The personal trainer
Shahab Shabani, originally from Tehran, Iran, is a Dubai-based fitness trainer
There is a rise in obesity in children these days. Very often I would train the parents and then I’d see that their children were unhealthy so I’d offer to help them out too. This soon saw other parents seeking my help.
Children can lose weight faster if they’re active. If they don’t make the move to a healthier lifestyle when they’re young they’ll find it difficult to shed the weight when they’re older and prone to health problems.
I currently train four children aged 10 to 15. The change in them when exercise becomes a part of their lifestyle is amazing; very often it’s like a whole new person has been born. Their parents tell me they’re much more active in school and they take part in more physical activities.
We don’t require traditional exercise machines or weights used to train adults for the children. My focus is more on using aerobics, resistance training using the gym ball, medicine ball, and step training, which is very good for joints. Excessive weight training is harmful for them as they’re still growing. I train them three times a week.
I also provide them with nutritional advice but they have no dietary restrictions as they are still growing. The only things they’re asked to give up on are fast food, fried and oily foods and foods that are high in sugar.
The parents are asked to see to it that they add more vegetables to their meals and all meals are consumed by 8pm, after which they’re not allowed to eat.
Dropping the weight is not what is important. Reducing body fat while increasing muscle mass is the right way to go.