Ultimate Performance

One-on-one personal training with an emphasis on weights and resistance for fat loss. Best for: Those who benefit from the extra motivation from personal training and additional attention on maintaining the correct form. Programmes can be designed to help people who are looking for anything from major transformations with fat loss to maintaining or building muscle mass. Time check: My session was an hour long. Potential clients are encouraged to sign up for a 12-week programme, with three one-hour sessions a week. Recap: After signing up, clients are given an assessment, which includes “before” photos, as well as a 14-site skinfold test, which measures where you store fat. Luckily, my face fared pretty well, but the test also highlighted problem areas such as triceps, stomach and thighs. These measurements help the trainer determine the exercises that best suit your body type to reach your goals. I also filled out a detailed three-day food diary, and was encouraged to take pictures of portion sizes. This helped me keep a mental track of my diet, and stay in control of what I was eating.

My trainer (and General Manager of UP Singapore), Chris Richards, then assessed my form during various exercises, and advised me on how to improve them and ultimately work harder.

During my session, I carried out a series of lunges and squats, along with hamstring, arm and shoulder work, and a little cardio using the prowler on the gym’s 30-metre track. The aftermath: I really benefited from the form advice, and my squats and lunges have definitely improved since my session. I felt sore in my quads and hamstrings, but nothing that stopped me from working out the next day. Good to know: While UP is primarily based on oneon-one personal training, it does also offer a small selection of group sessions. Don’t expect to walk into a gym with tons of the usual cardio equipment – from what I could see, their focus is primarily weightsbased with attentive one-on-one service.

– Amy Brook-partridge