synthesis, so she has been testing out eating a high-protein breakfast.

2:10 – Mahdi says that body builders in the 1980s used to subscribe to the same logic.

2:40 – Lulwa is doing a 4-week intervention training program. She says that cholesterol is controversial for some people, but it is really just a precursor to sex hormones.

3:32 – Liam has been eating 8 eggs for breakfast and he has been noticing a big difference in his energy throughout the day.

5:36 – Lulwa says that if you cover the basics, you should be set: manage your stress, get enough sleep, and eat well.

6:24 – Mahdi shares his experience with getting plenty of sleep and being able to build muscle.

6:50 – Lulwa is intrigued by the way the body works and how nutrition can affect physiology. She talks about nutriceuticals which are supplements that can create a certain response in the body.

8:53 – Lulwa says that there is a bit of controversy in Kuwait about what works because so many things depend on the person. For people with good insulin sensitivity, carbs are no problem, but people with insulin resistance are not able to appropriately process carbs.

10:19 – Liam talks about the need for carbs when doing HIIT, sprints, and dead lifts.

10:49 – Lulwa clarifies that people can’t do “all or nothing” when it comes to manipulating glycogen stores. Even supplements depend on the person because two people could have the same symptoms with different root problems.

13:34 – Lulwa says that as a functional nutritionist, she can consider how the body works, different stimuli, and genetics for each person before advising them about what to do. 

14:25 – Lulwa talks about the two different phases of detoxification: (1) taking toxins into reactive intermediate and (2) taking intermediates into a form that is excretable by the body. Some detox regimens don’t combine both phases and can be harmful.

16:52 – Lulwa explains that most nutritionists do not know how to do detox the right way because they don’t understand why the toxins are present. It is best to remove exposure to the toxins and look for someone knowledgeable to help you.

18:53 – Lulwa says that many people are afraid of metabolic damage, but it really only occurs during times of prolonged caloric restriction that damage the thyroid. A great way to ensure this doesn’t happen is by tracking what you eat.

22:49 – Lulwa talks about food being beneficial or detrimental rather than “good or bad.” Processed foods have already done the work of breaking down the nutrients for you, which is detrimental.

24:46 – Lulwa and Mahdi discuss the concepts of over-exercise and under-recovery. Lulwa says that if you do not fuel and rest well after a workout, you could put additional physiological stress on the body that can inhibit the functioning of the thyroid which will cause metabolic damage.

26:43 – Mahdi talks about certain fitness modalities that focus on 30-minute cardio sessions. This type of workout is not sustainable, and when you stop, you must then adjust your eating habits.

28:12 – Lulwa again emphasizes sticking to the basics and avoiding a negative energy balance.

29:32 – Liam mentions the prevalence of working out for a certain event, like a wed

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On this episode of the Project Kuwait podcast, Mahdi, Liam, and Meg discuss the controversial topic of the use of performance enhancing drugs in elite sports. Though professional athletes like Mark McGuire, Barry Bonds, and Lance Armstrong have been doping for a long time, it seems like the desire of normal people to be able to compete at higher levels of performance such as CrossFit has brought the issue closer to home. The consensus in the group is that it is not fair for elite athletes who are juicing to compete against normal athletes who are not, but does that mean that everyone who wants to compete at the highest level of competition should be allowed to use performance enhancing drugs like HGH? 

Mahdi thinks that it is up to the athlete to decide if they want to use them and talk with a doctor about getting certain preliminary tests done before starting a cycle. It is then up to them to do the right thing for their body by cycling off appropriately. As someone who has used steroids in the past to improve his strength and performance, Mahdi can speak to the psychological implications of cycling off and seeing the drastic differences in your body’s capabilities. At a certain level of competition, he says, athletes should be able to do whatever they want in order to achieve their goals and give the spectators what they want. 

Liam takes a bit of a different thought process on the subject, wondering if athletes who have been known to dope can ever be considered “clean” in future competitions. Also, can athletes who use performance enhancing drugs truly say that they accomplished something, or is their success attributed to the drugs? 

Another thing to consider is the athlete whose only escape from tough life circumstances is by excelling at their sport. Should they give themselves every advantage to be the best? Is the short-term success and recognition worth the long-term costs of longevity and quality of life? This balance of risk vs. reward is a difficult one to find and navigate.

Time stamps:

1:45 – Mahdi says that if you want to take drugs, that is your prerogative.

3:10 – Mahdi mentions that people want to watch athletes excel in elite sports.

3:55 – Liam and Mahdi discuss the MLB suspension policy of 80 games.

5:13 – Liam wonders if after an athlete returns from a suspension due to drugs they can then be considered “clean.”

6:14 – Liam and Mahdi talk about the competition between the Russians and Americans even when it comes to doping.

7:45 – Liam again asks if athletes can be considered “clean” if their levels are currently normal but they have used steroids before.

