I know I have been quiet lately - in the past month, and for a reason.
There is a lot of things that are going on that I would like to share with you all, and I will do so in the right moment! As I have tweeted a while back, I am re-launching my website and you can click HERE to go to the new page. Thanks to IT geniuses, I am still able to have this link still running, while working on another website under the same URL ;).
999fitness.ae have become a big part of me and who I am. Even though I had ideas of changing the name, after much thought and given I get a lot of traffic to the website - up 5,000 views/month and a total of 31,000+ views since I started the blog - I do not want to disappoint my audience, both local and international. 999fitness is my brand and you could say Amna Al Haddad (moi) is the face of it.
As a result I have decided to come up with a logo that represents me and what I stand for, while keeping my brand, as I started it with the idea of being "your emergency line to fitness."
I really hope you can all be patient with me until the re-launch of the new website. In the meantime, stay tuned & stay healthy.
I am around to answer any health-related questions.
I am sitting here, staring at this blank page wondering what I should write. A lot has happened in the past four weeks, and as we are in our last day of Ramadan today, there is a lot to reflect on.
I am a planner. I plan things. Want things to happen in a certain order as long as it's something I can control myself. Especially when it comes to my training, diet...etc.
The first two weeks and a half of Ramadan everything was great. On point. On plan. Great results training and diet wise. Set 5 personal records, if not more. But, this last week and a half, has been anything but planned.
Due to circumstances, which I wish not to discuss at this point in time, everything changed. I stopped training regularly, my diet went outside the window (well, partially! Ehm.) An incident threw me off my trail and the path I was planning to take during and after Ramadan.
There are a lot of decisions that I realized I have to make, some of which I haven't made yet completely -hence the vagueness. Soon, I promise! - These decisions will change the course of my short-term, long-term, and future goals.
Since everything has worked in a way I didn't anticipate, I decided the best thing to do is prescribe myself a de-load week (which means less intensity in training or completely off, but with light everyday activity.) I am no where near needing a de-load week physically. But mentally, I am in a place where taking a week off away from the gym, is much needed. As a result, I have stepped away from the gym completely the past few days, and will return training by middle of next week with a clearer thought on the next step.
Aside from this big bump on the road, everything I have planned training and diet wise has given me the results I aimed for. Strength gains, a bit of fat loss, and good energy during training sessions after a day of complete fast.
Focusing on high protein, high fat, low carb Fatoor and Sahoor, has worked to my favor, there was no sense of feeling tired, bloated, sleepy. I trained after finishing prayers, around 10pm as it was the optimal time to exercise as I've had the energy and hydration to do so.
A previous post has a great detail on my diet and training HERE and I wrote a general guide on the matter for local sports newspaper HERE.
All I have to say to end this post is there are a lot of uncertainties right now at the moment, but soon everything will be clear and make sense. Also, stay tuned as I have exciting news that I will announce in a few weeks!
As the London Olympics 2012 kicked off a couple of days ago, many were anticipating the opening ceremony, the different sporting events and watching their favorite athletes in action.
But there is one incident that has sparked a lot of discussion, the 16-year-old Saudi female Judo fighter,Wojdan Shaherkani, who has been asked to remove her hijab to meet "the principles and spirit of Judo."
That comment was shocking, and what was further shocking is the recent tweets by some who said that the Saudi females who were competing in the Olympics are "whores," adding fuel to the fire.
Ruqaya Al Ghasara
I am not one to discuss politics or religion, but in this instance, I would like to focus on the heart of the problem and solutions.
Only in the past few years, there have been Muslim female athletes who come out publicly to compete and participate while wearing the Hijab. In 2004, sprinter Ruqaya Al Ghasarawas the first Muslim woman to compete in the Olympics wearing a hijab. Also, last year, Kulsoom Abdullah(who has become a very good friend of mine), won a battle to wear a hijab while competing in a weightlifting meet. Also recently, FIFA has lifted a five-year-old ban on hijab for soccer players.
Kulsoom Abdullah
There is a perception that wearing of the hijab while doing sports to be deemed as "dangerous and unsafe" as proposed by the media and decision makers. Yet, not once I read a report about a Muslim female athlete being injured from practicing any sport while wearing the Hijab. So where does this idea come from that it is dangerous? I would say ignorance.
The topic of wearing the Islamic headscarf is important, but I would say the media is making it a bigger deal than it should be or is. If a problem has been identified, then half of the problem is solved. But in this instance, it seems to growing to become a bigger issue. As a Muslim athlete who wears the hijab in training and competition while in mixed environment, I think it is important for me to highlight the issue and my experience.
The only reason why I have come out publicly about participating in sports is because I was inspired by Kulsoom's story. Her story gave me hope that it is possible to hold on to your religion, beliefs, and still practice a sport you love.
Not once while I was training, thus far, where my safety was at risk because of the hijab. If anything, I would say the sport - whatever it may be - is more likely to put your safety at risk than a headscarf.
