One On One With Fitness And Sports Enthusiast And Personal Trainer, Faheem Patel

Name: Faheem Patel
Age: 28
Height: 1,79 m
Competition weight: 82-86 Kgs
Current weight: 92 Kgs
Current city: Johannesburg, South Africa
Occupation: Personal Trainer

I’m a fitness and sports enthusiast who is extremely passionate about the two. I’m a personal trainer at Virgin Active.

How did you get started in bodybuilding and fitness and what do you love about it?

I initially started training in the gym due to all the sports that I participated in and my competitive nature, and wanting to have that competitive advantage over my competitors or opposistion.

I wanted to jump higher than any of my competitors, run faster than them, move quicker, be stronger, I wanted to be the best in whatever I did. Over time I just fell in love with fitness and not just sports anymore. It became an addiction.

What I love about fitness is the fact that it’s for everyone. Young, old, fit, unfit. Basically if your body allows you to then its for you. I love being able to test what my body can do. Both the mental and physical aspect of it.

How important is the mental aspect of it? How do you keep a positive motivated mindset and attitude through setbacks?

It’s fairly important. I have had many minor and major setbacks in my career thus far with regards to training. I’d be lying to say that it’s easy but what I do tell myself is that minor setbacks cause major comebacks and every time I have had a set back I’ve always managed to come back stronger and more motivated no matter how difficult it was at the time.

What are your future plans?

I would like to build myself as a brand and start my own fitness movement along with my brothers who are both fitness enthusiasts. Competing wise, I’m contemplating doing provincials and if I qualify, SA’s but nothing concrete and final as yet.

What are your top tips to a guy trying to gain mass and muscle but who just doesn’t seem to be winning?

Calorie intake should always exceed calorie expenditure.

In other words………EAT and eat a lot!!! Clean of course 😉

What process do you follow when its time to start getting ready for a photo shoot or to just lean down?

Nothing major or drastic as I try stay as conditioned as possible throughout the year. I’ll gradually reduce carbs closer to a shoot. My training doesn’t really change much, if anything I’ll just increase the rep range but that’s about it.

Take us through an average day of yours:

I usually wake at at 4am.
I see my first client at 5am.
Once I’m done with my morning clients I’ll train, grab a bite and shower before I start with late afternoon clients.
I usually finish around 7-8 pm.
If I don’t have a football match that evening, I’m in bed around 10:30-11 pm on a good day (yes I know, that’s not really enough sleep but I’m working on it!)

Give us a brief description of your philosophy on your diet:

My diet will usually be adjusted according to my goals. I’m not one to restrict myself from food as long as it’s clean, good food. If I’m hungry, best believe that I will grab something clean to eat.

Like everyone else, I do love food so I will have days that I’ll treat myself especially so satisfy my sweet tooth, however, I’m back on track the very next day. I do understand when it comes to comp prep, it is very different and I’d need to be a little more strict and restricted.

Give us a brief description of your philosophy on your training schedule, how many times a week do you workout for and how long are your training sessions?

I train 6 days a week for about an hour and half if my mates don’t spend 30 minutes of that time talking about totally unrelated topics lol 🙂

What are some of the mistakes you see guys making when trying to lean down?

Relying on fat burners and over training. It’s not necessary. TRAIN SMART, EAT SMART!!!

What are your three favourite exercises and why?

Squats, and anything that has to with plyometrics. What the body can do is amazing and with plyo’s I feel that I can fully exploit that. I don’t really have an outright third favorite exercise as I enjoy most exercises. Just depends on my mood at the time I guess.

What’s your secret to your phenomenal abs?

It wouldn’t be a secret if I told you now would it? 😉

On a serious note, there is no real secret. I see people training abs everyday which in my opinion is pointless. Your abdominals are like any other muscle. They require rest in between sessions. Oh, and abs are made in the kitchen 😉

What are some of your favorite leg exercises and leg training tips to build muscular strong legs?

I wouldn’t say favorite exercise but front squats are great! I have a love hate relationship with them but they do target those quads nicely!

Do you like and incorporate other kinds of training activities or sports?

Yes of course. Firstly I’m sports mad. I love my sports and I try to play football (soccer) as much as I can. Unfortunately due to my busy schedule I can’t play as many sports as I use to and that I’d like to. I also believe that fitness shouldn’t be restricted or confined by working out in a gym. I love hiking or doing anything physically active such as kayaking, river rafting, cycling or anything that gets the blood pumping.

The are many ways to get fit and strong.

What is the most common question you get asked?

“Whats your secret?”

Me: There are no secrets, just hard work and dedication.

Do you have any cool fashion tips for the guys?

Be you, be real, be unique. You need to be comfortable with what you’re wearing.

Favorite Influential bodybuilders:

Logan Franklin, Ryan Terry and locally would have to be Wayne Coetzee.

Favorite Quote:

“Work until your idols become your rivals!”

Favorite female fitness icons:

It would have to be Paige Hathaway.

Best piece of advice you ever received?

You are your only competitor. Once you’ve realized that, you’re already winning.

What advice would you give to someone just wanting to lose weight, build some muscle and be healthy but is unsure where to start in the gym?

Don’t be afraid to get help. Ask if you’re unsure. Theres no better feeling than assisting someone who’s
trying to improve their lifestyle and physique.