9:51 – Liam acknowledges that after cycling off, athletes will have lost any gains they had made, but they still might have an advantage.

11:04 – Liam wonders if any muscle built up while juicing can last after the athletes has gone off the drugs.

11:58 – Mahdi talks about his experience taking Winstrol in his 20’s and the negative mental impacts of the reduction in his own power and strength when he cycled off.

13:11 – Mahdi discusses the unrealistic expectations that Instagram has set up for men and women.

13:58 – Liam brings up the point that just because all athletes in a competition pass a drug test doesn’t mean that this is a fair measurement of their strength.

14:40 – Meg talks about how athletes can “game the system” by juicing during training but stopping just in time to pass the drug test for the competition.

14:56 – Mahdi outlines the latest drug policy infractions in elite CrossFit and the punishments the athletes received.

16:37 – Mahdi mentions that spectators want to watch the MLB, NFL, and CrossFit athletes because they are viewed as “superhumans.”

16:56 – Mahdi then says th

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Episode 16: Asmaa Belrhiti - Proud Mom Diaries

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Asmaa Belrhiti is the proud mother of two children with special needs. She’s created Proud Mom Diaries as a platform to educate the world about children with special needs. She offers support and resources for parents, teachers, and caregivers. She openly shares her children’s success stories and struggles in living with Down Syndrome and Autism. In this discussion she emphasizes the importance of physical activity and nutrition not only from a caregiver perspective but for children living with special needs.

For more, follow us on Instagram @theprojectkuwait 

Hosted by: Meg Guthmiller, Mahdi Aloun, Liam Glynn

Guest: Asmaa Belrhiti

Tags: Nutrition, Health, Wellness, Fitness, Sport, Special Needs, Autism, Down’s Syndrome, ABA Therapy, Kuwait

The information in this Podcast is not meant to diagnose or replace medical advice from your physician. It is meant to open communication between you, your body, and your health care teams. The Project aims to provoke curiosity of your body and behaviors to give you more insight on your health and wellness.

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Summary:

The topic of this episode of the Project Kuwait podcast is reviewing 2018’s fitness trends, looking ahead to 2019, and working out at a gym 101. Mahdi and Liam share from their own experiences and bring in the advice of industry experts to provide listeners with a helpful and informational program.

 Time stamps:

1:12 – Mahdi talks about the predictions that 2019 will be a bear market and boot camp classes will continue to be popular as they were during the recession.

1:56 – Liam discusses his experience in that boot camp emergence. People were looking for cheaper and more group-oriented fitness experiences in low input areas like parks, which meant fewer consumers in traditional gyms.

4:24 – Mahdi predicts that the DIY workout method will gain traction during 2019 through the use of apps and online coaching, which are already popular in the States and Europe.

5:25 – Liam talks about his experience as an online trainer and the benefits to the consumer.

7:18 – Mahdi asks about options for people who can’t afford a personal trainer.

7:45 – Liam says that you get what you pay for, but there are ways to increase your strength and encourage a healthy lifestyle through apps and watching experts’ videos on YouTube.

10:48 – Mahdi recommends checking out Jeff Cavaliere’s YouTube videos for reference and to potentially create your own free program.

11:31 – Liam suggests that you can find good resources if you just Google what specific workouts you are looking for.

11:48 – Mahdi emphasizes that you should always listen for indications that the person understands and explains the anatomy of what is going on with your body during their workout.

12:08 – Liam agrees that you should research to find the right people to follow because they should know the “why” and the “how” of the movements they use.

15:17 – Liam talks about the importance of accessory movements and reiterates that you will find the money to invest in what is important to you.

16:35 – Mahdi says that he started out with the cheap and cookie-cutter workout methods before he started to progress more seriously.

17:45 – Liam discusses the importance of having someone else watch your movements and give you free advice to help you along the way.

20:22 – Mahdi predicts that even though more people might begin using virtual trainers, true personal training will never go away.

20:55 – Liam talks about the additional benefits of in-person trainers.

22:18 – Mahdi reads the list of the Top Fitness Trends of 2018 which incites a discussion with Liam about the pros and cons of HIIT (high intensity interval training).

25:00 – Mahdi and Liam agree that HIIT isn’t CrossFit and CrossFit isn’t HIIT and then they talk about how HIIT has progressed.

30:08 – Mahdi talks about his experience programming HIIT for a friend.

31:31 – Liam says that people should do HIIT, but that shouldn’t be all they do to achieve their results. This is easily achieved by having an intelligent trainers to program your workouts for you.

33:19 – Liam talks about his recent experience training in China, which included intentional resting time. Everyone’s “intensity” is different, so it is hard to classify something as HIIT without context on the person.

35:45 – Mahdi recalls how far things such as heart rate monitoring have come just in the past few years.

36:15 – Liam admits that trainers get it wrong sometimes because a lot depends on the mental capacity of the athlete and their perceptions of their abilities.

