Kaizen Gym

How I Discovered the Importance of Recovery I used to be the kind of person who believed that the more time I spent in the gym, the faster I’d see results. Back then, I thought “no pain, no gain” was the only rule to live by. If my body felt tired, I simply pushed harder. I even scheduled a full seven days of workouts without rest—it made perfect sense to me at the time. But reality had a different lesson in store. After several months, I hit a plateau. My bench press weights wouldn’t budge, and exercises that used to feel easy became increasingly difficult. My body constantly felt stiff, and the usual soreness that would fade after a day or two lingered for nearly a week. One day, Hafiz, a much more experienced gym buddy, asked me, “When do you rest?” Proudly, I replied that I didn’t need rest days. He chuckled and said, “You know, your muscles don’t grow while you’re working out. They grow when you rest.” That was an aha moment for me. I started digging deeper into the science o...

The Moment I Realized the Importance of Genetics When I first started working out at the gym, I had one primary goal: to build a big, muscular body like my favorite athletes. I followed every workout and diet plan with discipline, hoping to achieve the same results. But after a few months, something started to feel off. Reyno, my gym buddy who started at the same time as me, was seeing results much faster. His chest muscles were becoming defined, and his shoulders were growing broader. Meanwhile, my body showed little change, even though we were following the same program.  Frustrated, I finally vented to Reyno. He said, "Maybe my genetics favor upper body development. But look at your legs—they're way bigger than mine."   The Role of Genetics in Fitness This was the first time I truly understood that genetics play a significant role in fitness. Muscle fiber type, fat distribution, and even the shape of muscles are largely determined by our DNA. Some people have...

How I Got Hooked on Fitness Influencers      I still remember the first time I fell down the rabbit hole of fitness social media. There was a famous influencer with millions of followers who kept popping up on my timeline. Their appearance was flawless—sharp six-pack abs, smooth skin, and workout videos that seemed so effortless. I thought, if they can do it, I surely can too. Excitedly, I began following all their recommendations—from meal plans to gym routines. I even spent extra money on the supplements they promoted. However, after months of trying, I noticed little to no significant changes in my body. Frustration started to creep in, and I began to question myself: Is there something wrong with me? Mirza and His Experience with Online Programs      At this point, I met Mirza, a friend at the gym who had a similar experience. He shared how he once purchased a workout program from a well-known influencer. “It wasn’t cheap, but I thought it wou...

Why can focusing on weight be misleading?      Many people enter the fitness world with the goal of losing weight. I too once thought that an ideal body could only be achieved by lowering the number on the scale. However, after trying various diets and intense exercise, I realised that weight is not a true indicator of health. Weight loss can come from loss of muscle mass or body fluids, not health. Also, everyone's ideal weight is different, depending on genetics, age and body type. Change the Mindset: Focus on Long-term Health      I started shifting my focus from the number on the scale to my long-term health. Instead of obsessing over weight loss, I focused more on cardiovascular fitness, muscle strength, endurance and mental well-being. This shift in mindset made me more motivated to exercise consistently, as sustainable health is not just about physical appearance, but also how our bodies function. Body Positivity: Accepting Our Bodies as They ...