Flip through the latest issue of Gulf Weekly.
When you train with Dalia you will love her and hate her at the same time. She will first ask you about your workout history, which in my case didn’t exist ...well it was sometime back, OK.
I was not in the best of shape. She asked about my lifestyle as well and if I had any ailments or health issues she should be aware of.
Then she asked what I wanted to achieve and said: “My clients can expect a really hard work out from me and most important of all … results. If they put their trust in me then I will definitely make their goals, desires and the body they wish for a reality. Also Mai ... I’m not going easy on you.”
I gulped as she took me to the mats where a set of weights and kettle bells were waiting for me.
She got my heart rate started up with a set of burpees and mountain climbers. For those of you who don’t know what a burpee is, it is a mixture of a squat, push-up and jump all rolled into one colossal pain in the behind. It soon became my enemy alongside the mountain climber where I had to pretend to climb a mountain really fast while in a push up stance.
Dalia held the stop watch while I dropped and gave her 20 burpees and mountain climbers. After I thought I would pass out she asked me kindly to do it again. See, you will love her attitude but hate that she is making you do this to yourself. But then, no doubt, the love comes rushing back when you see the results.
Several other exercises later, we ended the session with some crunches and leg-ups. She then stretched me out as part of the cool down.
I felt sore the next day but couldn’t help thinking that if I continued with her for a couple of months I would be able to achieve that ideal figure to parade around on my wedding day.
--Mai Al Khatib