One thing that needs to be addressed is the lack of availability and accessibility of sports hijab. Given the phenomena is only recent, it is not a surprise that there aren't many designs or access to such a product. Although, surprisingly, it is more readily available in the US and Canada, and not so much in the The Arab world, Middle East, or GCC. I wonder why? Well, the tweets that the Saudi Muslim female athletes are "whores" is one explanation. A real Muslim, wouldn't even say that about a sister in Islam.
In this part of the world, there are some people who still believe that women place belongs only at home, unfortunately, and view sports as a "man-only" activity, neglecting the benefits of being active and sport - forget male or female - but on human beings.
But that's slowly changing. There are men, sometimes more than women, who are supportive of female athletes in the region, show support, and even work toward educating and empowering women.
One thing that people are failing to see in this situation regarding the battle between hijab and sport is a solution. For instance, in the case of Saudi Judo fighter, did you know that there is a hijab specifically designed for Muslim Judo fighters? It's called ResportOn. The head cover is more of a tight hoodie , so any form of movements won't allow the head cover to fall.
Wearing a headscarf while practicing sports does not take or add to an athlete performance. So saying that the Saudi female judo fighter should take her hijab off to meet the principles of the sport is, excuse me, nothing but utter bullshit.
In my opinion, there needs to be more Muslim covered female athletes to support the movement toward equal rights in participation in sports without any obstacles such as the wearing of the headscarf. There needs to be more accessible sports hijab worldwide to encourage more covered athletes to take part in sport, either for leisure or as a career. There is a need for more to be done by decision makers to allow Muslim female athletes a chance and a choice to compete in their hijab. There needs to be more successful stories like the sprinter, the weightlifter, and the soccer players situation. We need to show the world, that we can still hold on to our religion, modest clothing, whilst proving ourselves and our growing talent in sport.
I have said this before, and I will say it again:
Sports is like our emotions. Sports doesn't see race, nationality, gender, religion, ethnicity, age, or color. It's you and how good you are as an athlete.
Today I came across THIS article on people being hospitalized from stomach pains after their first meal (iftar) after a fast during Ramadan.
Reading such news saddens me as people more often than not neglect the essence of what Ramadan is. Yes, you've fasted for more than half a day, it doesn't mean when it's feeding time you attack the food in front of you.
To those who don't know, Ramadan is the 9th month in the Islamic Calendar where Muslims all over the world fast from dawn to dusk. In this holy month, we observe a complete fast from drinking (water, juice..etc.), food, sexual activities (those married), bad acts and talk during the daily fast. We work toward being better Muslims, learn discipline, pray more and last but not least, feel for the poor.
The reason why I am writing this post is because I want to share with you my experience this Ramadan, how I am training, eating, compared to previous years, and hopefully you can pick a thing or two tips which you can follow for the remaining weeks of Ramadan.
Before I move forward, HERE is an article I wrote last year on training in Ramadan, titled "Exercising during Ramadan: Weightlifting and Cardio". And if you wait a few days, I have written article to a local sports paper that will have updated information on training and nutrition in Ramadan. Hopefully it will be published soon.
This is my third year training in Ramadan, so to a degree I had different Ramadan experiences and have learned a lot from each. I can confidently say that this Ramadan, by far, even though we are only one week in, has been the best so far from many aspects.
Energy levels
Digestion
Training sessions
Weight management
Some may say it is too early to tell. Hm. Maybe so. But I have been tuned with my body and the way it reacts with a lot of things in the past years, and I can assure you the routine that I have been following so far has been quite effective, for me. Also unlike last year, this year, I am an athlete and nutrition matters a tad bit more than it did before.
As a starter, earlier this year I have found out that I am intolerant to gluten and dairy. It has been a tough time to come in terms with the fact I *should* be off foods that contain both. Have I been? Periodically, yes. All the time? Not really.
In 2011 and 2010, majority of how I have been eating was based on the above mentioned food items, so things from pasta, cheese, bread, milk, yoghurt...and the list goes on. They made up I would say 70% of my diet. Comparing the way I felt having eaten those foods last year, with how I am eating this year, I can see a huge difference.
No dizzy spells
No irregular heart beats (I faced a lot of that)
No indigestion issues
No abdominal pain
No lack of energy during daytime and nighttime.
So, what have I been eating, you must wonder! Well, for one, I haven't changed my diet to a large degree from how I used to eat during normal days. On average, I would be having either 2 or 3 meals in Ramadan, depending on the time I get the chance to train due to availability and accessibility.
Most of what I eat is high in protein, high in good fats, and good carb sources or those that I am not intolerant to such as, fruits, veggies, rice, potatoes, corn and some legumes.
