It was one evening, about three months ago. It was a pretty ordinary evening. We had just managed to put the kids to bed. Had had some sort of dinner. And were now sitting on the couch. Staring at our phones. Reading the news. Or scrolling through Instagram. I don’t really remember. It also doesn’t really matter.

It was a pretty ordinary evening.

Except that, for me, it was not. Except that, that evening, I decided to make some changes in my life.

I am 34. I have a husband. And two kids. No dog. Or cat. Or even plants. For some reason, I don’t manage to keep them alive. The plants. My life is pretty ordinary. About three years ago, I decided to quit my job. Follow my husband to Dubai. And focus on the kids.

My life is pretty ordinary. I get up in the morning. Try to shower while the kids are still asleep. Before the tornado hits. And I am carried away. I don’t go out that much. Because my kids still haven’t understood the concept of lie-ins. I feed them more or less healthy food every day. Try to entertain them. Find fun activities. And keep them from killing each other some days. My life is pretty ordinary.

For the past three years, taking care of the kids was all I wanted to do. It fulfilled me. Made me happy. And proud. Except that, that evening, about three months ago, I realised that I wasn’t that happy anymore… That I felt empty. And tired. And a bit lost.

It was one evening, about three months ago. It was a pretty ordinary evening. Except that, that evening, I decided to make some changes in my life…

I decided to set myself a challenge…

In the past year, I had often accused my husband of not ‘seeing’ me anymore. Of not looking at me the way he used to do. But if I was completely honest with myself, I had not given him any reason to do so. If I was completely honest with myself, me too, I had stopped ‘seeing’ myself a while ago. Listening to myself. Loving myself. My body had become some kind of machine. Some kind of machine that mechanically did what it was supposed to do. Every day. Every night.

I had put away the high heels a long time ago. The pretty dresses. And designer bags. Had stopped putting some nice makeup on. Most of the days. Working out had become the last point on my priority list. And my ‘post-pregnancy’ body had turned from an undesired stranger into some kind of strange ally…

That evening, about three months ago, I understood that, if I really wanted things to change, things had to be turned around. And the only person who was able to do that… was me.

So, I decided to set myself a challenge. To get back into shape. To do something for my body. But also for my mind…

Within a few weeks, I went from picture A to picture B. From feeling exhausted to feeling full of energy again. Most of the days…

You might not see a huge difference, looking at these pictures. And that’s ok. Cause that’s not what the challenge was all about.

In my case, it was not about losing huge amounts of weight. About becoming much thinner. Or incredibly muscular.

Of course, I wanted to lose some kilos. A few spare tyres here and there. And fit into my pre-pregnancy clothes again.

Of course, I wanted to look more toned. Feel fitter. Be proud of my body again.

But it was not only about the final result. It was mainly about doing something for myself. About taking the first step. And becoming a different person on the way…

Before I tell you my story, share my experience with you, I want you to know that I am not a nutritionist. Not a fitness trainer. Not a coach. I am not trying to give any advice. All I want is to share my story. Maybe motivate some of you to take a bit more time for yourself. Without feeling guilty. To become a healthier person. Physically. And mentally.

If this is what you need. If this is what you want…

Eating right instead of eating less

I am not a fan of extreme diets. First of all, because I don’t believe in them. Don’t believe that they work. Don’t believe that they make you thin. Or happy. Or look good in any way. I have suffered from anorexia when I was a teenager. So, believe me, I know what I am talking about.

Second, because I am a mum now. A nursing mum. Who needs energy. And food for the nerves… Yes, I really did want to get rid of some kilos. Or at least that little wobbly post-baby belly I still had. But I didn’t want to do it at any price. Depriving myself of food. Feeling irritated. And being even less patient with the kids. All of this was definitely not what I wanted.

That’s when I came across Good Habits. A friend of mine told me about it. A friend of mine who lost quite a bit of weight.

Let me be very honest with you. The first time I had a closer look at Good Habits I thought it was a great concept. But probably not quite right for me. Probably not what I needed right now.

