If you have ever given up on keeping appointments with nutritionists, dietitians, or personal trainers, chances are you have tried it all before without success and you are just fed up with the lack of results. Nathalie Basma, life coach and nutritionist, knows the feeling from experience. As a former obese client, she remembers the euphoria that would come along with losing the initial 5 kg with a nutritionist after giving it her all. She also remembers the disheartening feeling after realizing she gained it all back the next week, which would lead her to abandon her nutritionist and any health plan. Not until she was truly fed up with being obese did Basma transform her life.

Aside from her professional training, her greatest qualification is her first-hand knowledge and understanding of what works, the struggle, what it takes to achieve health goals, as well as the satisfaction of reaching them. Armed with a clear message: a healthy and active lifestyle with the right nutrition is revitalizing as well as achievable; she is coaching clients from all walks of life from all over the world. When asked if her message is faced with any resistance in the Middle East, she explained: “Sometimes I do — but that is not because we do not have gyms or healthy options. It is because people want to magically change or want the easiest route possible.”

Always traveling between Miami, Florida, and the Middle East, Basma identifies as a fitness enthusiast and “Green Queen,” due to her love for greens. She earned a Masters in Health Policy and Hospital Management, and a Masters in Dietetics and Nutrition from Florida International University. In addition, Basma holds certification as a life coach, which she finds has significantly enhanced her ability to help her clients reach their goals. Speaking with Arab News, Basma shares her story, explains virtual coaching, tells us a little about her clients, as well as her promotion of spiritual and physical well-being.

You’ve openly discussed how you struggled with obesity. What was the turning point for you? In other words, what made you decide to transform your lifestyle?

I feel that people experiencing a body image issue or a weight issue, whether its being obese or underweight, or even body dysmorphia, will always suffer. I share my life as far as it is related to nutrition, health, and fitness because people want someone they can relate to. We all look at models and fitness models in the media all day and everyday — and it is easy to assume that they woke up looking perfect. We all wish it were that easy! It is absolutely not! The struggle is very real. Even as a nutritionist, I have to wake up daily and think of what I am going to eat and what I won’t. I have to think about what workout I will complete to meet my next fitness goal. In conclusion, my goal is to show the world that if you work a little bit harder, everything and anything is achievable with some time and patience.

What made me transform my lifestyle is I was honestly fed up not fitting into anything. I was fed up with everyone assuming I was 10 years older. I was fed up with not being able to even walk without getting tired. It was affecting my health — and I needed a change. My personality did not match my body or health. I am fun, happy, and positive, but my body only showed grief and a female hiding herself in her clothes.

How much has sharing your personal transformation helped in terms of clients connecting with you and vice versa?

My clients connect with me because they see me workout; I speak to them sometimes while I am getting my fasted cardio in! It pushes them to take it up a notch. Day by day, they see my social media and know I am working harder and harder, which pushes them further.

Please describe what virtual coaching with you entails.

Virtual coaching is a concept I came up with and was the first to enable it in the Middle East. Speaking as a former obese client to many nutritionists, we all get excited the first week of any diet program and give it 150 percent. After that excitement, we visit our nutritionist and he/she tells us we lost 5 kg. For me, of course, I was happy. I would get too excited thinking, “I got it under control.” Unfortunately, I would end up messing up on my second week, gain the 5 kg back, feel embarrassed and never show up to the next nutritionist meeting. To my nutritionist, I was just another overweight client. They knew my height and weight and I was yet another person who had the same sad story. They didn’t have a connection with me. They didn’t ask me about my lifestyle. If they had asked me about my lifestyle — they would know that I am a traveler. They would also find out that a diet program on a printed document, which is standard at a nutritionist office, would not work for me. My program is very personable, hence my life coach certification. I understand my clients, their issues, and how emotional eating has led them to where they are at this point in their lives.

Because your method of connecting with people is through virtual means, you are able to reach thousands from all around the world. Can you give us an idea about your clientele, such as general statistics on sex, age, and nationalities?

I cannot say I have two clients who are the same. I always thought my clientele would be Middle Eastern only. Fortunately, I have clients in every continent literally! They extend anywhere from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Kuwait, Japan, Australia, the USA to the UK! As far as statistics, the vast majority is female — perhaps because they can relate to me. As far as age group my youngest client is 9 and my oldest is 64-years-old.

You promote spiritual health and well-being in addition to physical health, how do you recommend achieving this?

By being positive and thinking there is a solution to everything. I like to think that I am very spiritually connected and I also believe that everything in life happens for a reason. Even the biggest of obstacles in your way is to educate you, make you grow, and make you stronger. Then, you will move to the next challenge. Challenges and obstacles don’t have to bring people down — on the contrary, they should bring you up while keeping in mind the famous saying, “this too shall pass.” A positive mind, and a good heart at all times will allow you to reach optimal well-being.

Do you have any updates or anything new coming up you can share with our readers?

I always have new projects and many ideas I am constantly working on. But I love to keep everything as one big surprise! I recommend following me on social media, @natbasma and checkout natbsma.com for future projects, workshops and NatBasma approved restaurant and meal lists.

If you are as fed up as Basma was, if you need an extra push or motivation to reach your goals and full potential, or even if you have questions, be sure to keep up with Nathalie Basma as she encourages a culture of healthy living as well as guides her thousands of followers to greater heights through fitness, nutrition, and lifestyle.

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