Protein sources: Meat, chicken, turkey, fish, eggs (if you're not intolerant to them)
Good fat sources: Avocados, extra virgin olive oil, coconut oil, coconut milk, all kind of nuts
Carb sources: Veggies, fruits, rice - brown being better -, sweet potato or potato, oatmeal.
This is NOT SAYING I don't have a few bites of the things I like at Iftar or Sahoor (pre-dawn meal, before the fast begins again). 90% of what I currently eat is what I mentioned above, with 10% being from things like gaimat and harees, traditional Emirati food, as well as few other sweets. However, I preserve majority of the sweet, sugary stuff for post-workout when they can be utilized better as spiking your insulin levels post workout has shown to increase protein absorption, excuse to eat ice-cream, but you didn't hear that here. Nope.
As for my training, I always believed and still strongly believe that training post Iftar is optimal and training pre-Iftar, while you're fasting can be detrimental. Maybe I am biased because I believe strength and muscle mass are far more superior to doing steady cardio. HEREis a great article by a well-known and respected strength and conditioning coach, Charles Poliquin on the negatives on Areobic training. You still want to walk on a treadmill? I hope not.
At the moment I train a few hours after iftar, to allow the food to digest and have time to hydrate. Lack of hydration can cause a lot of health problems. Hence all I think about after breaking my fast, is hydrate the heck out of your body!
Although it's been just a week of Ramadan, I have already got two new personal records, one of them being the first day of Ramadan with a 91.5kgsx6 deadlift and one yesterday with a 48.5kgsx3 front squat. Some say you lose strength in Ramadan, I beg to differ.
So what is it that is working for me? Below is one example of how I have eaten and trained in the past week of this Ramadan.
Sahoor: Salmon, rocket salad with avocado, corn, and olives with 5 tablespoons of extra virgin olive oil (YES, I have that many!) and balsamic vinegar.
This meal helps keep my hunger at bay during daytime as eating high fat and high protein food are slow digesting and keep you feeling full longer as opposed to simple carbohydrates.
Iftar: 500ml of water + chicken skewers, avocado, potatoes, few gaimat nibbles.
After Iftar I immediately take my "super supplements", which are: 5000IU of Vitamin D, Omega-3 (either 1 or 2g), and Green Superfood (sometimes I drink it after water, rather post-meal). Don't do this unless you consult a doctor.
Snack: Before training I drink coffee (with coconut milk, no sugar) and a fruit.
Train at 10pm
Post workout meal is not always consistent, sometimes I'd eat tuna mixed with olives or have an actual meal rice with chicken, based on time + magnesium. I have stopped drinking whey or protein shakes since last year.
Sahoor: Cycle starts again with where I consume again another meat and veggies/salad source.
Water: I drink at least 2.5-3L during the feeding window.
So yup, there is no secret to making the best gains or losing fat in Ramadan. Following a simple nutrition diet and training regime, and you're good to go. Neither will have an effect on your worship during the holy month with proper planning and dedication. There is a saying, if you fail to plan, you plan to fail.
Ramadan is not yet over, so I hope you picked a tip or two from my experience that will benefit you in your either nutrition or training.
One thing I like about competition, it exposes my weaknesses. Although it doesn't necessarily come to my advantage *during competition*, it gives me insight on what I need to work on for the future.
And that's exactly what I did.
Competing at the Burn Room Crossfit Throw Down event today (13/7/20122) was, well, interesting. There were a total of four events, and they have announced the workouts, except the final, just two days ahead of the event.
First workout was:
300m Run
21 deadlifts @ 95lbs
200m Run
15 deadlifts @ 135lbs
100m Run
9 deadlifts @ 185lbs
*10 minute time cap
I knew that running is one of my weaknesses and that it was going to suck. So I paced myself in the runs. Deadlifts were okay, but that 185lbs after the run and the volume before it, my lower back was fried. I got a total of 42 reps, and I knew I have done my best in that workout, even though I wasn't entirely happy with my performance. But I knew, there is nothing I can do about it, it was a true all-out effort and that was good enough!
Second workout:
As many reps as possible of:
1 minute of handstand pushups
2 minutes of box jumps @ 24 inch
2 minutes of kettlebell swings @ 16kgs
1 minute of burpees.
I was so excited for this workout, why? Damn I spent so much time trying to learn handstand push ups for the Crossfit Asia Regional Competition that took place 2 months ago. And all that hard work definitely paid off. I was able to rep 3 HSPU in a row & under a minute. That itself was a PR for me. And that's the coolest thing about the competitions, the butterflies in your stomach before you hear the 3,2,1...GO! can really add to your performance if you had the right mentality. I finished with a total of 98 reps.
This is the kind of workout I truly like and find enjoyable. However, I have to admit - I had a bit of a mental block with this workout. I achieved - in a way - what I aimed for, which was finish the 12s, but boy those OHS felt like something else. The weight itself was not necessarily heavy, however, my level of balance is completely off,especially having stopped going overhead in the past 6-8 weeks to allow my back to recover from a condition. Although I gave myself that excuse (not a good thing), I realized why I didn't do better or more in this particular workout, when I thought I will smash it. I got a total of 60 reps here.
