
Losing weight was always a losing battle for 55-year-old lawyer Shobhana.
TheĀ mother-of-twoāsĀ focus on her family and her career as General Counsel for an asset management company in Dubai meant her health took a back seat and she suffered because of it.
Shobhana struggled for years with severe osteoarthritis which meant she had difficulty walking and subsequently piled on weight.
When she underwent two major knee replacement surgeries, the pain went, but she was advised to lose weight and start strengthening her legs.
But no matter what she tried, she couldnāt sustain the weight loss ā long hours at work and a sedentary lifestyle meant her weight rebounded and she was back to square one.
However, Shobhana had a goal to get in shape and lose weight for her daughterās wedding.
Now after losing 20kg in 20 weeks with Ultimate Performance Dubai, she has achieved her goal and built a healthy new lifestyle.
āMy weight loss journey has been incredible.
āI am the lightest and strongest I have been in many years.
āI feel fit, and I have been able to achieve and understand the real lifestyle changes which I had been struggling with for a really long time.ā
Shobhana had comeĀ toĀ UP expecting to lose a little weight, but now she has developed a healthy new lifestyle, her fitness is through the roof, and sheās lighter and more energized than ever.
Struggling with the vicious circle of weight gain and a sedentary lifestyle
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Now Shobhana is in the best shape she has been in for years. But just 20 weeks before, when she started her transformation journey, it was a different story.
Her health had been an on-going issue for years as she struggled with knee problems.
āI suffered from severe osteoarthritis of the knees, a debilitating condition that crippled me for three years, and that was when I reached my heaviest weight.
āMy ability to walk was very restricted, and I was able to walk only short distances with a limp.ā
Seven years ago, Shobhana underwent total knee replacement surgery on both knees.
The operation meant she could walk with no pain ā but doctors advised she needed to lose weight and gain strength back in her legs.
āI was on and off diet plans to overcome my weight issues. Ā But because I found it difficult to resist food, I couldnāt keep up with any plan.
Time and time again she tried to lose weight, training in commercial gyms and following different diet plans, but every time the weight would creep back up and put more strain on her knees.
āUnfortunately, I fought a losing battle with my weight and had poor muscle strength.
āLong hours at work, no exercise and a sedentary lifestyle didnāt help either. I gained a lot of weight, which put further pressure on my knees.
āIt was a continuous vicious cycle. In the past, I had tried commercial gyms. I would lose some weightĀ and then would bounce back.
āAs soon as I discontinued, the motivation was lost, or I struggled with recurring aches due to poor muscle strength.ā
Feeling low on energy
For Shobhana, her job and her family always came first; her health was never a priority.
But long hours working in a demanding job, combined with a lifestyle devoid of exercise was a recipe for weight gain and health problems.
This lifestyle left her low on energy and with little motivation to make the changes she needed to her diet and training she needed to make big changes.
āI always put personal physical health on the back-burner behind family and career. So all these factors together contributed to weight gain.
āBefore I started UP I was overweight and led a sedentary lifestyle. This made me feel tired well before the day was over.
āAt the end of the day, I felt I needed rest more than exercise.
āI knew the importance of physical activity, but had to push myself really hard to be motivated to do anything physical, even if it meant simple activities such as daily short walks.ā
Shobhanaās carb-heavy diet wasnāt helping the situation either.
āWhat I didnāt expect was a complete body and mind transformation at the end of the programme. I didnāt expect UP to be so incredible.āĀ Ā Ā
Before UP, Shobhana says she would eat carbs for every meal, eating a diet of rice, chapatti, bread, lentils, and meat and vegetables.
She had tried different diets but couldnāt make the necessary lifestyle changes stick in order to keep the weight off.
āI was on and off diet plans to overcome my weight issues. Ā But because I found it difficult to resist food, I couldnāt keep up with any plan.
āI wasnāt following any particular diet, nor was I watching what I was eating.
āI would have carbs for all the three meals, and considered it to be perfectly fine.ā
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What motivated Shobhana to change?
