![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MJLZVZQT55PVSUT5EL7O2XSW24.jpg?smart=true&auth=1ab2555a575dde367612226294180dc853c8568a0f9cbc588de0970d33e19732&width=400&height=225)
Ihsan Al Sakka does weight training and cardio exercises with his children at the Abu Dhabi Country Club. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NLJXNZDCV373NS47735BEUXNOY.jpg?smart=true&auth=4772b34ef07051d2706836e00d9206878e5f80669b4a559a7cc744b214b85257&width=400&height=225)
Ihsan Al Sakka shifted from being overweight to fit and healthy twice in his life. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RADWP5NHU7CKYYD337BYEEWOFQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f26713b96bb20fd6a24deba20bd080a21e7f6ca978712cde411db58e46fd0d4b&width=400&height=225)
During his childhood, Ihsan Al Sakka, was always overweight, and weighted. inat 95kg in high school. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R3ZYENTFOAWAHGJRAFOBHLGQYA.jpg?smart=true&auth=2dddf2e76d36c998bf66556931971b275c0304051a476f14f1067c43d1b15257&width=400&height=225)
At university he started training, and dropped to a healthy weight, but then he had a car accident and piled on the pounds. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/36D6NSAEZQ533JIY2V4YZZ5PVM.jpg?smart=true&auth=95c9ac9ba036b1669c0ff0f4426b0089e6ae171cbfabf051b81681bf26beb63f&width=400&height=225)
Eventually he made the choice to have surgery, and returned to the gym, and he now works out with his children, from left, Hude, 16; Nur, 20; and Abdulvahab, 14 at the Abu Dhabi Country Club. Victor Besa / The National
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Hude, left, and Nur have been inspired by their father. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O34RK2PYYKRZA3GSYUC52ZHUOU.jpg?smart=true&auth=4486c80daba7ce1088ce95423e8e18d13b031aa93d622dde874df372366c29ba&width=400&height=225)
They all do weight training and cardio exercises together at the Abu Dhabi Country Club. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R6O4UI75DPPIVRRU2X4O2P3QXQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=e77660aff1862ef55cff0c3675322c60908177686b3793061f870b5fbca7f771&width=400&height=225)
Evn Mr Al Sakka's son Abdulvahab gets involved, despite suffering from special needs. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6B7XRCQGH7EAQP7KT2P7F3A7RU.jpg?smart=true&auth=759d7c5a99e3f043b113736ebf981138a86c01a2edc42f000d3374992f2a191e&width=400&height=225)
His daughters know that persistance pays off. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MJLZVZQT55PVSUT5EL7O2XSW24.jpg?smart=true&auth=1ab2555a575dde367612226294180dc853c8568a0f9cbc588de0970d33e19732&width=400&height=225)
Ihsan Al Sakka does weight training and cardio exercises with his children at the Abu Dhabi Country Club. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/NLJXNZDCV373NS47735BEUXNOY.jpg?smart=true&auth=4772b34ef07051d2706836e00d9206878e5f80669b4a559a7cc744b214b85257&width=400&height=225)
Ihsan Al Sakka shifted from being overweight to fit and healthy twice in his life. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/RADWP5NHU7CKYYD337BYEEWOFQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=f26713b96bb20fd6a24deba20bd080a21e7f6ca978712cde411db58e46fd0d4b&width=400&height=225)
During his childhood, Ihsan Al Sakka, was always overweight, and weighted. inat 95kg in high school. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R3ZYENTFOAWAHGJRAFOBHLGQYA.jpg?smart=true&auth=2dddf2e76d36c998bf66556931971b275c0304051a476f14f1067c43d1b15257&width=400&height=225)
At university he started training, and dropped to a healthy weight, but then he had a car accident and piled on the pounds. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/36D6NSAEZQ533JIY2V4YZZ5PVM.jpg?smart=true&auth=95c9ac9ba036b1669c0ff0f4426b0089e6ae171cbfabf051b81681bf26beb63f&width=400&height=225)
Eventually he made the choice to have surgery, and returned to the gym, and he now works out with his children, from left, Hude, 16; Nur, 20; and Abdulvahab, 14 at the Abu Dhabi Country Club. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/QAL53POUL55XU6N7AE72S6Y2AM.jpg?smart=true&auth=272f3dab6038fc326e1a96a7893931df94551e3482fe9438d74439203478c2d1&width=400&height=225)
Hude, left, and Nur have been inspired by their father. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/O34RK2PYYKRZA3GSYUC52ZHUOU.jpg?smart=true&auth=4486c80daba7ce1088ce95423e8e18d13b031aa93d622dde874df372366c29ba&width=400&height=225)
They all do weight training and cardio exercises together at the Abu Dhabi Country Club. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/R6O4UI75DPPIVRRU2X4O2P3QXQ.jpg?smart=true&auth=e77660aff1862ef55cff0c3675322c60908177686b3793061f870b5fbca7f771&width=400&height=225)
Evn Mr Al Sakka's son Abdulvahab gets involved, despite suffering from special needs. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/6B7XRCQGH7EAQP7KT2P7F3A7RU.jpg?smart=true&auth=759d7c5a99e3f043b113736ebf981138a86c01a2edc42f000d3374992f2a191e&width=400&height=225)
His daughters know that persistance pays off. Victor Besa / The National
![](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/MJLZVZQT55PVSUT5EL7O2XSW24.jpg?smart=true&auth=1ab2555a575dde367612226294180dc853c8568a0f9cbc588de0970d33e19732&width=400&height=225)
Ihsan Al Sakka does weight training and cardio exercises with his children at the Abu Dhabi Country Club. Victor Besa / The National
Meet the Abu Dhabi resident who went from being fat to extremely fit – twice
Ihsan Sakka trains about three hours a day with his children, including his 14-year-old son with special needs
![Haneen Dajani](https://thenational-the-national-prod.cdn.arcpublishing.com/resizer/v2/https%3A%2F%2Fs3.amazonaws.com%2Farc-authors%2Fthenational%2F2c3a1ee0-7878-4332-8eb7-508eaf968db0.png?smart=true&auth=502c5440a5c40d357cfb18a53fda792824aea1226c0aa454ca42e9cb84274c9d&width=70&height=70)
Haneen Dajani
06 June, 2021
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