Imagine a world where, in half the time it takes to watch an episode of Glee, you could fit in enough exercise to burn serious calories, build great core and muscle strength and sweat more than most do in a two-hour gym session.
The ramblings of a crazy woman? For once, I'm happy to report, no. As of this week the 30-minute workout - called "30 Minutes to Fitness" - has arrived, all sweat-drenched and exhausting, at Safa Park, courtesy of the fitness experts at American Fitness Dubai.
I was, I admit, a bit of a non-believer before last week. But today I write this with aching legs and more than a hint of smugness at this discovery. I mean, really, it's just half an hour and yet one participant with a high-tech heart-rate monitor said she had burnt 400 calories in just one session, plus an extra 100 in the hour that followed as her body continued to enjoy the benefits.
The class starts at 7.30pm sharp - so the typical Dubai tardiness is definitely out of the question - and it's intense.
"It's cross-training - 30 minutes with as little rest as possible," explains the brains behind the new class, Derrick Branford, co-owner of American Fitness Dubai.
"It's all about effort level. The harder the body has to work, the more effect it has."
Before he starts the timer, we stretch. The class on Thursday is smaller than usual, which makes it even more impossible than usual to skive. After a brief explanation of how the circuit will be formatted, the timer starts and the workout begins.
We begin with five minutes worth of sprints between two cones, following after each other to a soundtrack of Branford's encouraging words and my own rasping breath.
"Sprints are the single most effective workout on the planet - bar none," says Branford. "No one in the know will deny that. Bone, muscle, central nervous system, hormones, nutrient partitioning - all improved, and it doesn't take long."
That over with, we quickly make our way to a set of cones he has laid out on the grass, for the callisthenics circuit. It begins with the only exercise I despise (but also respect) only slightly less than sprinting - Burpees.
According to the Oxford English Dictionary, the exercise is named after its inventor Royal H Burpee - an American psychologist from the 1930s who had participants execute a series of these exercises in quick succession in order to measure agility and co-ordination. They are challenging, but in exchange for a couple of minutes of your day, they condition the entire body, helping you develop strength, explosive power and anaerobic endurance.
After 10 of them, it was on to 20 squats and another couple of sprints before hitting the ground for 20 plyometric push-ups - where when you push up you do so vigorously enough so your hands leave the ground.
After using a bench to make 20 leg raises on each side especially challenging, we then finish with another two sprints before starting the circuit again.
The thing with this class is, from the outset you're on countdown, knowing that you're never far away from the finish line. Branford, with his sunny Californian disposition and unyielding enthusiasm is ever encouraging and vigilant that we employ the correct technique to prevent unnecessary injury. He also keeps us going with regular countdowns to the end.
Even though you don't get the breaks you may crave, everyone endures it because it's just 30 minutes.
By the time we're done with the circuits and head to the ground for straight-legged sit-ups to finish, the perspiration is free-flowing and the face a nice shade of crimson. But it's over, we've worked it, and can now go home and enjoy the evening, knowing we've earned it.
"It's easy to fit in, short and intense," says Neha Jamarni, a 26-year-old who works in shipping and logistics. "I have done the bootcamps with American Fitness Dubai, too. This is good because you come and get it over with, and you definitely get a good work out."
Since training with Branford and his colleagues, she has seen a marked improvement in both her core strength, fitness and body shape.
"She has become much fitter, much stronger and her technique is so much better," says Branford.
No class is ever the same twice in a row either - Branford mixes it up to ensure neither the body nor the mind becomes complacent.
Muneeb Cheema, 27, has lost three kilos in as many weeks of training with Branford and his team.
Having committed himself to a new fitness regime after two years of relative inactivity, he breaks his fasting with something light and heads to the park to work up an appetite before dinner.
"I really enjoy the class," he says. "It is tough, but it's over much quicker and helps raise the metabolism. I think anyone can come and try it because the exercises are designed for all levels of fitness."
MATCH INFO
Final: England v South Africa, Saturday, 1pm
Pox that threatens the Middle East's native species
Camelpox
Caused by a virus related to the one that causes human smallpox, camelpox typically causes fever, swelling of lymph nodes and skin lesions in camels aged over three, but the animal usually recovers after a month or so. Younger animals may develop a more acute form that causes internal lesions and diarrhoea, and is often fatal, especially when secondary infections result. It is found across the Middle East as well as in parts of Asia, Africa, Russia and India.
Falconpox
Falconpox can cause a variety of types of lesions, which can affect, for example, the eyelids, feet and the areas above and below the beak. It is a problem among captive falcons and is one of many types of avian pox or avipox diseases that together affect dozens of bird species across the world. Among the other forms are pigeonpox, turkeypox, starlingpox and canarypox. Avipox viruses are spread by mosquitoes and direct bird-to-bird contact.
Houbarapox
Houbarapox is, like falconpox, one of the many forms of avipox diseases. It exists in various forms, with a type that causes skin lesions being least likely to result in death. Other forms cause more severe lesions, including internal lesions, and are more likely to kill the bird, often because secondary infections develop. This summer the CVRL reported an outbreak of pox in houbaras after rains in spring led to an increase in mosquito numbers.
