Being a father is tough.

But the toughest part isn’t about the responsibilities that come with being a dad. But rather trying better oneself to be a better role model. Trying to set the right examples and help lead them in the right direction. 

Having two daughters first, I never felt as much pressure or worry because my daughter's first role model is their mom (@nutritionbynaz). And knowing the person she is gives me excitement about the women that my daughters will grow up to be because of who their mother is.  

Now having a son and knowing he will look to me first is a scary thought. That is the toughest responsibility that falls on a parent. To try to better oneself to then lead by example. 

There are alot of blessings that come with being a parent. One of them is the moment of reflection on my own life and how I can change to be better. To be a better person, a better husband, father, son and ultimately a better Muslim. 
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📷 - @halimajama_
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#thehealthymuslims #muslimdad #muslimdads #muslimparenting #muslimparents #parent #dad #boydad #girldad #muslimgram #muslimig #muslimgram #instamuslim #muslimfitness #muslimparent #sunnah #sunnahrasul #sunnahnabi #nabi #islam #oneummah #muslimworld #muslimsoftheworld #islamworld #muslimummah #ummati #bismillah #alhamdulillah #mashallah ...

Happy 3 months to my little guy.

3 months of days that have merged into each other. The nights often feel long, especially when I've woken up for the 3rd time and it's not even fajr yet. The days feel so unbelievably short and I'm grateful for the built in nursing breaks that give me fragmented moments with my baby while my daughters try to compete for attention.

By now, I no longer accidently say "she" and have gotten used to the fact that I'm no longer just a girl mom. Being a girl mom has always felt so natural to me, yet now I can't imagine my life without this little guy.

Love you my little mahram ❤.
📸: @halimajama_

#motherhood #muslimmom #motherhoodunplugged #boymom #muslimah #hijabi #torontoMuslims #muslimgram #muslim #hijabfashion #hayah #hayahcollection ...

To my sweet middle child,

You're not old enough to take on the biggest sister's responsibility yet not young enough to hold onto that "baby" title.

You waited for months to go from little sis to big sis, yet you didn't expect the change to be so much. I know it's hard for you to see me give all my time that was saved for you, to your baby brother. What's hardest is that you're not quite sure what you feel and how to say it. So it comes out in less than graceful ways. You may not be able to say it, but I understand the tears and frustration.

And as hard as it is for me to see you going through these changes, I promise to do my best to remind myself again and again of what you're going through.

Just know that I see you. I'll even let it slide when you sneak into my bed and cuddle me every night. It will get better and more importantly, you are not lost in the middle. I see you and I love you every single day.

[For those of you with middle children, what are your tips on making this transition of a new baby easier?]

📸: @halimajama_
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#motherhood #muslimah #muslimmom #muslimmoms #hijabi #muslimahblogger #muslimahstyle #muslimfamily #postpartum #momof3 #torontomuslims #fourthtrimester #girlmom #hijabfashion #hijab ...

A simple but important reason to build strength.

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#thehealthymuslims #healthymuslims #muslimhealth #muslimfitness #fitmuslimah #muslima #muslimgoals #strength #muslimig #halalgram #muslimreels #muslimquotes #islamdaily #islamicquotes #instamuslim #fitness #instafit #halal #muslimwear #muslimworkout #islamicreminders ...

This is probably an unpopular opinion...

Well that's because most have been taught to think healthier options don't taste good. They assume healthy means plain, bland and unflavoured foods.

Well that couldn't be further from the truth.

@nutritionbynaz has made many recipe that you can choose from that are absolutely delicious.

But the reason they taste so good is because she took the time to make it taste good. It's the same reason why unhealthy food tastes good, because you took the time to make it taste good. So you will have to do the same with food that is healthier.

For example all of my food is spicy. I'm big on spice and have been since I was a kid. Just because I eat healthy doesn't mean I can't have the flavours of the food I grew up on.

The key will always come back to finding the right recipes and experimenting. But if you think eating healthy is boring, you're probably aren't doing it right.

Find different recipes, trying new things and you'll be shocked at what you will enjoy.
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#healthyeating #healthyfood #muslim #muslimfood #healthymuslimfood #healthymuslims #muslimhealth #muslimfitness #fitmuslimah #muslimcoach #muslimgram #muslimig #halalgram #halal #muslimbanter #muslimmeme #instamuslim #muslimmuscle #muslimfit #halalfood #halalfoodie #muslimnutrition #fitmuslim #muslima #foodie #halalfoodie #halalrecipes #muslimrecipes ...

Had the privilege of doing a community hike with @seekersguidanceorg @faraz_rabbani.

Fitness and nutrition is never just about the physical, but rather the spiritual as well.

It's important to make sure we take care of both and find a way to bring them together.

