Name: Farouk Naas
DOB: 08/18/1993
Birthplace: Oakland, CA
Hometown: Vallejo, CA
Weight: 171 lbs.
How I Got Into Fitness
Aside from the occasional soccer game or bike ride, most of my early teen years were spent in front of a computer screen playing video games. This was partly because I would sometimes get picked on at school, and partly because I didn’t live next to any of my friends. This resulted in malnutrition and the development of lower back pain.
6’0 130 lbs.
My lower back pain was a result of muscular imbalances from sitting down for hours everyday. I eventually had to start excluding myself from many physical activities because the pain would flare up as soon as I started exerting myself. This was problematic for me because I really enjoyed outdoor activities, but would often find myself in too much pain to participate for long. As a result I slowly started to spend even more time in front of the computer.
By the age of 16 I had been to multiple physical therapists to look at my lower back with no results. I decided to start doing more research on my own, and I came to the conclusion that I needed to strengthen my lower back. This of course was not the only factor of my back pain, but it was a good start. I wanted to make my back feel better, and I wanted to gain some weight so I wouldn’t get picked on at school. I quickly decided it was time for me to get a gym membership. I sold my online game accounts and ended up with a few hundred dollars. I purchased a gym membership and I ended up loving it.
Within two weeks I noticed a huge change in my lower back. The pain was a lot less and I felt like my posture was better (thank you deadlifts). Within a few months I had put on a significant amount of weight. And with it, came a new-found confidence I never had.
[PICTURE]
6’1 150 lbs.
I looked better, I felt better, and I was able to perform better when I participated in sports. Even day-to-day activities became easier for me whether it was doing yard work or just moving around with no joint pain. There’s a misconception that getting stronger in the gym will only benefit you in the gym, when in reality there is a significant carry-over to everyday life. I was eventually able to get a job to pay for what at the time was just a hobby. I kept at it and after a couple of years I put on another 30 lbs. of relatively lean weight.
6’1 180 lbs.
And now we’re in the present day. I’ve spent all my free time in the past 5+ years educating myself on anything related to fitness. I’ve tried many different approaches to training, hit roadblocks, and worked with a wide variety of individuals – all with different goals. All of that has brought me to where I am today. I find joy in sharing all the knowledge I’ve collected over the years, and in working with others to achieve their own goals. So please, leave me an e-mail and ask me anything. I want to help you, and I’m here to make your life easier and more enjoyable, whether that means providing you with reading material or working as your training and nutrition consultant. Let me know what I can do to help!