The Expedition to Living Well by Zai

Words by Imthishal

In a world that is increasingly focused on being yet another cog in a machine, personal health comes next to last. An era marked with technological advances go hand in hand with a sedentary lifestyle. Therefore, the significance of well-being has never been more crucial, fitness influencers such as, Zai, reminds us of this. Fathimath Zaina Shareef, began her fitness journey in 2010. With the burdens of life, work and higher education, consistency created serenity, a concept her love for fitness seemed to provide. Through attending the gym “Heat, Health & Fitness” in Maldives, she was introduced to Les Mills, an international fitness program, that paved her path to better understanding her passion. Come 2020, Zai initiated her social media presence by sharing her journey and progress, all the while unaware of the potential impact she could make.

Dedicated and committed to holistic wellness, armored by her unspoken mission to inspire and drive positive transformation, let us explore the principles and philosophies of “Live Well By Zai”.

“I used to have an all or nothing approach, I used to think every week I had to hit all of my goals. But changing that mindset helps you be consistent. Even if you missed a workout or two doesn’t mean you have to stop. You have to keep on going back, rather than trying to achieve perfection, understand that you are human, and that things happen. Sometimes you fall sick, sometimes you get occupied with work or family, but it’s okay to miss sessions, but It is important to not stop and keep on continuing. In terms of tips, I break down my long term fitness goal into smaller achievable goals, for example, this week i’ll be doing strength training three times and cardio twice. It helps when you write down your goals and visualize what you want to achieve.”

“There are times I fall off track. What always works for me is when i’m doing my weekly grocery shopping i don’t go there without a list for myself. In terms of what protein or carbs I am getting, or what healthy fats I would be needing. I think as hard as it is, I try not to keep any unhealthy snacks in my pantry. If this is not feasible for everyone, in that case I’d say have weekly or monthly meal plans for yourself that you can stick to. However, when I’m traveling or attending social events, I try not to restrict myself too much and enjoy it as well.”

“Honestly, living here I had to do my research. I had to go to multiple stores and then find what works for me, what I like in terms of healthy food and from where I can I get products for an affordable price. In different areas there are certain markets where you get fruits and vegetables for cheaper than in supermarkets, that’s where I get my groceries from. That initial stage takes time and might be difficult, but once you’ve got that sorted, you know exactly where to go.”

“I think the more enjoyable a workout is, the longer you can stick to it. So right now I have three days of strength training and three days of radio, that’s my routine. In terms of what I enjoy, honestly there’s a lot; running, strength training, Les Mills body combat and group fitness classes and many more. Obviously, I found this out after years of experiencing different types of workouts and talking to trainers. Most importantly, make sure your fitness goals match your programs”

“I would say you can do your own research and build one. However it’s advisable to, first talk to a health professional and then a fitness professional. This way you know if you have any health conditions that could prevent you from doing certain exercises. It is safer to seek professional advice and build your routine around it. In the beginning of your journey, I suggest this. Once you are confident in your ability, continue on your own. That how you can prevent injuries and get results ”

“One of the biggest is; ‘weight lifting makes women bulky’. I’ve heard this since I was a kid, and as a woman, this is also something I was made to believe. I got into weight lighting and it has been really life changing. Another one is, you need lots of cardio to lose weight. Strength training combined with cardio has given me, personally, a better outcome, when It comes to fat loss”

“Of course there are times I fall off track and gain weight, like any girl out there I also get comments on my body. So I try to keep my posts on social media as authentic and open as possible. I don’t want to spread this false reality, that I’ve always been in shape. I think to foster body positivity within our community, we need to show young women and girls more body positive content. Now there are more influencers out there that show their ‘raw’ or ‘unedited’ selves compared to before, but we still have a long way to go though.”

“I try to take some time off every weekend, where I don’t think about my to-do list, work or fitness routine, a time where I can just relax. But i would like to add that going to the gym or going for a run, helps my mental health more than anything, that’s why i keep going back. Being physically active actually helps your mental health.”

“This might be clique but I think I found my passion, compared to my old self who was a bit lost. Now I feel like I have something to work towards. It gives me happiness when I’m able to contribute to someone’s well-being. I’m more confident and of course more fitter, overall I feel like I can achieve what I aim for now. Self-motivation and courage, has definitely increased, there is just a lot of growth and learning over the years ”