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#thehealthymuslims #healthymuslims #muslimhealth#muslimfitness #muslimig #halalgram #muslim #muslims #seekersguidance #muslimgram #instamuslim #americanmuslim #muslimah #healthymuslims #canadianmuslim #muslimworld #islam #deen #muslimfamily ...

Happening tomorrow at 2pm Insha'Allah!

Bring the family and join us for a hike.

To register go to seekersguidance.org/canada.

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#thehealthymuslims #healthymuslims #muslimhealth #muslimfitness #fitmuslimah #muslimfitnessgoals #muslimhike #muslimhikers #seekersguidance #muslim #islam #seekersguidancecanada ...

It’s important to understand that there are many respective disciplinary fields within fitness.

Fitness is very vast and has many different approaches that can help you achieve various results based on which one you choose. 

Bodybuilding is just one aspect within the world of fitness. It is the most popular one because it’s the one that stands out the most.

The guy with the massive arms in a picture will always stand out to someone who may be really athletic, because it doesn’t show in a picture. Until you get on a field and then you will very quickly see who stands out more. Bodybuilding is built on aesthetics, it’s supposed to stand out. Unlike other disciplines which aren't and focus more on performance, function and/or overall health.

Hence, if you see an athlete like a hockey player or soccer player, you won’t see massive biceps. Yet they spend hours and hours in the gym every week lifting weights. But they don’t bulk up like a bodybuilder. 

Training like a bodybuilder and training like an athlete are two very different methodologies and they are also not the only ones to choose from. Which one you choose to follow is based on what you want to achieve. Same goes with those who just want to lose their belly fat, lean down and just bit fit overall. You won’t need to spend as much time as an athlete in the gym, nor eat as much as a bodybuilder. 

There are so many different avenues to choose from. The perfect one from all of them will be the one you like and the one you will be able to stay consistent on. 

What are your goals and how do your workouts match that?

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#thehealthymuslims #healthymuslims #muslimhealth #muslimfitness #fitmuslimah #muslim #muslims #muslimfit #fitmuslim #fitmuslims #fitmuslima #muslimig #halalgram #muslimposts #halalposts #muslimgram #islamdaily #islamicinspiration #fitmuslimonlinecoaching #muslimwellness #islam #islamicgoals #deen ...

Happy 1 month to me and Zakariya!

The "fourth trimester" is an interesting time. The nights are sooo long, yet somehow the days fly by.

This past week was particularly difficult for me - mostly because I just couldn't deal with the broken up sleep 😴.

We were invited to a gathering and it took everything in me to get dressed and leave the house.

I'm in that awkward phase - not quite fitting in my pregnancy clothes but not yet in my pre-pregnancy clothes. Then I had to worry about if the baby wakes up and I have feed him (I'm EBF and haven't introduced a bottle yet).

Since it's the 3rd time around, I was able to muster up the courage to leave the house. I went with an outfit I knew I would comfortably fit in and only had to nurse once alhumdulilah. It ended up being an outfit I wore just a few weeks before he was born!

By the end of the night I was happy that I braved through all the doubts and spent the evening with loved ones.

Even though I'm still sleep-deprived, I'm starting to feel a bit more optimistic and excited to get into more of a routine iA!
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#momof3 #motherhood #fourthtrimester #postpartum #muslimahblogger #muslimah #hijabi #torontomuslims ...

As a father (of three now Alhumdulillah), I see the struggle of trying to juggle work, family and my own health.

It’s not easy to do and you almost feel selfish at times. Like how can you take time out to go to the gym when you already feel like you don’t spend enough time with the wife and kids. Plus don’t forget how exhausted you are at the end of the day. Why would you want to exude the little energy you have left, on yourself...

It’s a conversation I have had with many of our members. And I have learned there are two main culprits that cause this type of thinking.

First, thinking you need to turn your life upside down to get healthy. There’s an assumption you need to give up all your cultural foods and spend all your time in the gym. Which thankfully is just not true.

In reality, you need about 3 hours out of 168 hours in a week. That’s it… Just 3. And you can probably cut it down to 3 45 minute workouts as well. You also don’t need a gym membership because you can easily workout at home (no equipment needed) and save time. Unless you plan on becoming an all world athlete, you don’t need to spend countless hours in a gym. Especially if your goal is to just lose your gut, improve your strength and add a little more energy to your day.

Secondly, you need a plan. You can’t just wing it because it will add more stress to your day. You need something that eliminates the guesswork. You already have enough decisions to make in a day. You don’t need to add more, especially when you’re already not sure where exactly to begin. There’s only so many pushups and squats one can do before it gets boring and you give up.

