Meet Tina Naidu

We had the good fortune of connecting with Tina Naidu and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Tina, what habits do you feel helped you succeed?
Something about this question had me take a step back. Why? I feel like it comes down to how you define success; how you measure it and what you measure it against. It is pretty relative! It is something that comes and goes and in my opinion every step forward is success. It means I am able to show up, do and share what I love, come back to it, learn every day, and keep growing and evolving. It means that the brand I am creating isn’t just about me, but about the people that it may impact. So here are a few habits that keep me going: – Creating a checklist: I have a dry erase board/calendar where I notate things I need to get done for the week. I also have a few goals that I would like to accomplish. Certain things are tasks at hand that need to be done, while others are items for self growth and setting myself up for the future. Something about seeing it and checking it off. It helps me keep going. It helps me reprioritize as and when needed. – Waking up early and making the most of my day! It truly sets the tone for what I have to accomplish. – Putting blinders on when needed. People around you will always have something to say about the way you are doing things, judging your every move, and in a way also discourage you from moving forward. Some are in it for our good, while some may have their own agenda. It’s important to listen, but even more important to surround yourself with good energy that doesn’t hinder your progress; that doesn’t create more problems, but sees an issue and offers a solution. You have to follow your gut and do what best works for you, because that is truly what you believe in. – Creating a routine to help stay consistent – More importantly to take breaks when and as needed. It helps me come back stronger and rejuvenated every single time!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am a Clinical Program Director by the day and a mini “influencer” by the night. I started my Instagram Page fit2frolic last year and I share my fitness journey and what has helped me along the way. I was an overweight kid well into my late teens. I come from a family history of hypertension, diabetes & heart disease on my dad’s side. I lost my grandfather when I was just 2 years old and my dad suffered a stroke over 10 years ago, which fortunately he was able to make a fairly good recovery. These underlying health issues not only impact the person, but the entire family. As a family we had to make a lot of changes in our diet to keep my dad on track too. I committed to going to the gym and with the help of some group fitness classes and fitness instructors I was hooked. This journey started over 10 years ago and it has evolved over time. I watched and obsessed over everything I ate, but soon realized that for me to be able to have more of a sustainable and balanced lifestyle I would need to find a way of enjoying the food I love in moderation and being mindful of consuming wholesome and nutritious food while paying attention to my workouts. Fitness is not a fad, it’s a lifestyle. I may not have perfectly toned arms or abs and I wasn’t sure how people would receive my account that talked about fitness. It took a bit to overcome that self doubt, because I had to remember that my goal wasn’t for someone to have abs, but to create healthy habits that can help them in the long run. I’m hoping that my certification further helps people in the future. 

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I live in Dallas Fort Worth area and absolutely love everything about it. I love exploring this city and everything it has to offer. My go-to spot is the Margaret Hunt Hill bridge that in my opinion gives you the best view of Dallas downtown. It’s fun to walk around, soak in the view, and chat. They often hold yoga and meditation classes. Right by the bridge is an area that is growing with new bars & restaurants that can appeal to all. Would love to grab a bite or drink at this location. The Reunion Tower and Klyde Warren Park in downtown are also a fun spots. Another fun spot is in Frisco – 2 popular areas – Legacy & The Star. You can check out the Dallas Cowboys Training Center and also enjoy some fun restaurants and bars in the area. The Legacy area has tons of food options too and perfect to walk around. Fort Worth downtown is also a favorite. Before getting into the hustle bustle of downtown, I love stopping at the Fort Worth Water Gardens. I also highly recommend checking out the Cowboys Stadium tour.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’m surrounded by people who have encouraged me to follow my gut. They have believed in me even when I felt discouraged. My husband and my mom are my biggest supporters. I wanted to start an Instagram account to share my story. Fitness and Nutrition played a huge role in turning my life around and I wanted to do the same for others who may feel stuck like I did. I brainstormed several ideas with both and that is how I started my Instagram account fit2frolic. Here I share my fitness journey, the good, the bad, and everything in between. I started sharing a little about some of my other passions too – dance, food, and travel. It helped me build a community that is growing every single day. Now the support from family, friends, and my Instagram family is what keeps me going and doing what I love. It is what truly pushed me to get a certification in fitness and nutrition to better help those around me. I was also able to start a side hustle by being a rep for Zyia Activewear. None of this would have been possible without every single person along the way that believed in me and pushed me!

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit2frolic/

Image Credits
Prashanti Photos – for the indian outfit pic