Hi guys, I hope you've been well! As you all know, Ramadan (fasting) has come to an end and that means back to the gym. To mark the end of Ramadan, I decided to take it upon myself to interview Mo Raz, a fitness freak and fitness model (you can thank me later). Without further ado, the answers to your long awaited fitness questions are below! Big S/O to Mo, thank you for taking the time out to answer these questions! <3
Well this is probably the most typical answer but Arnold! The main man himself! I watched his documentary “Pumping Iron” when I was around 15/16 and from that point on I knew that I wanted to look like these guys or at least try to.
2) How did you manage training in Ramadan?
I think that many people overcomplicate training in Ramadan. The best thing to do at this time is not bulk (increase size) or cut (lean down body fat) but to maintain what they currently have. In terms of training, for me personally, I went to the gym 30minutes before Iftaar time. Then once iftaar time came I would open my fast and continue training. I found that this worked best for me because my gym is not 24 hours. In regards to the weights, I didn’t change the weights or the intensity at all. You have to give your muscles a reason to stay. So dropping the weight and increasing reps would be good if you were looking to cut down, but to maintain I’d recommend keep your weight training the same as if you weren’t fasting.
3) What do you love most about keeping fit?
I love seeing myself progress weekly. Seeing that weights I pushed last week have become easier or that I can do more reps with them, it gives me a sense of achievement. It also makes you feel, just happier I guess. I used to use the gym as a form of therapy (well I still do) because when you’re in the gym it’s just you! It’s your time to focus only on you and not other voices around you. It’s like your personal reflection time or sometime to let out your anger and stress in a productive manor.
4) Do you struggle maintaining a balance between Islam, modelling and fitness? Do they ever conflict?
Alhamdulillah I have not had any conflict so far. To be completely honest with you I think these three things balance out perfectly with each other. It’s just a person’s matter of priority, whatever is important to them, they will be drawn more towardsand forget the others. But the one thing I’ll never lose is my faith, because without that I wouldn’t even be in the position I am today.
5) What advice would you give to someone going to the gym for the first time?
To all the newbies’ out there! I know some of you may be feeling nervous or intimidated at taking your first steps into the gym! Don’t be! Focus on why you have chosen to make those first steps and remember that. Everyone in the gym is on a similar journey,to better themselves! Never be afraid to ask for help from those around you and be open to feedback. Learning little tips and tricks from people who have been into fitness for a while can help you out in the long run. Also guys don’t forget to have fun!
6) How has your life changed since getting into fitness?
I think that fitness honestly changed quite a lot in my life. It has taught me many life lessons such as patience, discipline, moderation etc. Getting into fitness also made me a lot more confident as a person. I wasn’t really a shy kid but I used to careabout others opinions of me. Now, as I’ve become older, outset negative forces don’t bother me at all. I take opinions on board, but if they are of no benefit or value to me, they’ll get disregarded. Life is too short to let negative people have an impact on you. Haters gon’ hate! On a brighter note! Getting into fitness has opened up so many doors for me. One of the main ones was getting sponsored by a fitness clothing brand “TrueBeast Athletics” which all came about due to me getting into fitness. Inshallah I have a few more big things in the works which I would’ve never been blessed to come by if I didn’t start this fitness journey.
7) Do you count your macros? Should you count your macros?
I’m going to be completely honest with you. Now and again lol! When I go on a leaning out phase that’s when I tend to start tracking but only here and there. I do think that if you are serious about fitness and changing your body that you should definitely look into counting your macros. Diet and nutrition is key to having a healthy body.
8) Is training more mental or physical? Which side do you prefer?
Ooh that’s a good question! I genuinely believe it’s a mental thing. If I put my mind in the right state before I workout and fully focus on my muscles contracting whilst I’m performing the exercises, I, no word of a lie, get the sickest muscle pumps! The mind muscle connection is so important when training because it keeps you focused and allows you to better understand what works best for you. Otherwise you’re just going through the motions. Like, when people are on their phones whilst they’re training it fully grinds my gears! Firstly, probably because they’re on a machine or a bench I want to use and they’ve been doing thumb workouts for like 5 minutes as a rest time! Secondly, because you’ve come to the gym for let’s say an hour or an hour and a half. Put the phone down and focus, it’s really not that hard! Once the phone is out, that’s when the focus and intensity is lost. I should also say it is a physical thing as you have to physically pick up weights and do exercises with them, but they will only move as a reaction to your mind telling them to. I mean, I don’t know lol! It’s a mixture of both, but for me personally, it’s fully a mental thing.
9) Have you ever received backlash from the Muslim community for being a fitness model?
Thankfully I have not. It actually led me to give a talk in the community to the youth about fitness and motivating them to make positive changes in their lives that will help them in the future. It all depends on how you present yourself. Alhamd, so farthe entire community has been so supportive of me and love what I’m doing. It’s so weird to say this, but I even get kids coming up to me saying, “You’re that guy from YouTube!” Or “you’re the guy from insta!” It still amazes me that I have an impact on people’s lives when I’m just doing me. At the end of it all as long as you’re being yourself and being true to you, people will be drawn to your story. It’s just about taking the first steps.
Wow those were some tough questions lol! I would just like to say thank you to sister Zulaikha for interviewing me! It was a very different experience, but I really enjoyed answering your questions and hopefully have given you guys a decent insight to fitness! Can I plug my socials? Eh why not hehe. If you ever want to get in touch with me or just even follow my journey, here are my socials!
