Losing to Gain

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To get in shape is one item that every girl wants to check off from her list of resolutions. So we ask experts across Bahrain on what can be your best bet.

How many times have you heard yourself, a best friend or colleague complain about the last few kilos that can’t be shed? Most of us don’t aim to become skinny. We just want to fit in an old pair of jeans or feel comfortable in our skin.

There are many ways to go about weight loss. You need to find a programme which suits your routine, so that you can follow it with discipline.

One thing I know for a fact is that there are no miracles. No matter what, you must combine exercise and a healthy diet. The good thing is that you can vary the type of training and menu. So roll up your sleeves and start planning your move towards fitness.

Fast track
For a quick result, you must set a goal and follow the path towards it diligently!
“If you want rapid weight loss, then a circuit training programme would be your best option,” says Joey Navarro, recreation manager of Sheraton Bahrain Hotel.

This helps to improve mobility, strength and stamina. Each workout has a specific number of repetitions before moving to the next one. The resting time within a movement is usually very short. Intervals are a bit longer between different exercises. This kind of programme is effective because it can be tailor-made to suit each person, taking objectives and performance into consideration.

On the plate
April-2014_Beauty_news_01We all know that radical diets are not a solution. First of all, you can’t keep a restricted diet for a long period. Secondly, it is not good for your health.

Food re-education is what we need. A balanced diet consists of the three major food groups.

“On average, we should consume 50 percent carbohydrates, 20 percent protein and 30 percent fat daily,” explains Dr Aysha Salem Al Meftah from Hypoxi. Foods that are high in fibre, like vegetables and salads, plus seven to eight servings of fruits per day is equally important.

However, accordingly to Dr Al Meftah, there is no specific standard diet to lose weight. So an appointment with a nutritionist to plan a healthier eating regime would be the best move to reach your specific goals.

Keep it up
The tricky part is to maintain focus. In the beginning, everyone is motivated. You need to stay strong with time.
“To succeed, you must focus on four fundamental concepts: your mindset, nutrition, movement and recovery,” Navarro notes. Having them aligned to your training plan is the key to success. You also need to set short-term achievable goals. Seek a new one when the first has been achieved until you finally reach your target. After this, it is a matter of maintaining the result. Fortunately, by then you probably cannot picture your life without exercise. It will become a habit.

Tried and Tested
This month, my beauty radar took me to a weight loss and body designing centre — Hypoxi. Present in 40 countries, this programme is used by celebrities like Madonna and Cheryl Cole to maintain their shapely bodies. So I was curious!

April-2014_Beauty_news_02The first impression, I have to confess, was that it all looks a bit scary. You find strange machines with tubes connecting you to a vacuum system (something you’d expect to see in the Matrix trilogy).

However, after you give it a try, you get used to the setting. You can actually relax and enjoy the peaceful environment. The calming scent and relaxing music help as well. Understanding that a lot of research and technology has gone behind the making of this programme kind of makes you feel special.

Hypoxi incorporates exercise using a vacuum method. It stimulates blood circulation, accelerates fat metabolism and improves the texture of the skin.

I tried two different machines — the bicycle and the skin toning body suit (which I fell in love with). My bottom half is my problem area, so they created a specific plan for me. I tried the methods for a total of three days in a week, alongside jogging for 40 minutes on the treadmill on the programme-free days. I also avoided fast food and other non-nutritional snacks.

At the end of the week, I was very proud of myself for having the discipline to follow the plan and I was amazed by the results. I wasn’t sure if I would see a difference, but frankly it was a lot more than I was expecting. My glutes were firmer and the skin looked much better.

I believe that combining the two machines and following the advice of the Hypoxi trainers to workout on off days helped with the results. I see it as a great addition to your exercise routine. I’m ready for more!