Good Habits is a motivating support group that encourages healthy eating. Not necessarily – or at least not only – eating less. Members meet once a week (there are meetings all across Dubai, on weekdays and weekends) to talk about different topics linked to healthy living and weight loss. To share recipes. And to motivate each other.

I felt a bit uncomfortable with the concept of meeting total strangers to discuss weight loss at first. I only wanted to get rid of some few kilos. And was not sure if I wanted to share this with everyone.

I still went to one of their meetings one day. Intrigued. Curious. And a bit nervous. I sat down at one of the restaurant tables that had been reserved for us. Together with about 10-15 other women. Young mums. And some not so young. Girls in their early 20s. And experienced women.

Strangely, I didn’t feel as uncomfortable as I thought I would. Maybe because I got a very warm welcome. Maybe because nobody seemed to give me any judging looks. Maybe because everybody was in the same boat. Of course, we all had different objectives. But we were all here for the same reason. All of us wanted to work towards a healthier body. And a healthier mind.

Good Habits will not make you lose 10 kilos in a month. Just to get that right. It is rather about making small changes in the food you choose and the way you prepare it. It is about learning and adopting healthier eating habits that work for you. But also for the whole family. No food is forbidden. But you still have to keep track of what you eat using a food diary (at least at the beginning).

At the end of the first Good Habits meeting I attended, Carole, who launched the concept a long time ago, sat down with me and asked me some questions. If I was working out. If I was pregnant. Or a nursing mum. We also talked about my personal objective. About why I was here. And where I wanted to go.

I strongly believe that objectives should always be SMART. Specific. Measurable. Achievable. Realistic. And time-bound. Not only in the corporate world. But also in general. My personal objective was to go back to my pre-pregnancy weight by the date of my birthday, which meant losing about 3-4kg in three months. I also wanted to get rid of that baby belly. And look more toned again.

Based on this information, Carole and I chose a Healthy Eating Plan for me. For the first time in my life, I actually consciously looked at how much protein I was supposed to eat per day. How many carbs and how much fat. How many dairy products, fruits and vegetables. I also realised that I wasn’t drinking enough water. By far.

Once your Healthy Eating Plan has been defined and discussed, it is important to stick to it. Not to eat more than what is the right number of portions from all food groups for you. But also not to eat less. Eating less is actually bad for your health, slows your metabolism down and makes you feel weak. Which is why so many extreme diets don’t work. At least not in the long run…

This all sounds pretty straight forward, right? And it is. It really is. Using Carole’s tips, I lost the three kilos I wanted to lose. And I didn’t feel hungry. Not once. The only real challenge for me was to keep a food journal. I don’t like to write down what I eat during the day. And to weight my food. But I have to admit that it helps you realise some bad habits (like finishing my kids’ plates for example, haha). And it is not forever. Only until you have figured out the basics. How much of what you are supposed to eat.

I’ve learned quite a lot during my weekly meetings with Good Habits. And I have definitely made some fundamental changes to my eating habits. I eat fewer carbs. And more veggies. Way more veggies. I eat fewer sugar (and I am talking about the hidden sugar here, not the obvious one… bye bye XL smoothies and freshly pressed fruit juices). And drink more water. Way more water…

If you want to get in touch with Carole, just send her an email or give her a call. She’s absolutely amazing. And very knowledgeable. You can also have a look at her website and Facebook page to get a better idea:

Website:  www.goodhabits.ae
Facebook: goodhabitsuae
Instagram: goodhabits.ae
Founder: Carole Holditch
Mobile: 050 454 2309
Email: info@goodhabitsuae.com

But there’s no getting back into shape without exercising. “Unfortunately not”, I would probably have said a few weeks ago. But, today, I am actually enjoying my workout sessions. I never thought I would say this one day. But I do. I really do. It’s all about finding a form of exercise you enjoy, I guess. One that leaves you feeling happier. More energetic. And relaxed.

Working out can actually be fun

I am not the sporty kind of person. I remember hearing people say that they ‘really, really felt the need to work out’. And thinking that I had no idea what they were talking about. Me? I had never known this feeling before (which is precisely why I had not done any exercises for the last three, no wait, four years). Until that evening, about three months ago.

