As the summer holiday season comes to an end, there’s one thing most of us are suffering from (besides post-holiday blues)—the extra “indulge bulge.” We all aspire to look our best and to motivate you to reach your goals we’ve rounded up the most effective (and toughest) fitness programs for weigh-loss in Dubai. Be warned, these programs are all intense and require dedication to see results.
Circuit Factory
the boot camp
The Circuit Factory concept includes group HIIT (high intensity interval training) sessions with enthusiastic instructors. The workouts are designed to suit people of all fitness levels and no session is ever the same. Be prepared to work hard. Each class begins with a one-mile warm-up run, followed by non-stop cardio and conditioning training with instructors pushing you to your limits. For the best weigh-loss results, sign up for the Circuit Factory’s 4-week Challenge. You can lose four kilos in four weeks if you attend a minimum of four classes per week and submit your weekly food diary, which is reviewed with feedback. The Circuit Factory Challenge is popular and you’ll have support from both trainers and members.
Cost: AED/SAR 350 per week
Best for: People who need group motivation
Downside: Group classes are large, with more than 100 people at times
Location: Multiple locations around Dubai
Web: www.circuitfactory.ae
Reebok CrossFit LifeSpark
for the weightlifters
Greg Glassman and Lauren Jenai founded the CrossFit brand in 2000. Workouts incorporate elements from high-intensity interval training, Olympic weightlifting, powerlifting, gymnastics, calisthenics, and other fitness exercises.
The Essentials program consists of 12 one-hour group sessions that teach the basic skills of CrossFit—how to do deadlifts, squats, and shoulder presses. You also learn basic technique (prevents injuries) and gym etiquette. This is a great introduction to CrossFit. Once you know the basics, you can start CrossFit conditioning classes, which are great for weight-loss as they incorporate a lot of cardio. Running, burpees, box jumps, and jumping lunges are usually part of each class. If you can commit to four classes a week, you’ll see a noticeable improvement in as little as two weeks. The trainers at LifeSpark are knowledgeable and encouraging. I’ve worked out my entire life playing sports and running marathons, but I’ve never felt as strong and fit as I do following CrossFit training.
Cost: AED/SAR 1,000 for 12 sessions
Best for: People who have fitness experience
Downside: It can be intimidating at first
Location: Jumeirah Lake Towers (JLT)
Web: www.reebokcrossfitlifespark.com
