“It’s the mind that controls the body”. That’s what Yasmin told us when we asked her about her transformation. She quit smoking, lost weight and changed her mind and body.
1. What is your name and how old are you?
My name is Yasmin Hakki-Abidi and I will be 32 years old in July.
2. What do you do for a living?
I am a freelancing multimedia designer and a perfect-housewife-wanna-be.
3. Congratulations on your marriage and new house!
Thank you very much.
4. How are you coping with all this and still have time to train?
Well nobody has time for anything these days and I think it’s simple, really, you just make time for it, like you make time for other stuff. In my situation particularly it is in my number one priority list, if I don’t work out I become on edge with excess extra energy that has no where to go. So it’s best for everyone around me that I train. In short my time revolves around when I get to train or not. Plus I think it’s an essential part of life, just like sleeping and eating are.
5. How long have you been training kickboxing at The Source?
Oh wow .. uhm.. very long time. I think I started back in 2004, but I cut off for a year in 2006 and came back with no setbacks since. Also I have been into all kinds of sports since I was a child so that year off was really a downer for me in regards to training.
6. When did you start taking a turn to a healthier life?
Thankfully my parents are extremely health conscious people and brought us up that way too so I had the healthy upbringing, but sometimes rebelling to what you grew up with, besides being fun, is a good proof that it was good for you for a reason. So I would have to say in 2006 I wasn’t even close to healthy I was actually the complete opposite. Due to that I unyieldingly reset my mind that “I have to kick myself back into shape”. Not just physically but mentally and emotionally likewise as I believe they are an interrelated domino effect at any rate.
7. I remember clearly one day, a few years back in a class, you pushed yourself to the limit and felt light headed, nauseous and dizzy. You were a smoker at the time, did you quit smoking right after that incident?
Stupidly not, I clearly recall that embarrassing moment and believe it or not that wasn’t enough to make me quit then. Actually I used to be a kickboxing smoker for a good 3 years from the 10 years that I used to smoke. I used to die and even need to puke in mid class but sadly enough I was so addicted that it wasn’t enough to make me quit smoking nor kickboxing for that fact, but my body absolutely didn’t enjoy the combination of the two together.
8. What made you quit?
Well I was literally dying in class and it was all because of a cancer stick, and I wasn’t ready to leave kickboxing because it made me feel so much better than a cigarette did, I was just addicted to the cigarette by then with no enjoyment. I needed a great push and support and it came from my husband who was my boyfriend at the time. All he had to do was challenge me, and we both quit in Feb 2007.
9. How long have you stayed off smoking?
Since 2007 till today and definitely forever!
10. How do you feel?
ALIVE! I breathe better; I smell, eat, sleep much better and surprisingly have so much less stress in my life ergo I smile more. I can’t believe I actually used to be so stupid to smoke a cigarette to de-stress myself.
11. So then how do you relieve your stress after you quit smoking?
I happily come to class, or sneak in a well deserved ice cream.
12. When you started training you were conscious about your food and you thought you were a healthy eater but weight loss was difficult for you. What changed in your approach to eating?
Yes I did think I ate well and I actually did because like I mentioned my parents live that way, but what I was unaware of was that I used to sneak in so many snacks and bits here and there that I thought were insignificant. When one day Master Samy told me to write down what I literally ate for an entire 2 weeks I was shocked at the amounts of nibbles a day that were accumulating to fats I would never in a million years thought I was consuming if I didn’t see it written right in front of me.
When I understood my habits I began to eat what is mostly essential for my body by completely cutting out those snacks and actually eating more meals a day at more or less the same times a day, hence putting my body in a routine that was comfortable for it and my lifestyle. Mind you if I crave anything or feel like a treat I do not forbid myself, I eat it at a time that I should be snacking and I do not binge on it and I do not regret it
13. What did you learn that made you lose weight so well?
Consistency!! To be consistent in the way I ate, when I ate it and to work out regularly and not miss any classes. Also you have to know that when I quit smoking I went through a lot of trouble and it took time for my body to understand that I quit which in returned made me bloat even more, I had so much water retention, but it was only consistency that made it all flush out as though in one night.
14. Analyzing you in the past five years you have changed physically and mentally. How do you feel mentally?
Mentally I feel like if I put my mind to anything I can do it!! Really. It’s so cliché but it is true, and I used to always think if I trained harder or worked out more it was better for me but in reality it’s the mind that should be trained and should change for your body to respond, it’s not the other way round.
15. What made you change mentally?
Unhappiness made me want to change. I thought if I am doing all this and I think it’s the right way and I am still not happy then it must be something in the way I think and not what I do. So I sought help from 2 very important people that actually came through, changed my life and guided the change in me. Its all thanks to my dear Master Samy who sneakily got into my brain and changed it to a healthier conscious. It was only when I was ready for it that he was able to do that though, and my beautiful husband who’s always challenging me and pushing me to become the best that I can be, he thought me what healthy competition is all about.
16. Let’s change the subject a little bit. It is always nice how you describe the school to your guest and friends. Can you give in a few words your description of The Source?
The Source is not just a mixed martial arts school. To be a part of this academy you will inevitably learn respect and discipline along with the physical sport. We all feel like a family there and because of this tremendous positive energy going around it makes you want to be responsive, active and loyal, because you feel like you belong to a good place with good supporting people. There are no judgments allowed in The Source, Master Samy and Master Tarek put in a lot of hard work to build such an honorable atmosphere that there is no room for negativity. If you carry that you will be broken from it, changed and eager to be a part of The Source, it’s a bit of an addiction really and yes I do confess I am addicted to The Source.
17. Any final words of motivation?
Always challenge yourself just a bit more, don’t try to focus on being better than anyone else but rather focus on the best that you can be, be consistent and always remember that it’s the mind that controls the body. So it’s not if you look good you will feel good, you need to feel good to look good and be good.
