SANYU ROBERTS

What was your level of activity in school when you were growing up? Growing up, I was usually active in play and liked combat.

Did you play team sports? When did you first start exercising? I never played team sports because with the only few sports, I did not find myself anywhere near the best player. But, I started moderate exercise real early in lower primary school.

Do you remember any of your fitness benchmarks from your early days? I could do 7 to 10 push ups and could trot a kilometer at my best during my early years.

What challenges did you face along the way, and how did you overcome them? I didn't qualify for team sports and this would be discouraging. I still trained with friends who were not on the school team and we'd challenge ourselves to some exercises.

How did your family, friends, or the place you lived affect your lifestyle choices? One day, a friend came to pick me from home to go jogging and I can't forget the barrage of words from my mother. She believed that whoever went running was idle and bound to be a criminal.

Have you tried different workout routines or fitness programs? If so, which ones have been the most effective for you? I have worked with gyms over the years and therefore, know exercise routines for all muscle groups. I've done some HIIT routines and conducted aerobics classes.

Are there any lessons or insights you've gained from your fitness journey that you'd like to share? Sure, fitness should be a lifestyle and it takes commitment and consistency. Patience is equally important because this is a lifetime journey. It takes time to master the body and identifying what works for you even when it may not work for another person because our bodies are different and therefore respond differently to particular exercises.

Do you have any role models or sources of inspiration within the fitness community? I'm not really sure, but I pick my inspiration from a combination of people, some for hard work, others for their physique, the span of time in the fitness journey and more.

Free entry (write more about yourself here). I am a fitness enthusiast who has gained experience over the years because of my attitude that anything can be learned as long as you have the inner drive. Since January 2004, I started my fitness journey in the gym and learned on the job and studied all the fitness literature that I could get my hands on. Fitness helped me to replace my addiction to drugs and alcohol and therefore, i innovated Fitness for Rehab (F4R). This F4R program is about engaging young people living in street situations into exercising and psychosocial support. This would help them overcone their addictions in the long run. I am a family therapist by training and I run a community based organisation, Rescue Foundation for Children at Risk. Our work is voluntary and we reach out to street connected children to Rescue them from off the streets and refer them to institutional care for rehabilitation where their families are traced and finally they are reconciled to family and reintegrate. Fitness routines are another way to beat the stressors that result from exposure. I love people and counseling those with personal struggles is a passion. Lately, I'vee been pursuing a short course in journalism. Family: wife and two giris.