Kamal Ahmed, a 28-year old Tibetan Muslim, is the Managing Director of Banu's Total Fitness. Educated in Kalimpong at St. Augustine's School, he completed a diploma in Fitness and Nutrition from San Luis Obsipo, USA. Given his professional training and experience, Kamal is one of the finest and best-qualified health and fitness counselors in the city. WAVE spent a working day with him to learn about the fitness business.
Kamal has always been athletic and has the advantage of working in a family business. Being in the fitness trade his days begin early. His first few tasks include checking in with staff and fitness instructors, and greeting members. He is comfortable and easy-going with both men and women. He is easy to trust and we found his clients easily opening up to him. His mannerisms during a consultation are professional but personable. This was particularly evident when he put a first timer, a tad self-conscious about sharing her weight history, to ease with lots of light-hearted chuckling and animated facial expressions. After discussing weight-loss goals, he charted out a plan with the newcomer.
The objective of a consultation is to set a reasonable fitness goal and to map a plan on how to achieve this goal. During a consultation, Kamal asks a variety of questions to weed out diet habits, the extent of physical activity in one's daily schedule, and most importantly the reasons for wanting to be fit. The psychological aspects of weight-loss and adding muscle-mass are important, seeing that most people have a distorted self-image and the gym is the place to go 'fix' that.
A fitness counselor monitors an individual's fitness programs. Supervision includes performing regular consultation, periodic (usually monthly) measurements and a heavy dose of encouragement. Kamal keeps a record of his client's performance through charts and updates monthly measurements like BMI (Body Mass Index), body frame/weight-hip ratio, and Fat Mass. Every three months, he administers a fat test where he measures specific parts of the body with a tape and calipers. This helps him calculate where fat is gained or lost.
Women make up about eighty percent of Kamal's clients. It is a well-known fact that women are particularly susceptible to an unhealthy physical self-image thinking themselves, on almost every account, too fat. Unfortunately this is particularly true for younger girls who are still maturing to full form. But at Banu's Total Fitness, Kamal's clients are dominated by married women and housewives who are trying hard to lead healthier lives.
Eating well. Diet is the usual food and drink that we consume. A nutritious and well-balanced diet is as important as exercise for healthy living. Unless you suffer from obesity, in which case you should consult a doctor for medical help, you should not compromise on your diet. Eating well is extremely important but it is important to eat nutritiously and you can start this Dashain. Kamal reminds us that a bhoj is a social event, not a feasting and gorging affair. It is important in Nepali culture to eat, but there are a number of healthier options to snack on at a bhoj. For example carrots, radishes, vegetables, as opposed to the fatty, meaty, greasy stuff. Kamal's personal favorite snack food seems to be channa.
Kamal is well-versed in diet and nutrition and fitness goals, and frames them within a set plan. He is also attuned to psychological aspects of weight-training and weight-management, such as self-image and confidence. Although exercise can come in different forms, like a long walk or flying a kite all afternoon, for those concentrating on a fitness regiment, Kamal can give advice on the level of exercise necessary for said fitness target and he can share body-toning shortcuts, the most effective way of targeting a specific body part, say abdominals. He also greatly helps with goal-planning and processes. He takes every little facet into consideration when he makes, plans, and reviews member charts. He emphasizes facets that not all trainers do, such as stretching out, making yoga mandatory, and giving occasional pep talks, counseling and even philosophy. Kamal travels to America every two years to attend IDEA (International Dance and Exercise Association) fitness seminars to stay updated with the trends and developments in the trade.
5:30 Wake up, bathe, and pray. Drink a glass of milk.
7:00 Banu's Reception Room. Meet WAVE.
7:45 First client for the day. Female. Weight management and fat loss consultation.
8:10 Another female client. Measurement, fruits, how far she walks, job search, where to look for one, what she eats for breakfast, water-retention fluctuations.
8:30 Email. Online fitness centers and newsletter updates. More computer work. Review new member profiles. Bills, accounting and finances.
9:30 Breakfast! Finally. Curd, fruit, muesli, aloo, and lots of channaa.
10:15 Writes journal/suggestions and reviews member's progress files.
10:30 Third consultation of the day.
11:00 Water break, schedules member's appointments, then bill paying and file maintenance.
1:00 Heads out to Baag Bajar to pray at the Nepali Jame Masje
2:00 Own personal work out.
4:30 Juice.
5:00 Picks up wife and daughter.
5:30 Dinner–noodle soup or Thukpa. Prays afterwards, evening walk, quality time with family and relatives.
6:30-7:00 On Mondays and Wednesdays, he meets with members.
9:00 Sleepy time.
