What do you mean too muscular?
That's for me to say!
What Hakan says about it.
Read his story here.
1. What does being fit mean for you?
I see staying in shape as my religion and it's one I practise every day. It's a way of life that requires a large amount of willpower and for which you need to be mentally strong.
2. Have you ever had any unpleasant comments about your level of fitness or your muscular body?
I sure have! But, I also take negative comments as something positive, because I am proud of who I am and what I have achieved. So, I take all comments with a smile. I want to explain to them how much energy and discipline it takes to get to your goal. I want to motivate others with this vision.
3. Our campaign is all about body positivity. How do you see this?
I see body positivity as being the same as having a positive mindset. If you don't set yourself boundaries in your mind, you can live without anxiety, so you can venture and achieve more! The feeling I then have is it's "me against the world".
4. Which of your goals have you already achieved?
My initial goal was to do a photoshoot in Miami; where I ended up was in the paradise of the fitness world. As soon as I came into contact with the fitness world, I felt completely at home. At that moment I weighed 72 kg, with absolutely no fat, bulk or curves.
I worked on my body for 2 years and in 2015 my personal transformation was complete. Now I was looking at the person I had always wanted to be. I was well-rewarded for my hard work and discipline as I became Mister Universe Turkey 2015 and went to a Mister competition with 41 world athletes in the Dominican Republic. I won in the Best Body category and two years later I came first in Super Model Fitness World 2017. As well as my win, I've been in magazines all over the world and have worked with international photographers from Europe, Asia, America and South America.
5. What goals do you still want to achieve?
I have achieved my greatest goal which is to have trained every part of my body to the top level of fitness. I work really hard to stay fit and I have now built up my own online community. At the moment, I have 61,000 followers on Instagram and my aim is to increase this to 100,000. I get a lot out of sharing my experiences around a healthy lifestyle and mental coaching with my followers, to help motivate and inspire others.
6. Who or what motivates you to keep fit?
Arnold Schwarzenegger is my biggest inspiration! I believe you have to look for motivation within yourself. When you wake up in the morning and look in the mirror it's a case of ‘you vs you’. Once you've figured that out you can get the best out of yourself. We are all unique but we want to look like someone else. I believe you have to work with what you've got and get the best out of yourself. That's how I go about it and it's all to do with your mental mindset.
7. Have you got any tips to inspire others on their fitness journey
Rome wasn't built in a day and you won't get a fit body in a matter of days. My advice is the same to everyone: take a path that does not have a specific end point, regardless of the sport you do or what level of fitness you have. Enjoy what you do, then you'll be able to keep at it!