After the third workout, they announced the top 5 men and women, and I was excited to hear my name! I actually had a shot of making into the top 3 given the cumulative of my previous scores!
There is that moment where you need to talk to yourself before a competition to tell yourself, this is it. You have this ONE chance. One moment to achieve what you came for, and that's what I did in this final workout.
Whew. That was one long and killer of a workout. For me, wall balls were the hardest movements I had to do. I have always struggled with wall balls and had quite some misses. Especially with the ball being about 9kgs, I knew going in that will slow me down, and that was OK. I knew I could do the other movements if I broke them down into a specific pattern and still be able to get a decent score. However, surprisingly, I didn't just have a decent score, I have reached the point where I finished with 11 dips, putting me ahead. In the final workout, the main thing that kept me going and what I learned from previous competitions, is. STAY COOL. SHAKE IT OUT. FOCUS. & get back into the movement. Literally, my dips were one rep at a time. So I finished with a total of 191 reps.
The cumulative of my four scores have left me getting my first medal at 2ND PLACE!
When they called out the 3rd name, I thought...damn, I wanted to make it top 3. Until, the organizer was looking for the 2nd place winner, and it was quiet...and suddenly I hear my name, I jump with excitement and I ran to the podium saying "Yey! My first time!"
& everyone, obviously, laughed. I am cheesy like that =P.
Few days ago, when I was looking at a pictures of the medals on Facebook, I said, "damn, it would be nice to have one of those around my neck for once." I visualized it.For fun, more than anything else, really. But it shows the power of visualization and mental focus when it comes to competing. Believe it. Mentally see it, and let your body do the work.
Honestly, winning second place was NOT anticipated AT ALL. But I believe giving and doing your best has it's own way of rewarding you, and all the training sessions you had, the sweat drops, blood and tears, is all worth it in the end. In many ways than just winning a medal. I have learned about further weaknesses I have in this competition, and knowing what I am capable of achieving, I want to work hard, to progress further and be my best.
Would you like to get fit while raising awareness about an important issue?
Katie Pattison-Hart, a Dubai-based resident and one of the five women who broke a world record by crossing the Atlantic Ocean unassisted in their "Row for freedom" campaign to raise awareness about human trafficking are continuing their efforts - and YOU can take part.
For the next 12 months, the 27 million project will announce physical challenges that will contribute to the overall aim of collecting 27 million reps to acknowledge the 27 million victims taken against their will and forced into slavery. Each meter ran, repetition performed, pound lifted is counted.
The project is in collaboration between the Row for Freedom team and the Crossfit gym, The Burn Room, in the United Arab Emirates.
Each month the challenge is different and announced ahead of time.
"The challenges are monthly although some months are proving difficult to rack up the numbers which means other smaller events will take place within the month," said Katie in an interview with 999fitness. "The first month [May] it was running. This month it's pounds lifted and next month it will be stairs climbed."
Katie is working with UAE's government, The National Committee to Combat Human Trafficking regarding ways they can help with local shelters. She added that the NCCHT have also seen a reduction in cases last year.
"If people are more aware of the issue they will be more likely to report cases," said Katie. "And if we can also raise funds for the shelters that really need financial support we will be helping the victims in their recovery once rescued."
So put your training clothes and shoes on, and donate some reps!
Moments.
What’s in a moment? The concept of a moment can be described in many ways.
Scientifically, physically or emotionally.
To me, moments are a non-existing reality. An event that has happened, you
remember it, but are no longer tangible – can be seen, touched, heard, smelled,
or tasted. A moment that was once actual that becomes like melting ice that
eventually dries up – with no mark.
You’re probably wondering where I am going
with this post.
Well, I
have a habit – might I add, a mentally draining one – where I find moments,
moments, I don’t want to let go of (for whatever reason), and I am often stuck
in and begin to dissect them – trying to find an answer, a reason, just
something, to understand the moment.
Recently,
someone close to me – my grandfather – has passed away. All I could think of
when I got the text message from my sister that read “He passed away...” is the
moment. The moment I read about it, where I was, who I was with, and what I was
doing. As I got into my car, drove home – I was still in denial.
I understood what I was being told, but at that moment I didn’t want to
comprehend it.
That day –
from going to the Masjid to the graveyard - there were moments, moments that separated what was real and what was surreal.
For a moment, my grandfather was alive. He was there. But then there was that
one moment – when I knew, really knew he no longer existed.
And I was
stuck in that moment.
I felt
anger, denial, grief, sadness...and I am still dealing with
acceptance.
We all know
that death is inevitable. It’s the “real” truth of life. I also know, our
existing is temporary, but how often do we think of that? Think of the day we
will die? We usually don’t. We carry on with our day as normal...
