Setting realistic targets not fast fixes is healthiest way to approach fitness regime JEDDAH: Fitness and health professionals are urging Saudis to maintain an active lifestyle during the hot summer months. As school terms end and the summer holidays begin, many people in the Kingdom have already started looking at ways to stay healthy and improve their physical well-being. Personal trainer and nutritionist, Wafaa Abdullah Al-Harby, said now was the time of year when most people approached her to help them start their fitness journeys. “As the summer begins, it gives them a period of time to transform themselves. However, fast results should not be the goal. Performing better in exercises with the correct techniques are the target toward which I push my clients,” she added. Most trainers and nutritionists agree that consistency is the key to fitness and that there are no shortcuts. Nutritionist, Dr. Ruwaida Idrees, said that the best way for an individual to start their fitness journey was to ask themselves some important questions. “Ask yourself, ‘why do I want to change and what lifestyle issues do I have?’ Take a look back at your routine, observe and self-assess to find out where you may have been going wrong. If you cannot do it yourself consult a specialist who can help,” she added. Idrees said she advised her clients to follow a balanced diet, and stay away from processed foods, diet products, imported products, and trendy diets. Sulafa Kurdi, a photographer and graphic designer, has been sharing her health and fitness progress on her Instagram account @m3alima, which has almost 1,000 followers. She shares her workouts, things that inspire her, and the knowledge she gathers as she gets fitter and healthier. “I was never in the average category. I mean, let’s face it, I am not average but just to be clear, I am not on this journey because I feel bad for being big. I have always embraced my size,” she said. Kurdi, 38, pointed out that continuing with the lifestyle she had in her 20s was no longer an option and last year she made the decision to start a fitness program. “In the famous words of the Nike brand, just do it,” she added. Her motivation to keep going has come from mentor and trainer, Rawan Zahran, with Kurdi noting the importance of setting realistic goals. “I do not wish to be 60 kilograms. I am aiming to reach 82 kilograms and stay there, being a fit 82-kilogram person,” she said, adding that the best way to improve the body was to understand it first. “It is good to consult doctors, but there are times when I discovered that they might be wrong about things. Fixing my diet helped me fix issues that doctors said couldn’t be fixed.” Zahran, 35, said that the best way to start a healthier journey was by taking baby steps. “It can take a big toll on mental health at the start. Because of all the hard work people need to do, they may have setbacks. So, stay positive and keep at it, consistency is more difficult than starting.”