Meet Yusuf Paterson-Mosafeer

I’m Yusuf Paterson, the founder of Principal Nutrition and owner of Principal Athletic in Colwick, Nottingham.

I’ve worked in the fitness industry for more than 11 years, helping hundreds of clients with training, nutrition and body composition. I hold an MSc in Exercise and Sport Physiology, giving me a strong academic foundation in exercise science, physiology and human performance.

But good nutrition coaching isn’t just about knowing the science. It’s about knowing how to apply it to real people, with real lives.

My approach to nutrition

I created Principal Nutrition because I wanted to offer an alternative to the restrictive diets and short-term transformation programmes that dominate the weight-loss industry.

I don’t believe you need to eliminate foods you enjoy, follow a rigid meal plan or put your social life on hold to lose body fat. Instead, I focus on helping you understand the fundamentals of nutrition, establish realistic targets and develop habits that you can maintain.

That means your approach needs to work when you’re at home, eating out, on holiday, busy at work or having a weekend that doesn’t go exactly to plan.

The goal isn’t simply to lose weight - it’s to learn how to manage your nutrition so you can maintain the results afterwards.

Why I created Principal Nutrition

Principal Nutrition was founded in 2018 with a simple philosophy: keep nutrition practical, base it on sound science and educate people rather than make them dependent on a coach.

My role isn’t to tell you exactly what to eat forever.

It’s to help you understand what you’re doing, why you’re doing it and how to make adjustments as your circumstances change.

Through 1:1 coaching, we establish where you’re starting, set appropriate targets and review your progress regularly. Your approach can then be adjusted based on what is actually happening rather than following a fixed plan regardless of the results.

Nutrition, training and body composition

Alongside Principal Nutrition, I own and run Principal Athletic, a strength and conditioning gym in Colwick, Nottingham.

My background across nutrition, strength training and exercise science has shaped the way I approach body composition. Nutrition doesn’t exist in isolation from training, activity, recovery and lifestyle.

For some people, nutrition coaching is the primary focus. For others, it works alongside their training at Principal Athletic.

Visit Principal Athletic →