How I Lost 20 Pounds and Got Shredded at 43 Years Old

Naser, 43, tells Men’s Health how stepping back into the gym after 12 years led to him completely transforming his body, and getting into the best shape of his life.

Prior to my recent fitness journey, I didn’t exercise in any form for 12 years, and I had not ventured into a gym since before I was married. During this time, while I didn’t gain a huge amount of weight, any definition that I once had gradually became lost. About three years ago I started playing tennis regularly, but it made little difference to my body shape as I didn’t change my diet.

Pre-pandemic, my job required me to travel a lot. I was away two weeks out of every month for a year and a half. Hotel and airplane food, combined with the inability to maintain any type of consistent schedule for sports or exercise, were not friendly to my physique. Along with a nasty sheesha smoking habit, my wellbeing was pushed to an all-time low.

Weight was not my biggest concern—at my heaviest I was 165 pounds—but I wanted to improve my general health. My cholesterol was high, and more worryingly, I was diagnosed as pre-diabetic. This was a huge wake-up call for me. Shortly thereafter, my wife joined Ultimate Performance Dubai, and after the seeing the results she achieved in just two weeks, I was excited to start my own transformation journey.

Returning to the gym after 12 years was a huge change. My past experience of lots of effort with limited results had left a bad taste in my mouth, and while I was intrigued to see what could be achieved, I was still skeptical. The biggest upheaval, however, was the complete revamp of my diet. I thought that I ate relatively healthy, but UP and my trainer, Goran, showed me what truly eating healthy meant; not just in the amount of calories I was eating, but also the quality of calories. I found new levels of discipline within myself to stay committed to the new diet for the duration of my transformation.

Goran absolutely instrumental to the results I have achieved; without him there pushing me and motivating me in the gym, showing the impact that even small changes in form and rhythm can have on results, and also helping me stay on track with my diet, there is little chance I could be where I am with my physique today.

My total transformation took around 14 weeks. I went from 30 percent body fat to 13.6 percent and lost a total of 22 pounds. At the age of 43, I am in the best physical shape I have been since I was in my early twenties. I can actually see my abs after more than 20 years! I am an avid tennis player, and have seen my game progress from strength to strength since starting the program. My cholesterol levels are well within the normal range, which shocked my doctors, and I am also no longer pre-diabetic, with my indicators firmly within healthy limits.

The biggest positive impact by far is that I feel like I am in peak physical shape. I have more stamina, play better tennis, can better keep up when playing with my 6 and 8 year old boys, and definitely look better in my swimming trunks. I have set an example for my children on leading a healthy life-style, and what can be achieved through commitment and hard work.

I’m certainly not finished yet. As far as Goran and I are concerned, I have only completed phase one of my journey. Phase two is mass and strength gains.

If I could say anything to somebody who is just getting started in the gym, it would be that you must be disciplined. This is not easy, and you need support around you to keep you on track. Your partner and family will play an important part in this. And it goes without saying that you need a knowledgeable trainer that you trust and who is vested in your success.

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