A plan also helps set up your schedule and provides you with a system. One that takes your family time into consideration as well. The goal is to add fitness and nutrition into your life, not the other way around. You have enough going on, you want something that is easy and not a burden.

The best part about all this is that it will actually increase your energy levels. The energy you need to get more out of your day. The energy you need to not feel lethargic and be able to spend more valuable time with your family. ...

The exercises and routine you choose should be based on the goals you are trying to achieve.

Simply throwing a bunch of exercises together and hoping for the best isn't the best approach. Your goals should dictate why you are doing a specific exercise and what benefit it will bring.

How will the exercise and/or routine get you closer to your goals. Also, is that routine best for you to be doing at this stage in your fitness journey.

Make sure you don't risk injury simply because you are trying to push too hard. Train smarter first and then you can train harder.

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#thehealthymuslims #healthymuslims #muslimhealth #muslimfitness #fitmuslimah #muslimfitnessgoals #muslimcoach #muslimgram #muslimig #halalgram #instamuslim #muslimmuscle #muslimfit #muslimahfitness #ummah #muslim #islam #oneummah #fitness #instafit #halal #muslimahwear #fitmuslims #goals #mondaymood #mondaymotivation ...

To often I see people following extreme diets...

They see short term results and then quickly lose it all and then some.

Then shortly after they try it again to only continue this yo-yo dieting cycle.

Stop looking for extremes, like cutting out entire food groups from your nutrition. Or doing some crazy workouts that absolutely burns you out.

You can lose weight, get in shape and see great results without being absolutely miserable...

You just need the right system in place to keep you consistent.

I'm here if you want to talk.
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#thehealthymuslims #healthymuslims #muslimhealth #muslimfitness #fitmuslimah #muslimfitnessgoals #muslimcoach #muslimgram #muslimig #halalgram #instamuslim #muslimmuscle #muslimfit #muslimahfitness #ummah #muslim #islam #oneummah #fitness #instafit #halal #halalcouple #fittips #islamquotes #muslimfamily ...

Welcoming our littlest addition to our family, Muhammad Zakariya 💙. He couldn't wait to meet his sisters and joined us earlier than expected mashaAllah! Alhumdulilah, so grateful for this blessing.

Boy moms - send me all your tips, this is new territory for me 🤣!

#mashaAllah #babyboy #momof3 #muslimmom #alhumdulillah #motherhood #boymom ...

I have a new workout partner...

Little Zakariya is the newest addition Alhamdulillah. Our first boy, this will definitely be different.

Having 2 girls, they make being a dad real easy. Can't wait to raise this one!

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#babyboy #thirdkid #boy #muslimdad #muslimdads #muslimparenting #muslimparents #parent #dad #boydad #girldad #muslimgram #muslimig #halalgram #instamuslim #muslimmuscle #muslimfit #muslimahfitness #ummah #muslim #islam #oneummah ...

Whether your kids are going to be going to school in-person or virtually, it’s time to get back into some sort of routine, especially when it comes to breakfast! My #1 tip is to make nutritious make-ahead breakfasts so that mornings can be a lot smoother, like these Baked Apple Oatmeal Bars! 

These Baked Apple Oatmeal Bars are a cross between oatmeal and a granola bar. They have no added sugar and use @a2milkcanada, apples, and dates. 

I like to use @a2milkcanada in recipes (and to serve alongside for breakfast) to avoid digestive discomforts that come from drinking milk that has A1 proteins. A2 milk comes from cows that naturally produce only A2 protein, and can help alleviate digestive issues. 

The kids have been loving these Baked Apple Oatmeal Bars with a side of a2 Milk™! It is a good alternative to making oatmeal in the morning, without the prep! 

Here’s how to make Baked Apple Oatmeal:
Makes: 8-12 servings
Ingredients:

- 5 medjool dates (soaked)
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup shredded apple (about 2 apples)
- ⅓ cup melted coconut oil
- ½ cup unsweetened shredded coconut
- ½ cup sliced almonds
- 2 cups rolled oats
- 1 tsp cinnamon 
- 1 ½ cup @a2canada milk 
- ½ tsp baking powder 

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350oF. 
2. Chop or puree soaked dates. Add to a large bowl with eggs, apple, and coconut oil. Mix well.
3. To the bowl add coconut, almonds, oats, cinnamon, and baking powder. Mix well. Add the  a2 Milk™ and mix until well combined. 
4. Use a mini loaf pan, muffin pan, or square pan. Line with parchment paper or liners and pour batter into pan. Bake for 35 minutes, until golden brown. 

Check out  my stories to see how to make this easy breakfast recipe for your busy mornings! 

#sponsored #a2milk #kidapproved #familyapproved #breakfast #breakfastideas #backtoschool #dietitian #nutritionist #thea2difference ...