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Having a goal to focus on is always a great motivator.
Shobhanaās goal was simple; she wanted to lose weight and get in shape for one of the most important days in her life ā her daughterās wedding.
Being fit and healthy for her family was something that was very important to her.
āMy son mentioned to me that losing weight and being healthy for my daughter’s wedding would be a great gift to her.
āI also wanted to do this for her and make sure I could be physically active and healthy and fit for her big day. Ā But wasnāt sure how I would achieve it.ā
It was a sign outside her office in the Dubai International Financial Centre that caught her eye saying āWorldās Leading Personal Trainersā.
āMy trainer brought out a training discipline in me which made me reach and beat my goals and reach these incredible results.ā
Thatās when Shobhana came to Ultimate Performance to see if she could finally get fit for good.
āI definitely expected it to be better than other gyms. So when I joined the programme, I knew that I would see results.
āWhat I didnāt expect was a complete body and mind transformation at the end of the programme. I didnāt expect UP to be so incredible.ā
ARRANGE A COMMITMENT-FREE CONSULTATION AT UP TODAY! Ā Ā
Weight loss success and the support of an expert trainer
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It wasnāt easy for Shobhana to get to grips with the new training regime and diet changes at first as she started her weight loss journey.
But the support of her UP trainer, Laurent, proved invaluable in coaching her through it.
The level of detail and depth of support from her trainer really took her by surprise.
āLaurent gave me advice on diet, nutrition and lifestyle changes, tips to help me achieve my goals. Ā I had heard all this before, but never applied these to my lifestyle.
āInitially, it was very hard for me. Ā I needed constant support and that, to my surprise, was there without me realising.
āIn the past, I wasnāt used to updating the trainers or them following up outside the gym hours on diet and exercise.
āTo my utter surprise, my trainer kept in touch with me constantly, 24/7, on what I was eating, what portion sizes were, how many steps I had walked, and what my weight gain or weight loss was.
āHe was constantly telling me what to do and pushing me to do that little bit more every time I wanted to stop.
āThis helped me to stick to the plan, and come back on track whenever I wavered until I started seeing the first results and was motivated enough to eat right and being more active.ā
Once she started seeing the results of her hard work in the gym, the lifestyle changes really took hold.
āIt is undoubtedly one of the best things that has happened to my health in a very long time and will benefit me throughout my life.
Shobhana wanted to train, wanted to be active and wanted to achieve her weight loss goals more than ever
UP gave her the tools and the knowledge to do that.
āIt changed the way look at food, the way I look at exercise, and the way I looked at how to work at achieving the results.
āBorrowing from the gymās tagline, I saw that āexcuses stopped and results beganā.
āThe transformation happened! Initially, I had to be forced by my trainer to doĀ certainĀ number of steps, and I would do so, never achieving the minimum level set.
āBut a few weeks into my training, I was told by my trainer that he expected me to do 12,000 steps a day, and from that day on I never looked back. Ā I started to always try and beat his expectation.ā
The moment when Shobhana started seeing results
Shobhanaās motivation and determined mindset took her the rest of the way from here.
Week on week, the results kept coming, and the pounds kept dropping off.
Training regularly, making lifestyle adjustments and optimising her diet really paid dividends, helping her lose an impressive 20kg in just 20 weeks.
āThe results were marvellous, unbelievable, in very a short time, and beyond mine and my familyās wildest expectation.
āWhen I started, I thought I would lose a maximum of 8-10 kg and be happy. That was the target. It was realistic.
āBut this became a moving target as my trainer set new realistic targets as we started achieving the results and I was stronger after each session.
āWe (my trainer and I) moved as we progressed, we understood that we could do it.
āMy trainer is an excellent coach, a thorough professional, a tough trainer, and he knew how to push me beyond my limits without the risk of any injuries.
āI started pushing more than double the weight I was pushing at the outset and walking 7 to 8 times higher number of steps too.
