DONT QUIT YOUR 9-5 FOR A FULL TIME FITNESS CAREER UNTIL YOU READ THIS!

Fabila at the 2018 Shape Up Naija Fitness Carnival

So you are passionate about fitness, congratulations!

The fitness industry has become increasingly attractive for people searching for entrepreneurship adventures. With the aid of Instagram and other social apps, people are often swayed by the huge followings, likes and comments and led to believe that a career in fitness would be a walk in the park.

I resigned from a decent paying 9-5 to go full-time as a fitness instructor. I have no regrets, it's been 6 years of learning and progression. However, I do see people who hurry out of the 9-5 only to hurry back in desperate need of a job!

So before you decide to take that big leap and quit your 9-5, kindly pause and consider the following:

1. Is this a fluke? We humans are fickle minded. One minute we want to go to fashion school, and the next you want to isolate yourself on an island! How long have you been thinking about this? Is it just the next best thing to do because everyone seems to be going in that direction? Or perhaps it looks easier than waking up for a 9-5 daily!

2. Fitness is diverse. Which direction are you going? Do you want to be a personal trainer or a group fitness instructor, a health coach or a nutritionist? What specialties would you teach, Zumba, Pilates, yoga, Crossfit, etc. Knowing which direction you are going would help you with the next point below.

3. Although it may seem less capital intensive, anyone looking to be professional would look to take certifications. Some of these certifications cost over $400 and most of them need to be renewed on a yearly, biannual basis. Most have memberships beyond the certification fee which needs to be paid annually.

4. Are you prepared for the down times and possible lifestyle changes? So you quit your job and then your classes take 6 months or more to fill up. You schedule classes, no one shows up, 9 months down the line and you think, that 9-5 doesn't look so bad After-all! Now you really wish you could earn some salary!

This is not to discourage you but to get you thinking about the decision you are about to make. There will be days the passion in you will not be enough, you need to pay bills and it's money that will pay them. Consider the above carefully and make an informed decision to better prepare yourself.

I wish you a successful fitness career!

NUTRITIONAL/HEALTH BENEFITS OF PLANTAINS

P lantains are widely eaten in West Africa. Plantains are similar to bananas but larger in size. While bananas are termed fruits, plantains are vegetables. Bananas are mostly eating raw, while plantains are usually cooked before consumption. Plantains can be eaten unripe, ripen or over-ripe. When unripe, plantains are usually green in colour, when ripen, they turn yellow. In Nigeria, for example, unripe plantains are usually used to cook plantain porridge, ripe plantains are mostly fried and used as a supplement to main dishes like rice and beans. Over-ripe plantains are used to make snacks like plantain fritters.

NUTRITIONAL BENEFITS OF ZOBO/SORREL DRINK

z obo/sorrel was a must have during family gatherings. As children, we loved drinking it, not only because of how nice it tasted, but also because it coloured our lips and tongues red. Zobo (Nigerian) or Sorrel (Jamaican) is a red coloured drink made from a flower called Hibiscus sabdariffa. The sorrel plant contains a wide range of vitamins and minerals including vitamin C, calcium, niacin, riboflavin and a group of compounds called flavonoids. Flavanoids not only gives the sorrel plant its deep red colour, but, are also rich in antioxidants which rids the body of toxins. The sorrel plant also contains nutraceleuticals, which are said to be helpful to the health. Nutraceleuticals can help prevent and treat several diseases including diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and cancer.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF LIME AND HONEY

L ime and Honey are two must haves in my house. I use honey as a substitute for white sugar. I remember a friend of mine visited me once and she wanted to drink garri (drinking garri is local to Nigerians, i.e. eating dried cassava with cold water as opposed to hot water), she was astonished when I told her to use honey to sweeten her garri. I'm not a tea person, but my parents are, and a cup of tea for them is not complete without limes.

Fabila's Fitness Club

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