"1) Was there anyone or anything in particular that brought you to fitness?
Well this is probably the most typical answer but Arnold! The main man himself! I watched his documentary “Pumping Iron” when I was around 15/16 and from that point on I knew that I wanted to look like these guys or at least try to.
2) How did you manage training in Ramadan?
I think that many people overcomplicate training in Ramadan. The best thing to do at this time is not bulk (increase size) or cut (lean down body fat) but to maintain what they currently have. In terms of training, for me personally, I went to the gym 30minutes before Iftaar time. Then once iftaar time came I would open my fast and continue training. I found that this worked best for me because my gym is not 24 hours. In regards to the weights, I didn’t change the weights or the intensity at all. You have to give your muscles a reason to stay. So dropping the weight and increasing reps would be good if you were looking to cut down, but to maintain I’d recommend keep your weight training the same as if you weren’t fasting.
3) What do you love most about keeping fit?
I love seeing myself progress weekly. Seeing that weights I pushed last week have become easier or that I can do more reps with them, it gives me a sense of achievement. It also makes you feel, just happier I guess. I used to use the gym as a form of therapy (well I still do) because when you’re in the gym it’s just you! It’s your time to focus only on you and not other voices around you. It’s like your personal reflection time or sometime to let out your anger and stress in a productive manor.
4) Do you struggle maintaining a balance between Islam, modelling and fitness? Do they ever conflict?
Alhamdulillah I have not had any conflict so far. To be completely honest with you I think these three things balance out perfectly with each other. It’s just a person’s matter of priority, whatever is important to them, they will be drawn more towardsand forget the others. But the one thing I’ll never lose is my faith, because without that I wouldn’t even be in the position I am today.5) What advice would you give to someone going to the gym for the first time?
To all the newbies’ out there! I know some of you may be feeling nervous or intimidated at taking your first steps into the gym! Don’t be! Focus on why you have chosen to make those first steps and remember that. Everyone in the gym is on a similar journey,to better themselves! Never be afraid to ask for help from those around you and be open to feedback. Learning little tips and tricks from people who have been into fitness for a while can help you out in the long run. Also guys don’t forget to have fun!
6) How has your life changed since getting into fitness?
I think that fitness honestly changed quite a lot in my life. It has taught me many life lessons such as patience, discipline, moderation etc. Getting into fitness also made me a lot more confident as a person. I wasn’t really a shy kid but I used to careabout others opinions of me. Now, as I’ve become older, outset negative forces don’t bother me at all. I take opinions on board, but if they are of no benefit or value to me, they’ll get disregarded. Life is too short to let negative people have an impact on you. Haters gon’ hate! On a brighter note! Getting into fitness has opened up so many doors for me. One of the main ones was getting sponsored by a fitness clothing brand “TrueBeast Athletics” which all came about due to me getting into fitness. Inshallah I have a few more big things in the works which I would’ve never been blessed to come by if I didn’t start this fitness journey.
7) Do you count your macros? Should you count your macros?
I’m going to be completely honest with you. Now and again lol! When I go on a leaning out phase that’s when I tend to start tracking but only here and there. I do think that if you are serious about fitness and changing your body that you should definitely look into counting your macros. Diet and nutrition is key to having a healthy body.
8) Is training more mental or physical? Which side do you prefer?
Ooh that’s a good question! I genuinely believe it’s a mental thing. If I put my mind in the right state before I workout and fully focus on my muscles contracting whilst I’m performing the exercises, I, no word of a lie, get the sickest muscle pumps! The mind muscle connection is so important when training because it keeps you focused and allows you to better understand what works best for you. Otherwise you’re just going through the motions. Like, when people are on their phones whilst they’re training it fully grinds my gears! Firstly, probably because they’re on a machine or a bench I want to use and they’ve been doing thumb workouts for like 5 minutes as a rest time! Secondly, because you’ve come to the gym for let’s say an hour or an hour and a half. Put the phone down and focus, it’s really not that hard! Once the phone is out, that’s when the focus and intensity is lost. I should also say it is a physical thing as you have to physically pick up weights and do exercises with them, but they will only move as a reaction to your mind telling them to. I mean, I don’t know lol! It’s a mixture of both, but for me personally, it’s fully a mental thing.9) Have you ever received backlash from the Muslim community for being a fitness model?
Thankfully I have not. It actually led me to give a talk in the community to the youth about fitness and motivating them to make positive changes in their lives that will help them in the future. It all depends on how you present yourself. Alhamd, so farthe entire community has been so supportive of me and love what I’m doing. It’s so weird to say this, but I even get kids coming up to me saying, “You’re that guy from YouTube!” Or “you’re the guy from insta!” It still amazes me that I have an impact on people’s lives when I’m just doing me. At the end of it all as long as you’re being yourself and being true to you, people will be drawn to your story. It’s just about taking the first steps.
Wow those were some tough questions lol! I would just like to say thank you to sister Zulaikha for interviewing me! It was a very different experience, but I really enjoyed answering your questions and hopefully have given you guys a decent insight to fitness! Can I plug my socials? Eh why not hehe. If you ever want to get in touch with me or just even follow my journey, here are my socials!
Instagram & Twitter: @_moraza_
Thank you once again for choosing to interview me! Inshallah we can do it again sometime in the near future!"
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