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Killing of Qassem Suleimani
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Ticket prices
- Golden circle - Dh995
- Floor Standing - Dh495
- Lower Bowl Platinum - Dh95
- Lower Bowl premium - Dh795
- Lower Bowl Plus - Dh695
- Lower Bowl Standard- Dh595
- Upper Bowl Premium - Dh395
- Upper Bowl standard - Dh295
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre turbocharged four-cylinder
Transmission: Constant Variable (CVT)
Power: 141bhp
Torque: 250Nm
Price: Dh64,500
On sale: Now
Common OCD symptoms and how they manifest
Checking: the obsession or thoughts focus on some harm coming from things not being as they should, which usually centre around the theme of safety. For example, the obsession is “the building will burn down”, therefore the compulsion is checking that the oven is switched off.
Contamination: the obsession is focused on the presence of germs, dirt or harmful bacteria and how this will impact the person and/or their loved ones. For example, the obsession is “the floor is dirty; me and my family will get sick and die”, the compulsion is repetitive cleaning.
Orderliness: the obsession is a fear of sitting with uncomfortable feelings, or to prevent harm coming to oneself or others. Objectively there appears to be no logical link between the obsession and compulsion. For example,” I won’t feel right if the jars aren’t lined up” or “harm will come to my family if I don’t line up all the jars”, so the compulsion is therefore lining up the jars.
Intrusive thoughts: the intrusive thought is usually highly distressing and repetitive. Common examples may include thoughts of perpetrating violence towards others, harming others, or questions over one’s character or deeds, usually in conflict with the person’s true values. An example would be: “I think I might hurt my family”, which in turn leads to the compulsion of avoiding social gatherings.
Hoarding: the intrusive thought is the overvaluing of objects or possessions, while the compulsion is stashing or hoarding these items and refusing to let them go. For example, “this newspaper may come in useful one day”, therefore, the compulsion is hoarding newspapers instead of discarding them the next day.
Source: Dr Robert Chandler, clinical psychologist at Lighthouse Arabia
What should do investors do now?
What does the S&P 500's new all-time high mean for the average investor?
Should I be euphoric?
No. It's fine to be pleased about hearty returns on your investments. But it's not a good idea to tie your emotions closely to the ups and downs of the stock market. You'll get tired fast. This market moment comes on the heels of last year's nosedive. And it's not the first or last time the stock market will make a dramatic move.
So what happened?
It's more about what happened last year. Many of the concerns that triggered that plunge towards the end of last have largely been quelled. The US and China are slowly moving toward a trade agreement. The Federal Reserve has indicated it likely will not raise rates at all in 2019 after seven recent increases. And those changes, along with some strong earnings reports and broader healthy economic indicators, have fueled some optimism in stock markets.
"The panic in the fourth quarter was based mostly on fears," says Brent Schutte, chief investment strategist for Northwestern Mutual Wealth Management Company. "The fundamentals have mostly held up, while the fears have gone away and the fears were based mostly on emotion."
Should I buy? Should I sell?
Maybe. It depends on what your long-term investment plan is. The best advice is usually the same no matter the day — determine your financial goals, make a plan to reach them and stick to it.
"I would encourage (investors) not to overreact to highs, just as I would encourage them not to overreact to the lows of December," Mr Schutte says.
All the same, there are some situations in which you should consider taking action. If you think you can't live through another low like last year, the time to get out is now. If the balance of assets in your portfolio is out of whack thanks to the rise of the stock market, make adjustments. And if you need your money in the next five to 10 years, it shouldn't be in stocks anyhow. But for most people, it's also a good time to just leave things be.
Resist the urge to abandon the diversification of your portfolio, Mr Schutte cautions. It may be tempting to shed other investments that aren't performing as well, such as some international stocks, but diversification is designed to help steady your performance over time.
Will the rally last?
No one knows for sure. But David Bailin, chief investment officer at Citi Private Bank, expects the US market could move up 5 per cent to 7 per cent more over the next nine to 12 months, provided the Fed doesn't raise rates and earnings growth exceeds current expectations. We are in a late cycle market, a period when US equities have historically done very well, but volatility also rises, he says.
"This phase can last six months to several years, but it's important clients remain invested and not try to prematurely position for a contraction of the market," Mr Bailin says. "Doing so would risk missing out on important portfolio returns."
Visit Abu Dhabi culinary team's top Emirati restaurants in Abu Dhabi
Yadoo’s House Restaurant & Cafe
For the karak and Yoodo's house platter with includes eggs, balaleet, khamir and chebab bread.
Golden Dallah
For the cappuccino, luqaimat and aseeda.
Al Mrzab Restaurant
For the shrimp murabian and Kuwaiti options including Kuwaiti machboos with kebab and spicy sauce.
Al Derwaza
For the fish hubul, regag bread, biryani and special seafood soup.
Killing of Qassem Suleimani
TO A LAND UNKNOWN
Director: Mahdi Fleifel
Starring: Mahmoud Bakri, Aram Sabbah, Mohammad Alsurafa
Rating: 4.5/5
If you go
Where to stay: Courtyard by Marriott Titusville Kennedy Space Centre has unparalleled views of the Indian River. Alligators can be spotted from hotel room balconies, as can several rocket launch sites. The hotel also boasts cool space-themed decor.
When to go: Florida is best experienced during the winter months, from November to May, before the humidity kicks in.
How to get there: Emirates currently flies from Dubai to Orlando five times a week.