Wake up. Brush our teeth. Go to Work/University/School. Eat Lunch.Nap. Watch TV. Eat dinner. Sleep. Whatever it is. We
do it every day.
That day my
grandfather passed away, I thought to myself – we just lost someone dear to us,
we will mourn him, but...we have to move on? Eat, sleep, and go back to work –
like nothing has really happened. Even though it did.
He then becomes just a memory.
Then there
is that one day – where you remember a special day, a conversation, a face
expression, of your loved one who passed away – but you can no longer create
another moment with them, and when you remember a previous memory it somehow dissolves
away – you remember it, but the details starts to blur.
And then,
there is that moment where you realize that one day that person will be YOU.
This...this is just one of my “moments” that I have been going through.
And here’s
a newsflash – I get stuck in moments. I get stuck to the point I often forget
that time has passed away. I get stuck in moments, because I want to hold on to
them and not let go and not have them become just another distant memory.
Lately, to
some, I have come across as aggressive and reckless. I admit. I have been. It’s
because I have been stuck in a moment
for such a long time and I can’t seem to let go and allow things to take their
course naturally.
This last
month quite a few things has happened – from a high to going to Crossfit Asia
Regionals, to lows, such as; the need to quit my full-time job, the passing
away of my grandfather, and injuring my back which limited my training to a
large degree (in my opinion.)
Through
this last month, I realized by being in stuck in some “moments” didn’t allow me
to create other moments, and I have been trying to break free. Although, I am
still stuck in “one of the moments” that may or may not explain some of my
reactions – all I know is, in life, there are no perfect or right moments for
anything.
I am well -
living, breathing, walking, eating , probably talking bullsh*t right now? – All
I know is that I should take each day as if it’s my last, because I never know
if I will ever wake up the next day and see the sun again.
Leaving you all with a poem I wrote two years and a half ago...seemed relevant.
Because death is
nothing
but
a bleeding cord
waiting to be played.
Because life is
nothing
but
a last breath
about to be slaved.
No matter
what words
are to be said
about the stay
about the departure
It is all
a beginning’s
end.
Ramadan is approaching us soon and unfortunately many spend their time overeating, watching TV shows and socializing till midnight - often forgetting what Ramadan is all about, feeling for those less fortunate.
But this Ramadan, YOU have the chance to take part of a life-changing project where you can not only explore a new culture, but have the opportunity to make a real difference in a family's life - through building a house for families without proper shelter in Kenya & Jordan.
So I am calling out to all of those who enjoy volunteer work - both male and female! This project is going to be successful only through volunteer work & donations from the UAE community. So lets put our hands together and show our spirit in helping those in need!
Project details for Kenya:
WHO: Needed a team of (10 minimum to 40 maximum) UAE male volunteer builders, ages 18+ WHAT: A 10-day mission to build a home and deed for African families in need + 1 day safari WHERE: Africa, Kenya WHEN: 3-12 of August, 2012 or 21-30 of August, 2012. Includes return date. COST: 17,950/person (inclusive of: donations, accommodation, tickets, visa...etc)
Project details for Jordan:
WHO: Needed a team of (10 minimum to 20 maximum) UAE female volunteer builders, ages 18+ WHAT: A 7 day mission to build and deed a home for an Arab family + cultural activities WHERE: Middle East, Jordan WHEN: 3-9 of August, 2012. Includes return date. COST: 12,950/person (inclusive of: donations, accommodation, tickets,...etc) *Wanted: individuals with some muscles and heart, but don't worry - no construction experience or hard skills are required!
Why should YOU take part?
Each one of you will have a different answer. Giving your time and effort to build a home that provides basic shelter, safety, privacy to someone in need is a personal decision, but giving back to society - even not your own - can impact each one of you differently, but it will definitely be a life-changing experience with long-term impact.
So if you're interested in more details about the project, organizations involved, nature of volunteering, and costs/donations, drop me a line at info@999fitness.ae and I will supply you with full details.
I am not sure how I should start writing this blog post, because everything has happened in the past week was beyond overwhelming, with many highlights and special moments.
As some of you know, last week I went to Seoul South Korea to compete in the Reebok Crossfit Games Asia Regional 2012 with my team, Crossfit LifeSpark. Since there is SO much to say, I will break down this post into headlines/days (so you can always come back to read the rest =P). Also there is a link in the end to a photo album.
Preparation - Airport & Flight:
My teammates & I Thanks for Adventure HQ for providing us with UAE Flag buffs!
The last time and first time I ever traveled was 13 years ago. The simple action of packing, driving to the airport was an overwhelming experience. At 8:30pm, my mom dropped me and my sister to the airport and walked in with us to wish me and my team good luck. I almost cried, leaving what I've always known was scary. As we dealt with the procedures, it slowly started to hit me. I am really traveling for a competition.
