Sometimes, just saying you’re going to the gym isn’t enough. You need some help to get motivated. Angela Beitz decides to overhaul her life with a two-week membership programme with a trainer.
With the lazy summer looming and long working hours the last thing most people feel like doing at the end of the day is exercise. We decided to enlist the help of a personal trainer to get motivated and head to the Atarmia Spa at the Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi to get ourselves looking fit and toned again.
Day 1
We are introduced to Marko Ivanisevic, fitness instructor team leader and qualified personal trainer at the Park Hyatt. Our main aim is to tone up but we also want to build some strength and improve our general fitness. We tell Marko that our diet is quiet good but with doing lots of TOAD food reviews and busy work schedules it can sometimes fall by the wayside. We admit that we’ve been pretty lazy on the exercise front lately and that we are feeling pretty out of shape. Marko designs a unique programme for us for the next 14 days.
Day 3
We’re in the gym today starting our PT programme and we kick off with a 15 minute warm-up of fast walking on the treadmill. Marko says it’s important to warm up to get your heart rate up and to prepare your body for exercise. We ask Marko why he would encourage people to hire a PT.
‘Apart from the fact that it is more fun to train with a professional than on your own, it keeps you focused on your fitness goal. Invariably people focus on the wrong parts of their body and wonder why they didn’t achieve anything. We make sure that we match your exercise regime to your fitness objectives, so that you reach your goal as quickly as possible. Moreover, a personal trainer can provide good advice on healthier dietary habits.’
Marko tells us that today we will be focusing on abs starting with mat work. He does the exercises with us so that we can follow his technique. We start with sit ups, leg lifts, push ups and vertical raises all done in three sets of 15. We then use the machines in the gym aimed at working your abdominals followed by stretching.
Day 6
We’ve been very sore since our first session but it’s nice to know that we effectively worked our core during the session. Today we do another 15 minute warm up on the treadmill followed by another 45 minutes of cardio on the treadmill at an incline followed by a Mama Mio Hip and Thigh toning treatment in the spa. The spa has recently acquired the Mama Mio products, which hail from the UK and are mostly used by pregnant women, but they are also fantastic for toning and reducing cellulite. The treatment aims to detoxify and reduce spongy water retention with double exfoliation for a smooth, soft and pert rear, thighs and stomach. It uses lymphatic drainage and deep tissue massage to boost circulation and hydrate skin. Our smoother, tighter skin stayed that way for at least a week.
Day 9
Back in the gym with Marko and we are feeling much fitter and more confident already. Today we do our warm-up on the cross trainer and concentrate on leg work. Before we start, Marko talks to us about the importance of stretching.
‘After exercise, hold a given stretch only until you feel a slight pulling in the muscle, but no pain. As you hold the stretch the muscle will relax. As you feel less tension you can increase the stretch again until you feel the same slight pull. Hold this position until you feel no further increase. Do not hold your breath when stretching; breathing should be slow and easy and don’t try to bounce while stretching.’
We then start with legs. We work through lunges, squats, kick backs and scissors all done in three sets of 15. We continue on our legs with a couple of sets on some of the different machines and then finish the session off with lots of stretches.
Day 12
Today we start with another cardio session on the treadmill followed by stretching. We then head to the spa for the Mama Mio boot camp treatment. This is an intense body firming massage and mask treatment, targeting cellulite, extra wobble and rough skin from top to toe. This is a serious spa version of a boot camp for your body. Our skin is scrubbed and then a fruit acid is applied on our trouble areas (rear, legs, arms and stomach), which tingles but isn’t unpleasant. The acid is used to improve skin texture and to get rid of dead skin cells. A body massage is then done to help circulation followed by a rich mask which lifts, plumps and smoothes. We are left with tighter and smoother skin and are feeling energised after the thorough workout.
Day 14
This is our last day at Atarmia and we’ve improved dramatically. We’re doing our reps with ease, finding certain exercises and weights easier and we don’t need as much encouragement from Marko since we are feeling more motivated.
Verdict
We feel much healthier and stronger, plus our eating habits have improved and we are happy about going to the gym. It’s almost become second nature. The spa treatments were amazing and were perfect in combination with the training to give your confidence a boost and as a bit of a treat for all the hard work we’ve been doing in the gym.
The Mama Mio hip and thigh treatment is Dhs550 for 60 minutes, the Mamo Mio full body boot camp is Dhs790 for 90 minutes. Personal training sessions start from Dhs1,950 for ten sessions. Atarmia Spa, Park Hyatt Abu Dhabi, Saadiyat Island (02 407 1107).
Top tips from Marko
Best advice for clients
You need to set realistic goals and be consistent, dedicated and disciplined. Listen carefully to your personal trainer’s advice and don’t be embarrassed about asking questions. Don’t be afraid to sweat and give it your all in the gym. Recognise that it’s not just about becoming healthier and fitter; it’s about having fun.
Why enlist the help of a PT?
It is significantly more efficient to seek personalised advice from a certified trainer. They will guide you with your health and safety in mind, even when you feel lazy and not really in the mood for exercise. Before you know it, you will find yourself eager to be on the treadmill.
Common mistakes to avoid
Don’t start an exercise routine without considering the risks that it poses to the body. Another mistake is to set unrealistic goals and resort to dangerous weight-loss techniques and diets.
How soon will the results show?
Results depend on various factors such as age, gender and overall initial physical condition. Some clients see visible results within four to six weeks. But the most important thing is to sustain healthy habits and training routines for as long as possible.
Others to try
Hercules Fitness Centre
Offers personal trainer courses along with grooming facilities and more.
Dana Plaza, 1st Floor, Zayed the 1st Street, Khalidiyah (02 667 5779).
UAE Active
Train anywhre in Abu Dhabi with this company, whose fitness gurus will come to you.
info@uaeactive.com (055 348 6377).
