'It was tough, but worth it': UAE resident reveals how he dropped 60kg, became fitness instructor

There was a time when 22-year-old UAE national Rashed Adel Alkhoori used to weigh 125kg.

A year-and-a-half later, however, he weighs just 75kgs. Rashed’s 'fat to fit' transformation came after a sustained struggle – now, he boasts of never having missed the gym, not even for a single day in the past 1.5 years.

Weight loss and staying fit has been a struggle his entire life, with daily life and his routine always getting the better of him.

Having tried to lose weight and failing at it multiple times, Alkhoori still did not give up.

'Never missed the gym, not even for a single day for the past 1.5 years'

“I tried losing weight, but I just couldn’t", says the young Emirati. "I would go to the gym and then [stop]. But then, I told myself that I would go to the gym no matter what.

One day, I resolved to work hard, and put my mind to it and told myself that I wouldn’t leave. Now, for the past 1.5 years I haven’t stopped going to the gym for a single day."

Rashed says he wanted to adopt a cautious approach to his weight loss regime, seeking professional help wherever required.

“I went to Dr. Fadi Baladi at Burjeel for a consultation who proved to be quite helpful. I also [visit the doctor] every two to three months, which is very important. I lost a lot of weight, so checking my vitals from time to time is very important.”

“For the first two months, I started walking on the treadmill for 30 minutes. For the next two months I started adding more and more time until I reached an hour-and-a half every day.”

Having now become a healthy version of himself, Alkhoori recommends being committed, noting that one will not see results overnight.

“Work hard and don’t be impatient to see quick results. You will not get results in one month; you need at least a year to be in good shape. Most people want to see fast results and that’s not possible. Don’t think about results when you are exercising; just go with the routine and go with the flow.”

'I didn't want my son to think his dad had a heart attack'

Another resident whose weight loss has made him far more confident now and proud of his transformation, due to his dedication and hard work, is Irish national Michael Kruger.

Kruger weighed 118 kg in May 2021, and now weighs 92kg. Narrating his backstory and the turning point in his life, he notes, “It all began with my doctor, to whom I went for a blood test and cholesterol test at Medeor Hospital.They all came back high; my cholesterol, my blood pressure and my sugar.

The doctor looked at me and said, 'You are fat. You need to lose weight.’ He said he could put me on medication for the rest of my life, but he also said it would be best for me to make the changes without medication, and fortunately, I did have that bandwidth.

I went home feeling quite upset. Three days later I woke up thinking the doctor was right.

“Also, my son is only 12 years old, and I didn’t want him to think that [his] dad has had a heart attack. I didn’t want to end up like that. So I took the bull by the horns: I have a gym in my building and wanted to focus on something that would make me feel fitter,” Kruger says.

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He ended up experimenting with a stationary exercise bike and began to enjoy it, using music to enjoy his workout sessions.

A clean diet, however, is what he recommends most for any tangible gains. “I started with five minutes, and was already feeling exhausted. But within six months, I started being able to work out for 45 minutes. I lost 12kg in six months, but after Christmas of 2021 I was unable to lose any more weight.

Workouts with professionals are also good, which not only inspire people to exercise, but in turn often help the uninitiated move into a regular workout regime, acting as a positive influence on society.”