We still had about an hour before the flight aboard at 10:55pm, and it was a good time to catch one last meal before traveling. As we reached the gates to the flight, there was a bit of asituation. One of our team members has been delayed at the airport due to visa issues. Therefore, one of our team members was left behind as we had to leave. Due to that, there were a few complications competition-wise due to the situation, which will be discussed below.
As for the flight, it was a bit scary for me, the idea of being in the sky with no place to be "grounded" for 8 or so hours was just nerve wrecking, especially there was some turbulence. I couldn't catch on some sleep as I hoped I would, nor did I watch movies either. I would still NOT choose to travel unless necessary!
DAY 1 - Landing, Hotel, Exploring Seoul:
We landed in the Incheon International Airport at noon time. The day before we landed, I called the UAE Embassy in Korea just to inform them about what we're doing in Korea and ask them a few questions about Seoul. They were very friendly and immediately suggested they send us drivers. We had a driver waiting for us with my name tag (ow, I felt special!). They immediately welcomed us, and took our bags in a swift manner (I swear, they were like agents, swift and smooth and fast!). Three cars were waiting for us, we unloaded the bags in one car, the ladies left in one car, and the boys left in another car.
Our driver was telling us about Seoul, the city, and out of no where he started playing Emirati music, and we couldn't help by smile/laugh. It was CUTE!
Getting a mini workout at the Hangang park
After an hour drive, we reached our destination. We were staying at the Ritz Carlton hotel which was located in the business side of the city. As we went into the rooms to unload, one of our team members, Brian Sigafoos said he's going to explore the city. So myself, my sister, Tess, Yaseen went to explore Seoul on foot. We walked in the city, across the streets, down and uphill. People in Korea barely stared at us (even though we were very stare-able!), and the streets are usually busy with a lot of people walking on foot. There are plenty of hills and bridges, food stalls on the street that sell really greasy seafood stuff. One of the most interesting thing I found about Korea, is that in every corner, small park, there are exercise equipments (like the bench press, chest press, pull ups bars, and anything you could think of!). In the end of the day, we went to a big park/river called the Hangang, a really huge and beautiful park. We spent about an hour there, playing around like in the picture above, before we walked back to the hotel as we reached around 7:30pm.
*PS: I will posting a video of us exploring Seoul soon....watch this space.
So, it was food time. Hm.
Some people are aware that I am very picky with food, and I am intolerant to many others. Such combination didn't work to my advantage in Korea. Beyond that fact there is no halal meat/chicken in Seoul for the most part - eating food was a struggle for me the whole week.
So having not eaten all day (and walking for four hours), as you can imagine...got me starving. However, the team couldn't find food that is suitable for me and for everybody else at the same time. Brian was nice enough walk me through the city and find me some prawns. I had two plates of that, each cooked differently. All I knew at that point, I needed to eat!
DAY 2 - Unfortunate News & Registration:
On the 2nd day of my stay in Korea, I got a couple of unfortunate news.
Before I went to Korea, I have spoken to the management of Ritz Carlton to explain to them the situation of requiring halal meat. Luckily, they were very helpful and friendly and said they will provide the food as I request in advance.
When I woke up the next morning to go to the breakfast buffet, I found out that they didn't really understand what "halal food" meant, and thought it is a type of food, rather than "meat butchered in an Islamic way." All I can say, the hotel has been great in trying to accommodate us, but the language barrier (very common in Korea), resulted in miscommunication.
Luckily enough, I grabbed some cans of tuna, avocado and coconut milk from home and they kept me somewhat sane leading up to the competition day, as post-competition diet didn't really matter (I ended up living on bread the rest of the week!)
Also, as I mentioned earlier, one of our team members was delayed at the airport. We then later found out the only time the member can join us was the night of the first day of the competition is over.So, we had to double-check with the director of the Asia Region if that could possibly effect us to compete.
We are originally six members, one of our team members was delayed, and the other member reached on Thursday afternoon as planned. We went for the early registration on Thursday afternoon to the venue, which was in the Peace Institute at the kyunghee University.
Due to the technicality our team member faced and couldn't make it on time for registration on the first day of the competition, Friday morning, the Asia director said we could compete, however, unfortunately we weren't "officially" competing. In other words, we wouldn't given a score/rank. However, we got media coverage during the competition nonetheless.
There is nothing we could do about the situation, but the fact we were allowed to compete on its own had to be good enough. The whole situation from being qualified, to finding sponsors, to travel arrangements, and making it there had been a roller coaster, but thank God, despite all the lows, there was light in the end of the tunnel on each situation. That's all that mattered to me.
DAY 3 - Competition Day:
This was it. This day has been the day that I've been training the past 5 months for. The day I put my body through hell for. The day that, well, I cried many times, not knowing whether I will make it or not.
But here it was. The 4th of May. Regionals day.
