Office worker sheds 37kg to win healthy sum in fitness challenge
Dubai resident Thani Alghafry has won more than Dh11,000 ($2,995) after reducing his weight by about a third in a fitness challenge held by a hospital in Ras Al Khaimah.
Mr Alghafry, 42, dropped from 110kg to 73kg after being inspired to get in shape when others slimmed down in a previous anti-obesity drive overseen by RAK Hospital.
He achieved the feat in about two months by eating a diet that included fruit, vegetables and water, as well as exercising for about three hours a day.
Mr Alghafry’s 37kg weight loss earned him the top cash prize in the hospital’s annual health challenge.
The initiative was founded to inspire people to live healthier lives and avoid problems associated with obesity, including cardiovascular disease, diabetes and cancer.
“It is not easy to lose this amount of weight unless you are committed,” said Mr Alghafry, who lives in Al Qusais and works in an office.
“I have always exercised, but never to the extent of the past two months.
“It was three times a day, for an hour each time without a rest day, and I ate mainly fruit and vegetables, with only occasional fish, meat and rice.
“I would ride for an hour every day at home on my static exercise bike and also skip for 500 rotations on four or six occasions each day, depending on how I was feeling.”
He had green tea and a boiled egg for breakfast most days and ate watermelon and an apple for lunch.
In the evenings, his dinners mostly consisted of cooked vegetables. He cut out oily and sweet foods and made sure to drink two litres of water every day to help improve his health.
The one downside of losing weight is that few of his old clothes now fit him.
But the cash prize will help him splash out on a new wardrobe, he said.
“My office in Dubai Tower in Nasser Square is on the 28th floor, so taking the stairs each day also helped me to lose weight,” said Mr Alghafry, who loves football and supports Manchester City.
“I have shown that if you want something badly enough, you can do it.
“I used to play football three times a week with a Tanzanian team and it was hard work.
“Now, I can run harder and faster than before.”
The body mass index and weight of those taking part in the challenge were recorded at the beginning of the event, with the final weigh-in held on March 18 and March 19.
Participants visited RAK Hospital or sent weight-loss certificates attested by staff at their local clinics.
Those who signed up for the challenge lost 576kg overall.
Two men each lost about 34kg during the eight-week challenge, which began on January 20.
Masood Rasheed shed 34.5kg, while Muhammad Ali lost 33.9kg.
In the women’s category, Noha Allam dropped 24.7kg, while Jilsheena Palakka was able to shed 18.3kg.
Third place went to Seham Al Dairi, who lost 17.4kg.
In the corporate event category, a team from the Hilton Ras Al Khaimah Beach Resort dropped 64kg.
“Obesity is the biggest pandemic of our times and a risk factor leading to various chronic and deadly diseases,” said Dr Raza Siddiqui, executive director of RAK Hospital.
“We think it’s our greatest responsibility to support people, understand the consequences and motivate them to get on a healthier path to build a healthy community.”