Fitness isn’t a should, it’s a must.

This came to me in a moment of clarity on October 23rd, 2022. It had been years since I felt good about my body. When I saw pictures of myself at a friend’s wedding, I cringed. I don’t really look like that, I told myself. I think many of us can be in denial when it comes to how we look vs. how we think we look. Of course, superficiality alone isn’t enough to elicit meaningful change. My health was starting to be at risk.

I wasn’t monitoring my exercise or diet because I believed I led an active life. I biked regularly, and, like most New Yorkers, I walked everywhere. I was a few years into my 30s and thought weight gain and the associated health issues that come with it were just things that happened to you as you age.

My reality check came to me that October, in the form of a doctor’s appointment. When I stepped on the scale, I was stunned to see that I was officially obese with a BMI over 30 and had high blood pressure. How did that happen? Only 10 years earlier I was biking all over New York City making deliveries by day and downing pints of Ben and Jerry’s by night with seemingly no consequences.

I had to make a change. I constructed a rough plan— tracking my food, getting more steps in, and easing into weight training— I think we all have a notion of what we SHOULD be doing, but too often, we come up with reasons not to do those things. Like most people I had a set of dumbbells that were collecting dust in my apartment. I finally decided to put them to use. Less than a year later, my BMI was under 25, and I had more energy and strength than I did at any point in my 20s. Pains that I used to have in areas like my knees and back were resolving, and my mind felt sharper than ever before. I had completely transformed my lifestyle and diet.

My physical transformation was a result of using science-based nutrition and bodybuilding principles. I knew I could use this knowledge to help others.

In 2024, I received my Personal Trainer Certification from National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

Fitness isn’t something you can afford to put on the sideline. Slow and steady changes now lead to better quality of life later. I started MCQ Functional Fitness because I want to use my expertise to empower others achieve their goals.