I woke up at 5am (12am UAE time) to get ready. As an organized freak, I prepared my clothes, gym bag, food, all the night before. I didn't want to worry about anything. It was then 6am and the whole team met in front of our rooms to walk to the Gangnam bus station, which was about 15 minutes walk from the hotel.
It took us about an hour to reach the institute where the competition was taking place. So we went to the warm up area, and many crossfitters from all over the world where present. Some you'd recognize their faces as they have been featured in the Crossfit Games website. I got to meet Feng Yi Chew, who came out first in the Crossfit Games Open in Asia (1st stage of the competition).
Some people approached me to take pictures, and the person behind the twitter handle @CFGAsiaRegion to tweet the news of me making it to regionals and being the first Emirati to do so.
As we were warming up, they announced the plan for the day. The first heat of the day included us, among two other teams. The competition kicked off at 10am sharp (they were very specific on time!).
My whole being was nervous, excited, just want to jump out of happiness and I kept telling myself (somewhat in denial still), "This is real! Is this real?!" It was VERY real.
The team and I spent about 2 weeks trying to learn the movements of the first event. The workout went like this:
20 partner deadlift (455lbs)
20 handstand pushups
20 partner deadlift (315lbs)
20 handstand pushups
^ minimum requirement to move to the next workout.
20 handstand pushups
20 partner deadlift (455lbs)
20 handstand pushups
20 partner deadlift. (315lbs)
Here's a video of the competition that I put together:
Here's the summary video by the Crossfit Games website where they took a shot of me failing HSPU (haha!):
Handstand pushups seemed to pose a challenge to many athletes that day as the wall was set up too high, and our hips didn't have something to lean on.
As for our team, I couldn't be any prouder of everyone's efforts. Before training for regionals, two of our members (myself too) never done a handstand push up before. Tess and I both had a new personal record which we achieved DURING the competition itself. It couldn't get any better than this. Although we didn't meet the minimum requirement to advance, we did an awesome job for ourselves, and we worked very hard.
As for myself, five months ago I had a goal. My goal was simple. Make it to Regionals and be able to start a workout. Even if if I just get the chance to lift a bar once, I would've been happy. If anything, I have exceeded my expectations. I lifted the bar 20 TIMES & did a total of 5 HANDSTAND PUSH UPS, when I couldn't get one in a whole day!
The whole experience has been just amazing, rewarding, and humbling. Seeing all of these athletes neck and neck, their strength despite their sizes, their beautiful technique, and hard work, was just beyond inspiring.
For that, I plan to continue my training in Crossfit and hopefully make it to regionals next year as an individual. I may never earn the title "Fittest woman in Asia", and that's fine. For me, by just taking part on its own is something that makes me happy and satisfied. And maybe, just maybe, my calling is to encourage other women in a similar situation like myself to come out. I don't know what it is, but each day I am loving sport more and more - and know, in my heart, it's where I belong.
& big thanks to my sister Sara, who came with me this week to show support and take pictures of the team and competition. She was great emotional support during the whole week. I couldn't have kept it together without her.
DAY 4 & 5 - Spectating & Interview
During the last two days of the competition, we were spectating the
event and cheering for our coach, Candice Howe, who was competing as an
individual for the second year. The
competition is definitely a lot of harder than it was last year, the
workouts, the athletes are all top notch.
In the morning of the final day of the competition, I was approached by Mike Mogard, an athlete who was competing, who wanted to do a short interview with me and do a photo shoot to upload it on his website once it's up and running (will post when it's up!). The gist of the interview was to encourage women in Brunei to start a healthy lifestyle and exercise.
In the end of the day, I was also approached by a number of people, some from the US military, and other athletes who said they were happy to see me come all the way to Seoul to compete and take part. They really respect what I do, and hope to see me competing next year. I just couldn't help but have a big cheeky smile on my face. I was overwhelmed with the positive comments and support.
In the end of the day, all the winners were announced, and Candice ranked 2nd.
Lotte World
My sister and I in our last night in Seoul, decided to go Lotte World, an amusement park with games (indoors and outdoors) and a big ice rink and may other activities. I personally am not a FAN of playing scary games (none were really, but I am a scaredy cat, while my sister is very adventurous). We spent a good couple of hours walking around, playing some rides, and we had plenty of fun. We were both dead tired in the end of the night.
As we went back to the hotel, I started packing, as again, I didn't want to worry too much in the morning as we had a flight to catch!
DAY 6 - Heading back to the UAE!
Waking up in the morning, I realized wow...a whole week of madness and fun has passed, and it has passed really fast. As we got ready to leave at 10:30am, we left the hotel by a taxi bus going back to the airport. By 1:55 pm our plane starting to aboard. The flight was really long, and very uncomfortable with a lot of turbulence. I couldn't really sleep, so I watched all kind of movies, shows, and listened to music to let the 8-9 hour flight pass by, but each minute felt like forever.