āMy trainer brought out a training discipline in me which made me reach and beat my goals and reach these incredible results.ā
Feeling fit and healthy again
Itās amazing what can be achieved in such a short space of time, with a little perseverance, the right guidance and the support of an expert personal trainer.
Just 20 weeks is all it took for Shobhana to make her transformation.
But it has been so much more than just losing weight; it has been an entire lifestyle transformation ā something she had been trying to achieve for a decade.
āIt has been fantastic! Ā Marvellous results ā unbelievable! Very impressive!
āI lost three stones. Ā I am now very energetic throughout the day. I have a very positive frame of mind supported by a very healthy body which helps me contribute better both at work and at home.
āMy energy levels are so high that I do most of my walking after getting back late from work. Ā It doesnāt seem like a chore anymore.
āExercising and watching my diet have become a priority in my life.ā
The process has been an education for Shobhana in how to achieve optimal health through diet and training.
āThe exercise and nutrition advice is excellent, and the support is something that you have to experience to believe.
She says she has learned self-control, discipline in exercise, and the importance of diet to losing the weightā¦.and keeping it off.
āThe transformation has changed the way I look at food, exercise and activity. It has made me more disciplined.
āThere is no doubt that I have learned the way to manage a healthy lifestyle, going forward.
āIt is undoubtedly one of the best things that has happened to my health in a very long time and will benefit me throughout my life.
āIt is very inspiring for me and those around me who have tried to lose weight.ā
Her transformation has taken her family by surprise too.
Shobhana says nobody expected her to achieve so much in such a short space of time.
āMy family are very supportive and supported me throughout the journey, but I donāt think they were expecting thisĀ outcome,Ā because in the past I had tried to lose weight but always failed.
āI would gain it back in short while. They thought it was just another gym I was joining; they wished me well, but I am sure no one expected these results.ā
Why UP is different
Shobhanaās impressive transformation results speak for themselves.
Reflecting on her journey, one thing she experienced is the gulf in class between UP and every other commercial gym in Dubai.
āThe training is very different from what I have experienced in commercial gyms.
āThere is so much focus and commitment from the trainers which transforms the efforts into marvellous results.
āFrom my experience, I say that UP training is not easy. Ā It is rigourous, tough, hard work and serious. Ā It is teamwork, and you need to give your full commitment.
āBut I strongly recommend UP to anyone who is serious about weight loss. Here there is no half measure!
āI enjoyed my weight loss journey and saw incredible results.ā
The one thing she believes sets UP apart is the results-driven environment and the single-mindedness of the UP team to help clients achieve the best results possible.
āThe exercise and nutrition advice is excellent, and the support is something that you have to experience to believe.
āThe atmosphere is very welcoming, and you feel comfortable from the very first day. Ā All trainers are very dedicated to their clients and veryĀ focussedĀ when attending to them. I felt very comfortable from day one. Ā Being in the gym was the best part of my day during the training period.
āThe gym is expensive, but those who join will never regret spending the money.
āI am very grateful to my trainer Laurent at UP for helping, guiding me and supporting me on this journey. The end result was not possible for me to undertake or achieve on my own. Ā We did it!ā
FIND OUT MORE ABOUT OUR PERSONAL TRAINING PLANS HERE
- We show you the best, we don't show you the worst.
- We show you people who follow the plans, not those who are all talk.
- We show you those who inspire even us with their commitment to their results.
- You cannot get results exactly like these. You are unique and that means you can only get your own best possible results.
- Your results are a function of time spent following the plan; your genetic response to the right exercise and diet program; how hard you train; how consistently you come to the gym; how disciplined you are with your diet; & your starting point.
- Oftentimes the lower your starting point (poor fitness, terrible body composition) the better your results.
- We cannot do the work for you and the results you see here are a testament to the work ethic of our clients.
- Our reputation is that we are the best trainers in the world for helping you to unlock your potential, & we can lead you to the door, give you the key, even turn the handle and push the door open, but we cannot walk through it for you.
In the end the result is down to you.
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