Stress busted on the punchbag in the Dubai heat

After a stressful day at work, there’s nothing I enjoy more than coming back to our apartment block where there is a free-standing punchbag on an outdoor landing between floors. I set my Gymboss (http://www.gymboss.com/) timer for either 2 or 3 minute rounds with a 1 minute rest, wrap my hands, pull on the mitts and let rip.

After only a few rounds I’m drenched. I often get cramp in my left calf which feels like a dog bite. When I hit with my left (I’m left handed) I’m twisting and pushing off from the floor with my left foot. I don’t know if that helps or should I make sure my feet stay planted? If reading this you and you know more than I do, please let me know in a comment below!

I don’t really know what I’m doing but damn, it feels good!


Fitness in Dubai features reviews of all the latest fitness programmes and local gyms, such as The Circuit Factory, 24 Fitness and CrossFit LifeSpark, as well as reviews of fitness fads, fitness tests and fitness equipment, from Vibram Five Fingers barefoot running shoes to VO2 Max testing. Ultimately, this fitness blog - as featured in Good Taste, Men's Fitness, Time Out and Shape magazines - contains everything you need to know about fitness in Dubai, UAE, in the Middle East. Bookmark it now.

PTX Ultimate Wellness Retreat, Bab Al Shams Dubai

I’ve just returned from a fabulous weekend at Bab Al Shams with my wife where we had a 3-day taster of the PTX Ultimate Wellness Retreat (http://ptxdubai.com/index.php/the-ultimate-wellness-retreat/). This is the first camp of its kind in the UAE, and their core principals are fitness, nutrition and performance. This 7-day camp is run by ex-professional athletes who bring passion, enthusiasm and knowledge to the training, which is designed to be functional, mainly bodyweight exercises that everyone can do, regardless of equipment.

A typical day includes:

6.15am – 7.15am: Sunrise Meditation & Yoga

7.30am – 8.15am: Walk/Power Walk/Run
8.30am – 9.30am: Physical Fitness Power Hour
9.30am – 10.30am: Breakfast 
11.30am – 12.45pm: Nutrition Workshop (we did a juicing workshop)
1pm – 2pm: Physical Fitness Power Hour
2pm – 3pm: Lunch
5.30pm – 6.30pm: Physical Fitness Power Hour
6.45pm – 7.30pm: Pool Recovery Session
7.30pm: Dinner

That’s over 5 hours of exercise per day! But everyone managed, the sessions and meal plans were intelligently created so ensure that we all recovered quickly. What really set this apart was the camaraderie and supportive atmosphere. We all worked very hard, but had fun doing it. I loved it! We’re already trying to reorganise our schedules to arrange another visit. After only 3 days I feel great, so imagine how good all 7 days would be.

Loads of exercise and fresh air. The right kind of foods, deliciously prepared. All of Bab Al Shams’ fantastic facilities on offer during the free time. I’d live on the Ultimate Wellness Retreat if I could. If Heineken designed a wellness retreat…


Huge thanks to Tom and the team!

Fitness in Dubai features reviews of all the latest fitness programmes and local gyms, such as The Circuit Factory, 24 Fitness and CrossFit LifeSpark, as well as reviews of fitness fads, fitness tests and fitness equipment, from Vibram Five Fingers barefoot running shoes to VO2 Max testing. Ultimately, this fitness blog - as featured in Good Taste, Men's Fitness, Time Out and Shape magazines - contains everything you need to know about fitness in Dubai, UAE, in the Middle East. Bookmark it now.

Just 3 minutes... how hard can it be? 1km in 3 minutes

This was the challenge on the Men’s Fitness facebook page (http://www.facebook.com/#!/MensFitnessME): “UFC fighter, Paul Taylor, recently posted a 3 minute 16 seconds 1km run in a fitness face-off with boxer, James Degale. Think you can do any better? Post your times here to claim Middle East bragging rights!”

1,000m in 180 seconds, so 18 seconds for each 100m, which is 20km per hour. That didn’t sound too bad. I’ve been nervous about trying to do any speed work since the fractures, but this morning the gym was empty, and I decided it was time to give it a go. I’m not sure if its cheating starting from a running treadmill, but I cranked it up to 20km per hour and jumped aboard.

Wise men say. Sunderland result inspires my longest run for 8 months

I’m a Sunderland fan. Too much so according to my wife, but it’s how I was brought up. As a young lad there’s nothing I loved more than going to the match with my Dad, Brother and friends and the result dictated my mood until the next match. So to any of you who follow the results in the English Premier League, you’ll know that Sunderland took a hammering yesterday. Even worse, it came at the hands of our nearest and most bitter rivals.