My client set himself a goal to motivate himself to commit and get shredded. He decided to book himself fitness photoshoot… and 4 months later, he smashed his goal and lost all his stubborn body fat.
Most people think getting pretty lean means living like a monk: no eating out, no birthdays, no date nights, no fun. But my client Zain; a 27-year-old South Asian guy… proved that theory wrong. He went from 78kg down to 65kg for his fitness photoshoot, and the transformation was insane.
Here’s how he did it, and more importantly, how you can learn from his approach.
1. Rule one… was Honesty!
The first win for Zain wasn’t in the gym or the kitchen, it was in his head.
He was honest with me and himself, he admitted after injuring his leg, he let things slip and spiral and needed to get back control of his life and diet. Another great thing, was he was honest with me throughout the coaching journey about events he wanted to attend and if there was anything that would cause us issues along the way. That self-awareness gave him a huge edge right from the start.
2. He Actually Tracked His Calories (Most of the Time)
Notice I didn’t say “perfectly”? Zain wasn’t a complete robot. But he tracked his calories for the majority of the week. That meant he was in control. If he had a date night with his girlfriend, that was cool, he could enjoy it without spiralling, because the rest of the week was locked in and we planned ahead for these days out.
That’s the secret a lot of people miss. It’s not about perfection, it’s about consistency.
3. Homemade Meals Were the Backbone
90% of Zain’s meals were homemade. Nothing fancy, nothing Instagram-chef level, just simple real meals he cooked himself (not his mum or gf). That kept his calories under control, his protein high, and his results coming in week after week.
When you’re in charge of what’s on your plate, you’re in charge of your progress.
**I want to highlight this because… with many south asian clients i’ve had, the biggest hurdle was talking to their family about them choosing to improve the foods they want to eat. This will often be a hard moment BUT it always become the pivotal moment before they gained results, because you CANNOT out train the foods you eat. Consistently, having foods that are fried in butters/ghee and overall high calorie, are things we need to address, it can be fitted in moderation but it cant be a daily occurrence.
4. Balance Over Restriction!
Here’s the part people always ask me about: how do you manage birthdays, trips away, and date nights?
That’s where my “TJ Protocols” came in. Zain learned how to plan around life events so he could celebrate, enjoy food with people he cares about, and still keep moving forward. It wasn’t about avoiding fun, it was about knowing how to balance it all.
And honestly, that’s what makes a result sustainable.
5. The End Result!
One thing to note is, in the final weeks Zain decided to push to drop even more fat than we planned to get more shredded to see how far he could go.
Initially, the plan was to end around 70kg (which was more sustainable ✅)… but for us to push to drop an extra 5kg to reach 65kg… he did need to ‘lock in’ more and become more diligent and ensure we stuck to his diet of high protein cooked meals at home, mixed with a fair bit of cardio (burning 250-350 calories at the end of most gym session).
By the time of his photoshoot, Zain hit 65kg! He was lean and looking SHARP 💪.
But the real win?
He built habits that will keep him in shape long after the cameras stopped flashing. As for the next steps for Zain… it is to slightly increase the calories to reach back up to roughly 70kg and begin to plan for his NEW goal of competing on a bodybuilding stage next year.
Photoshoot Pictures
Quick Highlights:
- Zain, came from a big leg injury
- Day job: Mon-Fri (9-5pm in a lab)
- Training sessions: 4-5 weight lifting sessions and cardio at the end
My client Zain came to visit, right before his photoshoot
Want Similar Results?
If you’re tired of spinning your wheels, starting and stopping diets, or feeling like you can’t get in shape because life always gets in the way…I can help.
That’s exactly what I do for busy men like Zain. I’ll give you the tools, structure, and accountability to finally see results without giving up your life.
Hire me as your online fitness coach 👇 Contact me now to get started.
