Health enthusiasts are gearing up for the Sun and Sand Sport Fitness Fest, which takes place at Skydive Dubai in Dubai Marina on November 4 and 5.
There promises to be plenty of bulging biceps on display at the Strongman Champions League Finals, where the top 10 finalists from around the world will be pulling and lifting vehicles, Superman-style, in the battle for the title of Strongest Man in the World.
Also providing plenty of muscle is this year’s headline act, “The Body Coach” Joe Wicks, an online nutrition coach whose 90-Day SSS Plan has been used by tens of thousands of people to take control of their diets with quick and easy recipes. He will be at the event on November 5. (We spend five minutes chatting with Wicks below)
The festival isn’t just about the men, however, as 7,000 women will be participating in the annual Dubai Women’s Run on November 4, which starts and finishes at the festival.
Parents and children can also test their fitness levels by climbing walls, passing through hurdles and jumping through hoops in the UAE’s largest inflatable obstacle course.
There’s also the opportunity to try out the latest equipment with exercise demonstrations, belly dancing classes and healthy cooking shows, or ride a Jeep around an obstacle course.
SSS Fitness Fest tickets cost Dh40 in advance through www.fitfest.ae, or Dh50 on site. Under 16s can enter for free.
Q&A with Joe Wicks
On the second day of the festival, The Body Coach Joe Wicks will be rustling up a creative cooking feast, as well as revealing his healthy lifestyle tips and demonstrating his own personal favourite fitness regime – high-intensity interval training (HIIT).
Tell us about your HIIT programme.
I’m all about HIIT sessions. Just 15 to 25 minutes of high-intensity exercise per day, three to four times a week is all it takes to get lean. There’s no excuse.
Do you have a personal mantra when it comes to fitness?
My mantra is “prep like a boss”. I recommend spending a couple of hours each week planning your meals, organising the best time to fit in your exercise, shopping for the right foods and preparing meals in advance so that you’ve made it as easy as possible to stick to your goals.
What’s your favourite guilt-free meal?
My favourite thing to cook is a Thai green curry. It’s so easy to make and it tastes amazing too. It’s one of the most popular recipes I’ve put on Instagram because people are amazed at how a complicated-sounding dish can be so simple.
How much water is enough, in your opinion?
I know it’s boring and everyone says it, but drinking more water is so important. The more water you drink the better your body will function and you will burn fat quicker, honest. I always drink three to four litres a day and I feel so dehydrated if I drink anything less.
healthyliving@thenational.ae