That evening, about three months ago, I was fed up with myself. For not feeling happy in my body. And for not doing anything about it.

I had received an email a few days earlier. It was from 9Round. 9Round is a specialised 30-minute kickboxing fitness centre on SZR. They invited a few bloggers to try out their new and pretty unique workout concept. Including me. You could either come for a one-off trial. Or sign for what they called the ‘9Round 9Week’ challenge. And go for a full body transformation.

That evening, about three months ago, I knew that this was what I wanted. That this was what I needed. A transformation. And so I signed.

9Round UAE

9Round offers a kickboxing-themed, full body fitness program, targeted at all fitness levels and consisting of 9 workout stations:

Stations 1-2: Strength
You use dumb bells, kettle bells, medicine balls, jump ropes and other equipment to build strength.

Stations 3-8: Kickbox fitness
My favourite stations. You punch and kick heavy bags to build power, double end bags to increase coordination and timing and speed bags to develop shoulder conditioning and speed.

Station 9: Abs & Core
Probably the hardest station. At least for me. Maybe because it’s the last one. You tighten and strengthen all the muscles in one of the most common trouble spots, your core, which improves your ability to perform any movement.

Count 30 minutes to go through all stations and complete the high-intensity workout. To give you a better idea, here’s a little video of one of my recent workouts at 9Round.

After my first kickboxing workout at 9Round I wanted to cry. And tell them that, after all, I wouldn’t be able to accept the challenge (i.e. go to 9Round at least three times a week during nine weeks). But the trainers convinced me not to give up just now. To try one more time. To try just a little harder.

And that’s what I did.

I think it was after two weeks or maybe three that I suddenly realised how much I was actually enjoying my workout sessions at 9Round. Maybe because I started to see some first results. Maybe because my body slowly but surely got used to the workout. And I managed to go through all nine stations without huge amounts of sweat dripping from my face.

Either way, I started to look forward to my kickboxing sessions. I was and still am going to 9Round about three mornings a week. Right after school drop off. That’s the good thing about this fitness centre: There are no classes. No schedule to respect. You can show up whenever you want, between 7am and 10pm, and complete your 30-min workout. Perfect! The other thing I like is that there is a trainer to help you at every station. He shows you how to do the exercises, adapts them to your fitness level if necessary, and motivates you. Makes sure you don’t give up and complete the three minutes at each exercise station before you move to the next.

Before and after the 9-week challenge 

My 9-week kickboxing challenge has come to an end but I have decided to continue. To keep on boxing. I don’t think I have ever felt that fit in my life. Not even before I got married 😉  Every time I go to 9Round, I feel good. Free. And happy. I love punching these bags. Love focussing on nothing else than the boxing bag in front of me. At least for 30 minutes.

I have already organised a free workout session for mums and would love to do it again. To share my passion with you ladies. So, if you are interested, please send me an email (tani@ourbigdubaiadventure.com). You can also join me one morning for my usual workout session.

Alternatively, just give 9Round a call or visit the centre on SZR (opposite Times Square Centre). I’m sure they’ll be happy to show you around.

Website:  https://uae.9round.com/
Facebook: 9Rounduae
Instagram: 9RoundUAE
Phone: 04 321 7997
Location: on SZR, opposite Times Square Centre

The Dubai Fitness Challenge

I was very lucky that the Dubai Fitness Challenge happened at the same time as I decided to get more active. To work out again. And get back into shape. I think Dubai did an amazing job with this initiative! And I honestly hope that many, many more cities will follow the example.

I saw the Dubai Fitness Challenge as an opportunity. Being active for 30 minutes every day – that sounded doable! It was up to me to make the most of it. And it was amazing. I had fun. A lot. Because I did things I genuinely enjoyed. Not for the kids. Not for my husband. Only for myself. And I realised for how long this had not happened anymore..

Let me share with you some of the activities I tried. And loved:

Aquabiking at L’Atelier Aquafitness

When I went to L’Atelier Aquafitness for the first time, I immediately liked the place. It’s beautiful. And zen. Going there feels a bit like visiting a friend at home. Like coming over for a cup of tea. Not really like going to a workout session.