I had some spicy noodles in the airplane as that's the only thing I could've eaten. A lot of the food they served was not halal/had alcohol in it. The smell of beer/alcohol really makes me feel sick, dizzy, and gives me a headache. So that was very uncomfortable for me.
As I stared at the time, it was finally close to landing on UAE ground. I couldn't be any happier to be back home. I literally shouted in the plane "Yeeey! I am back home!" This is how excited I was to finally be back to where everything is known to me.
FINAL WORDS
There is really a lot to say, a lot that I probably have forgotten to mention, but this week has been in one word, overwhelming. Everything from experiencing travel for the first time in 13 years, and staying in another country other than my home, and to take part in an international competition has just been an emotional time for me.
It feels like everything just happened too fast, flew in front of my eyes, and is already a distant memory, but it's a memory that I will never forget. It's just the beginning for something bigger, a bigger test, more failures and successes in the future. And you know what? I cannot wait for the challenge. Just BRING. IT. ON!
Before I conclude this very very very long post, I have to thank Sultan Al Darmaki and his business partner for being our main sponsor who helped facilitate for my team and I go to Seoul South Korea for the competition, without them we couldn't have gone, at all. Also thanks to Adventure HQ for giving us UAE flag buffs that came in very handy as we wore them throughout the city. Finally, thanks for Reebok Middle East who provided us with track suits, shirts, and the awesome new Reebok Crossfit shoes.
To see more pictures of my time in Seoul, visit my Facebook page HERE. Yours truly,
Finding out that I can compete in the Reebok Crossfit Asia Regionals in Korea came as a big surprise to me. I had all kind of emotions swimming in my head - from happy, to nervous, to excited, to being worried.
Seeking Sponsors:
The moment I found out I qualified, the first thing I did was look for sponsors for my team and I. Being I made history of competing in this international event, I thought finding sponsors won't be so hard.
Dead wrong.
My experience with finding sponsors was really disheartening. I got plenty of no's, plenty of rejections, plenty of lack of belief in what I do. Just last week, I pretty much threw my hands in the air in defeat. Time has run out for my team and I to make any arrangements (as many of
us are full-time employees).
I had given up.
Only soon after, a lovely gentleman who wished to remain anonymous heard of what I am doing and teamed up with his partner, Sultan Saeed Al Darmaki to support me and my team to go to regionals. They understood the value of empowering an Emirati woman who is active in sports and highlight the UAE on an international stage. They are not only supporting my individual dreams, but they're helping me raise the UAE flag internationally.
These two gentlemen have given me hope and they took a huge load off my shoulder because they believed in me. I cannot thank them enough for their support and making my dream come true. We will make you proud!
HERE is an article Sultan wrote about us, please read it!
Going to Regionals:
So the preparation for traveling to Korea has begun. Flights are booked, accommodation is being sorted out - and I will be hoping on airplane (for the first time in 13 years) next week on the 1st of May. Our departure will be at 10:55pm.
I think I am more nervous about being in a plane for 8.5 hours than competing (haha!), but it should be an interesting experience. Well, Crossfit does prepare you for the unknown!
My team and I are currently preparing for the competition and what will be thrown at us. The workouts were announced on Thursday last week. You can see the hell we'll go through HERE.
The competition dates are from 4-6 of May, and I believe it will be aired on ESPN. More details to come soon.
So who's my team?
- Tessa Richardson
- Lorraine Muzadzi
- Brian Sigafoos
- Yaseen Kafafi
- Ben Ford (our coach!)
Last week, we got a two-page spread coverage in sport 360. Click here to read a snippet from the article.
Gymnastics Course and Certification:
This weekened, 20-21 of April, the first EVER Crossfit trainer course took place in the Middle East, which took place at Reebok Crossfit LifeSpark in Dubai.
The course was the crossfit gymnastics trainer course, which delved into beginner, intermediate and advanced gymnastics movements. The course was delivered by Dusty Hyland, who has extensive knowledge in gymnastics, in form of a lecture on a specific topic followed by a practical session.
We learned everything from how to warm up, to floor work, to ring work, to bar work, handstands, how to spot, and how to scale movement progressions.
I learned a lot more about gymnastics and how gymnastics actually has tremendous benefits to other sports, medline stability, and strength.
I had quite a few highlights during the course - I got my FIRST FULL ROM HANDSTAND PUSH UP during the second day, and I got the chance to do a MUSCLE-UP!
By the end of the course, we were awarded certificates for successfully attending the course.
So I am officially a certified gymnastics trainer!
Never thought my first certification would be in gymnastics!
Life is weird,
eh!
Group who attended the course
with Dusty (left with a green shirt)
999fitness.ae have become a big part of me and who I am. Even though I had ideas of changing the name, after much thought and given I get a lot of traffic to the website - up 5,000 views/month and a total of 31,000+ views since I started the blog - I do not want to disappoint my audience, both local and international. 999fitness is my brand and you could say Amna Al Haddad (moi) is the face of it. 
