Meet PUSH511 member, Akash! Akash has been at PUSH for about a year. He has put so much consistent effort into personal training and nutrition coaching at PUSH, which is why he is both our Personal Training and Nutrition Spotlight this month! Let’s get to know Akash!
“Hi, my name is Akash. Until recently, I worked as a data scientist at a pharmaceutical company; now, I sell ramen at the 32nd Street Farmers Market in Baltimore. I swam in high school and practiced martial arts during college. After graduating, I would only work out on my own. I am the middle child of 3 other siblings and parents involved in medicine who have all encouraged me on this journey. Outside of fitness, I am a huge Arsenal F.C. fan.”
Akash joined PUSH in January of 2023. He joined because “…I no longer trusted myself to be accountable for my weight, and I wanted someone with experience in weight loss to hold me accountable.”
Regular exercise is important for our health, but so is what we do outside of the gym. Akash understood that and got established with his personal trainer, Andy, and his nutrition coach, Steve. By focusing on both fitness and nutrition, Akash has seen incredible results during his year at PUSH511. He has:
- Lost 7% body fat
- Gained 2# muscle
- Lost 22# body weight
Aside from changes in his body composition, Akash told us, “I feel better and have more energy throughout the day.” He also mentioned, “…I have fallen and maintained a weight below 200 pounds. More importantly, I have started to develop sustainable eating habits that consider what is on my plate and portion sizes.”
If you’re considering making healthy changes in your lifestyle, fitness is most likely where you’ll want to start. Akash’s favorite thing about personal training at PUSH511 is “Apart from [my personal trainer] Andy, the focus on safety and developing proper technique.”
But if you really want to fast-track the results you’ll see in the gym, Akash reminded us that dialing in your nutrition is critical: “When focusing only on working out, I maintained or lost a pound a month that I could gain again if I ate a lot of a weekend. By adding nutrition, my weight started to drop with fewer fluctuations.”
So what are the benefits of working with a nutrition coach versus doing it on your own? Akash told us that he “…learned how I should be portioning the macros on my plate. I was not making and eating enough protein, so I usually got hungry after a meal. I also learned that I can balance my love for cooking, exploring, and eating food with my nutrition goals.”
Akash is still going strong in 2024 and is continuing to work on his fitness and nutrition with Andy and Steve! Here are some fun facts about our Personal Training and Nutrition Spotlight:
What’s your favorite movement to do in the gym? Wall balls.
What’s your least favorite movement? Barbell snatch.
What’s your favorite song to work out to? Chop Suey, System of a Down.
What's your favorite restaurant? In Baltimore, it was Heritage Kitchen before they closed. Now, it’s probably Matthew’s Pizza.
Who's your hero (real or fictional)? Batman, my older brother, and my parents.
What does your frequently used emoji tab look like?
Words to live by or favorite quote? Don’t be afraid and “JUST DO IT!”
What's your favorite travel spot? Cherry Springs, PA, is the darkest place on the East Coast for top-tier stargazing.
If you could win an Olympic gold medal for any sport, real or fake, what would it be? An Esport of a First-Person Shooter video game.
What's your hidden talent? I’m not sure if I have a hidden talent.
Top five favorite movies? Not five, but:
- Snatch
- Spirited Away
- Klaus
- Batman Trilogy
- The Lord of the Rings Trilogy