I had never tried aqua-biking before I went to L’Atelier Aquafitness. So, I didn’t really know what to expect. Was it hard? Surprisingly not so much (I say ‘surprisingly’ because I really expected it to be much harder to cycle for one hour). Every time I thought “oh wow, not sure if I can do this any longer”, the coach switched to another exercise that was a bit easier. I loved the music. And the feeling of being light as air. What a huge difference it makes to work out in the water! Plus, you burn more calories! Win 😉

If you want to burn even more calories (without moving a finger this time), there’s a little surprise waiting for you at L’Atelier Aquafitness: The Iyashi Dome. Developed in Japan, this new Detox treatment cleanses and purifies the body using infra-red rays to raise body temperature and trigger deep sweating. In only one session, the body eliminates up to 1200ml of water as well as heavy metals and other unwanted toxins. Cellulite is reduced, skin quality improved and metabolism boosted. The Iyashi Dome can even help improve sleep quality and relieve nervous and muscular tensions.

To be honest, just before the session, I got a bit scared to climb into the carbon dome to sweat for 30 minutes. Scared of feeling too hot. But it was absolutely bearable, especially as your head remains uncovered. Having said that, I was happy to take a refreshing shower when the session was over.

If you want to try the treatment, I definitely advice to take spare underwear, a hair band and shower gel. I didn’t take any of this when I went for the first time and wish I had. Also good to know: The Iyashi Dome is safe for breastfeeding mums. Just drink plenty of water before and after the session. More info on their website 😉

Website: www.latelieraquafitness.com
Facebook: LAtelier-Aquafitness
Instagram: latelieraquafitnessdubai
Phone: 04 338 8323
Location: Villa 677 A, Al Wasl Road, Dubai, UAE

Bikram Yoga at Voyoga

During the Dubai Fitness Challenge, I also had my first yoga class. Ever. I had never tried any kind of yoga before… but somehow thought it was pretty easy.

That was before I tried Bikram Yoga. Bikram Yoga is a form of hot yoga. A series of postures and breathing exercises, performed in a room that is heated to a very high temperature (up to 42 degrees). During my first class, I learned 26 different yoga postures and breathing techniques. Saying that it was intense is an understatement. Bikram Yoga made me sweat. A lot. I felt the burn. And that’s exactly what I loved.

Oh and the view from the Voyoga studio. Definitely the view.

Website: www.voyoga.ae
Facebook: VoyogaUAE
Instagram: voyogaUAE
Phone: 04 553 8630
Mobile: 052 509 8988
Location: i-Rise Tower, Hessa Street, Dubai

Paddle Boarding

Probably the most fun activity I tried during the Dubai Fitness Challenge. And a killer workout at the same time! Stand-up paddle boarding (SUP) is such a great form of exercise to do together with your family and friends.

I went down to Nessnass Beach with a bunch of lovely ladies one morning for an intro session with Kite N’ Surf. It was amazing. And actually not that hard. You just have to take your time. Find your balance. And then stay calm… While admiring the views over Burj Al Arab and Burj Khalifa. Having said that, some of us fell into the water more than once. But that’s also what makes paddle boarding such a unique experience. You work out. While admiring Dubai’s stunning skyline. And having a good laugh.

As the weather is just perfect for paddle boarding at the moment, Kite N’ Surf has a special offer running: Every Tuesday morning from 8.30 to 9.30am, ladies can get a SUP class followed by a yummy breakfast at Parkhouse for AED 100!

Click here for more info on paddle boarding.

Website: www.kitensurf.ae
Facebook: kitensurfdubai
Instagram: kitensurfdubai
Mobile: 055 800 6363
Location: Nessnass Beach, Jumeirah, Dubai

It was one evening, about three months ago. It was a pretty ordinary evening. We had just managed to put the kids to bed. Had had some sort of dinner. And were now sitting on the couch. Staring at our phones. Reading the news. Or scrolling through Instagram. I don’t really remember. It also doesn’t really matter.

It was a pretty ordinary evening.

Except that, for me, it was not. Except that, that evening, I decided to make some changes in my life…