BY: RIDZWAN A. RAHIM

Name: Ahmad Faiz Abdul Rahman

Age: 39

Occupation: Corporate communications manager

WANT a makeover? Try exercising.

Take it from Ahmad Faiz Abdul Rahman. He was once an overweight person with a heart problem but regular exercise transformed his physical appearance.

"When I first started working, I was fat to the point of developing an enlarged heart," he says. "Fortunately, I had already started working out so the problem went away by itself."

Today, Faiz looks good, whether in work clothes or gym attire. People are sometimes unable to guess his real age. "They have no idea that I'm already married with kids," he quips.

With his life transformed, the corporate communications manager is now a firm believer in staying fit. "No matter how busy you are, everyone should strive to do some form of exercise, something even as simple as sit-ups or brisk walking."

Q: Describe your daily activities.

A: I'm in the office by 7am. I do a bit of work and have breakfast. I continue working until about 12.30pm and then I'm off to the gym. I spend between one and 1 and a half hours at the gym. I usually go there again after work.

Q: Why is staying fit important to you? What keeps you motivated?

A: Fear of growing old and decrepit. Fear of dying young. My family has a history of hypertension, diabetes and heart failure. I want to live to be 100 but I don't want to be decrepit and be a bother to other people.

Q: Any role model?

A: Dr Delmonteque. He's a leading expert in senior physical fitness. He's in his 80s and yet he looks better than many 20-year-olds.

Q: Describe your workout regime.

A: I start with cardio exercise and then move on to work out both the upper and lower body. Both upper and lower body are equally important because I don't want to end up looking like Johnny Bravo (a cartoon character with big torso and small legs).

Q: Do you have a special diet?

A: No. A balanced meal before and after a workout, with carbo and protein in equal amount. Less oily food. Lots and lots of water. Supplements are also very important. You can't go without vitamins, minerals, whey protein and amino acids combined, creatin and l-carnitine, otherwise you risk burnout.

Q: What might deter you from working out?

A: Work pressure, family commitment and sports injury. I was once a Taekwon-Do instructor but a recurring back problem prevented me from going to the gym. But I got it treated and I'm much better.

Q: Do you agree with society's idea of what a perfect figure is?

A: There will always be preferences. But they are not always ideal for everyone because our faces and bodies have their own minor deformities. You should strive to be happy with yourself.