37:52 – Mahdi says that having a strong foundation in conditioning is crucial to being able to keep up with your goals and your trainer’s programming.

39:20 – Liam talks extensively about his client who is a bea

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Rob Schillaci is the fittest man in Kuwait! We discuss the difference between CrossFit as a training method for competition vs general health and wellness. Rob offers support to those who are looking to improve their health but may be intimidated by what has been popularized as CrossFit. We discuss the method behind the madness of  CrossFit programming and how to spot great CrossFit coaches and gyms.

For more, follow us on Instagram @theprojectkuwait 

Hosted by: Meg Guthmiller, Mahdi Aloun, Liam Glynn

Guest: Rob Schillaci @schillaci_3

Tags: CrossFit, Health, Wellness, Fitness, Kuwait, Sport

The information in this Podcast is not meant to diagnose or replace medical advice from your physician. It is meant to open communication between you, your body, and your 

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Episode 14: Haya Al Sharhan - MomFit

If you’re a woman or have a woman in your life don’t miss this episode! Haya Al Sharhan teaches you to discover your potential in health and life through fitness. Find out how she’s gone from no fitness to being the first Kuwaiti woman to compete as an individual in the 2013 Reebok CrossFit Games Asia Regional. After going through two emergency C-Sections she’s created the program “MomFit” to support and educate women in the pregnancy and postpartum recovery process.

Haya is a crossfit level-2 trainer coaching at CrossFit Q8. She is also a Pregnancy and Postpartum Athleticism coach.

Instagram: @haya_cfq8

Gym: @crossfitq8

Website: www.crossfitq8.com/blog

Program discussed in episode: The MomFit Program is a postpartum rehab/rebuilding plan to help get moms back into fitness after pregnancy. For details or to sign up email [email protected] or contact her via Instagram.

For more, follow us on Instagram @theprojectkuwait 

Hosted by: Meg Guthmiller, Mahdi Aloun, Liam Glynn

Guest: Haya Al Sharhan

Tags: CrossFitQ8, CrossFit, Kuwait, Fitness, PostPartum, Pregnancy, Mom, Baby, Health, Wellness

The information in this Podcast is not meant to diagnose or replace medical advice from your physician. It is meant to open communication between you, your body, and your health care teams. The Project aims to provoke curiosity of your body and behaviors to give you more insight on your health and wellness.

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Fawzia Sultan Healthcare Network (@fshn_kw) 

FSHN held their annual Run Kuwait event, aimed at raising awareness and funds for children with special needs. With more than 2900 participants, this event was able to fund 1000 pro-bono treatment sessions. 

CrossFit Q8 (@crossfitq8)

Coach Albaqsami (@q8trainer) and Mohammed Al-Saqer (@bodarwish) held a seminar at Crossfit Q8. During the event, the two talked about how to improve overall fitness through goal setting and proper nutrition 

Dubai CrossFit Championship (@dxbfitnesschamp)

The first CrossFit sanctioned event took place this weekend, giving Matt Fraser, Samantha Briggs, and team Invictus the first tickets to the CrossFit Games. 

Baseball Shoutout 

Fahad Al-Zaid, an incredible 16 year old athlete hit 4 home runs in one weekened! The Project Kuwait would just like to highlight one of the up and coming stars of the region! 

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Episode 13: Diabetes in Kuwait PT. 2

Dr. Neil Coffee is the strategic analyst of research into Diabetes prevalence in world nations. He joins us today to discuss what is personal responsibility and government policy when it comes to Diabetes prevention and where the two areas of leadership meet. Learn what you can do to protect the health of you and your loved ones while Kuwait’s Dasman Diabetes Institute embarks on a plan focused at prevention rather than management of the Diabetes epidemic.

For more, follow us on Instagram @theprojectkuwait 

Hosted by: Meg Guthmiller, Mahdi Aloun, Liam Glynn

Guest: Dr. Neil Coffee 

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Kuwait’s Silent Killer: Diabetes PT. 1

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The international Diabetes Federation reports that 38.7 million people are living with Diabetes in the Middle East and North Africa Region. Kuwait ranks 7th worldwide for those living with Type II Diabetes. Today’s guest Dr. Saad Alsharah from Dasman Diabetes Institute helps us understand how geo spatial research can improve these statistics and the quality of life of those living with Diabetes. 

For more, follow us on Instagram @theprojectkuwait 

Hosted by: Meg Guthmiller

Resources / Tags: Dasman Diabetes Institute, Kuwait Times, International Diabetes Federation, Diabesity, Lost and Found Wellness, The Project Training System, Mahdi Aloun

The information in this Podcast is not meant to diagnose or replace medical advice from your physician. It is meant to open communication between you, your body, and your health care teams. The Project aims to provoke curiosity of your body and behaviors to give you more insight on your health and wellness.

Support the show