As we hit the halfway point of The National Fitness Challenge, we bring you some of the success stories. From the kilograms and inches lost to increased energy and greater strength, six of the participants share their biggest achievements from the past four weeks.
Graham Caygill, deputy editor, Sports
Three weeks down, and while it would be an exaggeration to say I feel like a whole new person, I definitely feel I am making progress in the right direction. The exercise classes have been tough – very tough – with last week’s lap around the football stadium at Zayed Sports City proving particularly gruelling.
The fact I was able to run, not at the most rapid pace admittedly, for around 35 minutes non-stop, doing a lot of push ups and lunges in the process, was something I could not have even contemplated trying before January 3 when this programme started, so it does highlight what can be achieved in a short space of time.
Dieting is still proving a novelty but I have been able to keep to the recommended fasting programme of not eating between 8pm and noon, and it is becoming more of a routine now.
I mean, I have even stopped staring at other people’s plates of food with envy when I am out and about.
I feel I have taken some real steps forward with the Primal programme – but I am wary, and sort of excited as well, about what is to come in the remaining three weeks of Primal and then two weeks with the WOD class.
Adam Workman, sub editor
While my aim for this programme wasn’t so much to lose weight as to, ahem, move some mass up a little, after the first two weeks, I found that I’d shed three kilograms.
I only managed to get to four WODs (workout of the day) a week, as opposed to the recommended target of five, but it still felt like significant progress. I can definitely see a difference in my figure: I’m looking trimmer around the middle, and several friends and colleagues have remarked that I look a bit slimmer.
I’m sleeping a lot better/deeper, and feeling more energetic, especially when I do the morning WODs – the post-work ones tend to just finish me off for the day rather than energising me for the evening.
The boxing training has been my favourite so far. My least favourite has been the cardio-based WODs (I’m not a big fan of running). But the variation in routines has kept things interesting.
I’ve been trying to regulate my diet without making it so bland that I get bored and give up, but that hasn’t been too difficult because I feel like I’m already quite clued in about nutrition. Cutting out the occasional cheeky McDonald’s has certainly helped, though.
Mohamad Saleh, page planner
Joining this challenge was a turning point in my life. It was a decision I took at the beginning of this year, that I wanted a new start, a new lifestyle and a new me.
Last year, my weight was more than of three digits, but today I weigh less than 100kg – and the key to this success has been my strong will: I challenged myself and stayed away from all sorts of junk food. During the first week, I ate a lot of cucumbers and drank litres of water and protein food supplements for breakfast. I had grilled chicken with cauliflower or grilled fish for lunch, more cucumbers (as much as I wanted), and a protein food supplement at dinner. I did not drink tea, coffee or soft drinks – just water.
I followed more or less the same diet in the second week, eating oatmeal with low fat yogurt or food supplements for breakfast, grilled chicken or grilled fish with broccoli and cauliflower/protein food supplements for lunch, and oatmeal again for dinner. I have continued to keep away from tea, coffee and soft drinks.
I already feel healthier, lighter and more energised.
April Robinson, deputy art director
My No 1 goal going into this challenge was to get moving again, so in that respect I have already been successful. I admit, going into our fourth week of this programme, I still dread getting up early to go work out. But I’m slowly coming around, because I like the results.
A lot of people pointed out my weight loss during the first week, 5kgs during the detox and one more by the beginning of week two. In fact, a dress I had tailored for a wedding had to be altered twice during the week of the event because of the weight loss.
But the best results came in week two, during a routine check-up with my doctor, who has been encouraging me to drop some weight and get some of my numbers back down. She was happy with my weight loss and other improved vitals – and all those borderline numbers were way below what the had been.
So, while I dread the morning workouts, with 7kg down, I do like that the hard work is paying off.
Ashley Lane, assistant editor, Magazines
When I signed up for the triathlon, it wasn’t the cycling or running that sent me into a cold sweat. In all honesty, it wasn’t even the idea of swimming 750m. What truly set my hair on end was the thought of swimming in open water and, in the case of the training sessions, the sea. Truth be told, I have a serious water phobia.
I knew, however, that I’d eventually have to challenge my fears and, to be frank, get over myself. Last Friday, standing at the shore of the St Regis Saadiyat Island Resort’s residence beach, both cold and crying, I conquered that fear. Step by cautious step, I waded into the sea with our trainer sticking by my side – both for moral support and as a preventive drowning measure.
When you’re told to swim to a point, in my case a giant red buoy, what seems like a simple task from the comfort of the shore is double the effort in the water. There were times when I wanted to turn around – the Jaws theme tune that would pop up in my head from time to time didn’t help – but in the end I managed a total of 450m.
Now that I know I’m psychologically capable of this, next week I’m tasked with actually doing a front crawl, including putting my face in the water. Baby steps.
Ann Marie McQueen, features editor
I jumped at the Haddins challenge because although I love to exercise and eat well, things had definitely started to get away from me by the end of last year and I was feeling heavy, sluggish and murky.
Normally I don’t eat sugar, much bread, pasta or cheese, except for rare treats – but all four had made their way back into my diet. I was putting on weight, working out less and sinking into that vague sense of sadness that shows up when I don’t take really good care of myself.
Since starting with Haddins, I have cleaned up my diet again, sticking to whole foods with lots of protein, and vegetables. And these workouts! The WODs are among the hardest physical activity I have ever done. I can never believe I’ve made it through even one, let alone several in a row. They are a great reminder of just how much your body is designed to do, and that a real workout leaves you sweaty, breathless and red-faced.
I am also amazed at all the drama my brain stirs up about attending each class – yet once I go, how much better I feel. So that’s my no-drama mantra now: just go, you’ll feel better.
