During my stay in Dubai I have noticed a detrimental trend within the community. What once used to be a healthy environment of food and hard labor work, has now been replaced with convenience, dense rich foods along with a more "luxury" way of life. With a honk of a horn you can order any food you like to your car without having to get out of your seat. Within a society where business is done from the convenience of your desk, and in many cases, from home, with a car vastly replacing the need to walk, where movies are watched in luxury reclining chairs of cinemas, society has no doubt been "spoiled". The average citizen in Dubai barely gets 30 minutes of exercise a day, which includes a brisk walk. The weather, most of the year, is simply too hot to walk outdoors and exercise is not a widely acceptable social past-time. Exercise is simply not popular.
While the west is becoming more accustomed to the acceptance of organic living, striving to combat their obesity rate with exercise and yearning for healthy living, the middle east has swapped their healthy way of life for the fast-food, fast money-making, quick-paced environment that used to flag the west. As a nation we must learn both the negative and positive aspects of western living in order to implement the best of both worlds, ultimately making the UAE the best place to live of all time.
While the west is becoming more accustomed to the acceptance of organic living, striving to combat their obesity rate with exercise and yearning for healthy living, the middle east has swapped their healthy way of life for the fast-food, fast money-making, quick-paced environment that used to flag the west. As a nation we must learn both the negative and positive aspects of western living in order to implement the best of both worlds, ultimately making the UAE the best place to live of all time.
Small Steps, Big Changes
To combat this growing obesity epidemic, we must change the way we live. It doesn't take a miracle, it just takes small steps.
Step #1: Dinner should be no later than 7pm with last meal being no later than 3 hours before bed.
Side effects of step 1 include: waking up feeling more energetic, improvement in sleep quality, weight-loss, mental clarity.
Step #2: Drink water. Aim for 2 Liters daily.
Side effects: feeling fuller while eating less food, hydrated vibrant skin, weight-loss, toxin elimination.
Step #3: All meals should consist of one portion protein, small portion of carbohydrate, and as much vegetables as your plate can hold.
Side effects: leaner muscle tone (with proper incorporation of protein), weight-loss (with proper portion control), reversal of disease (with proper selection of protein vs carbs), vibrant hair, skin and nails.
Step #4: Exercise for a minimum 30 minutes a day everyday. You should break a sweat at least once a day for 4 days a week.
Side effects: reversal and prevention of disease, weight-loss, toxin elimination, increased metabolism, improvement in bowel movement, increased energy, improved mood, etc.
Step #5: Each week make a new goal for yourself in cutting back sugar and processed foods.
Side effects: More energy, mental clarity, elevated mood, better sleep, prevention and reversal of disease, weight-loss, better skin, improved bowel movements, etc.
I chose these steps in this order because I found the local community to struggle most with those listed above, in the order mentioned above. This list is not exhaustive and does not include everything. With these small changes, we can work together in making UAE a healthier more youthful active society.
Step #1: Dinner should be no later than 7pm with last meal being no later than 3 hours before bed.
Side effects of step 1 include: waking up feeling more energetic, improvement in sleep quality, weight-loss, mental clarity.
Step #2: Drink water. Aim for 2 Liters daily.
Side effects: feeling fuller while eating less food, hydrated vibrant skin, weight-loss, toxin elimination.
Step #3: All meals should consist of one portion protein, small portion of carbohydrate, and as much vegetables as your plate can hold.
Side effects: leaner muscle tone (with proper incorporation of protein), weight-loss (with proper portion control), reversal of disease (with proper selection of protein vs carbs), vibrant hair, skin and nails.
Step #4: Exercise for a minimum 30 minutes a day everyday. You should break a sweat at least once a day for 4 days a week.
Side effects: reversal and prevention of disease, weight-loss, toxin elimination, increased metabolism, improvement in bowel movement, increased energy, improved mood, etc.
Step #5: Each week make a new goal for yourself in cutting back sugar and processed foods.
Side effects: More energy, mental clarity, elevated mood, better sleep, prevention and reversal of disease, weight-loss, better skin, improved bowel movements, etc.
I chose these steps in this order because I found the local community to struggle most with those listed above, in the order mentioned above. This list is not exhaustive and does not include everything. With these small changes, we can work together in making UAE a healthier more youthful active society.
RSS Feed