How did we meet?
After graduation, the inevitable question arose, "What's next?" Hi, I’m Muhammad Shahid from Kannur, and my wife Hafsa Shahid is from Kozhikode. We were both B-tech students at the College of Engineering, Vadakara under CUSAT—me in EEE and Hafsa, my junior, in IT. We got married at the end of our college life.
In 2015, I started as a site engineer in Dubai, while Hafsa worked as a web developer in Ernakulam. As freshers, we earned little, and though we didn’t know if our jobs liked us, we knew we weren’t satisfied.
Btech professionals turn into health professionals
After much hardship, we started physical training at our family gym. I was inspired by the love and respect clients showed during training, which led me to switch to personal training. Hafsa joined as an aerobics trainer.
Our biggest challenge in 2018 was a lack of confidence, but we overcame it by practicing at the gym and learning about fitness. We both earned certifications from the American Council of Exercise (ACE), and Hafsa completed additional certifications in Nutrition and Sports Nutrition. As our knowledge grew, so did our confidence and passion for fitness.
Big bomb bang
The COVID-19 pandemic hit, and fitness centers were among the first to close, leaving us with no income for nearly a year. That’s when we first considered online fitness training.
When I shared the idea with Hafsa, she said, "Yes, Shahi, we can do it, I’m with you always." True to her words, she supported me in every way, and together we launched our online fitness business, Fitreat Couple, aiming to give clients a true "fitness treat" as our name suggests.
We tackled the crisis together
During the pandemic, I couldn’t train clients at the gym, but many still sought fitness training. With people unable to even go for walks, we began focusing on home-based fitness. Initially, we had few clients, but we remained confident. Our first client, a neighbor, lost significant weight in just a week, boosting both our confidence and happiness.
Gradually, more clients joined, and we structured a program through extensive research. In the early days, we handled everything ourselves. Hafsa started a Facebook page, "Fitreat by Hafsa," sharing fitness and health tips, which later expanded to YouTube and Instagram.
Begin to treat to become fit
In the beginning, we scheduled workouts using Google resources, for which we're very grateful. The turning point came during the COVID-19 pandemic, as people grew concerned about their health. Through long phone calls, we convinced clients to trust our program, which they recommended to friends and family, expanding our community. Social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Zoom played a crucial role in reaching people through ads and webinars.
Our program, designed for home-based training, began as "Fitreat by Hafsa" and evolved into "Fitreat Couple" as we aimed to help people live healthier lives. By 2020, we hired one sales staff and three nutritionists, growing to a team of 15 within 18 months. The love and gratitude from clients and their families was heartwarming, and working with celebrities helped us reach even more people. We’re grateful to have found a beautiful way to support others on their fitness journeys.
What makes us strong
Feedback has driven our growth. After each successful batch, we gather client feedback to enhance our training. We transitioned from Google workout videos to producing our own content using in-house equipment.
With a deep-rooted passion for fitness, we’ve expanded from a 15-member team to over 65 dedicated professionals. Our success, achieved with passion and divine blessings, continues to inspire us every day.
What’s next
We operate with five core departments: Admin, Sales, Feedback, Nutritionists, and Core Team. Serving 38+ countries and over 20,000 customers, we take pride in offering natural, home-based food and workouts for a healthier life
Our vision is to promote lasting health across generations. Remember, "Fitness is not something you achieve and forget, but something you attain and maintain.