The quest for the perfect body

What does it really take to achieve toned abs and arms? Do you want to get trim? We speak to experts Annie Thorisdottir and Rania Gamal

ICELANDIC ATHLETE ANNIE Thorisdottir was recently named Fittest Woman on Earth. If that doesn't qualify her to dish out a few words of advice on healthy living, we don't know what does! Annie is the only woman to win the Reebok CrossFit games twice, as well as four CrossFit regional titles and two CrossFit open titles. 
In an effort to bring the benefits of CrossFit, an indoor programme of high-intensity interval training, weightlifting and gynmnastics, to the wider public we caught up with her before her recent US CrossFit Open appearance to see what we could find out about tightening up. 

Can you tell us what kind of diet it takes to become the world's fittest woman?
The most important thing to think about with diet is that whatever you put into your body is the energy you are going to have, so do you want to give your body good energy or bad energy. For me I mainly worry about ensuring I get my proteins, my fats, and good carbohydrates in every single meal. I've played around with my diet a lot taking out dairy and seeing how it affects me, taking out grains and seeing how it affects me, so I think it is very hard to answer that. It depends on the person.
As we're in Dubai, what advice can you give to those who have to train in a hot climate and diet tips for fans of Middle Eastern / South Asian cuisine?
The most important thing is making sure that you are hydrated and that you have enough electrolytes in your body while you are training because the heat is obviously going to make you sweat more and drain your body more rapidly. In terms of diet you need to see what your body works best with. For example, people in Iceland are very used to having a lot of dairy and I think our bodies process it a little differently to people in other countries. I do remember in Dubai that all the traditional dishes I tried had a lot of sugar in, so I think maybe try and cut that out a little bit.
Why do you think CrossFit is the best workout and why do you think it has become so popular?
There is a community feeling to training and it is something you can do with your friends. On top of this it is so easy to see your progress, which makes it easier to stay committed and actually keep going to the gym and have fun. The movements you learn also translate to everyday things such as knowing how to pick up a heavy box from the floor or putting something on a top shelf, and this can be achieved as simply as strengthening your shoulders through presses and push presses.
Are there any other tricks to becoming so fit?
No, I think what's important is that all the small decisions that you make - including staying focused on your diet, making sure you show up for training and not only showing up but putting in everything that you've got every single training session. Even on the training days when it is hard to motivate yourself you need to make sure that you stay committed and push through.
What is it with Iceland and sporting achievement? For a country with a smaller population, people from there always seem to excel in sports? Is there some secret we don't know about?
I don't know if there's a secret. but some people say it's in the water. We live in a country where it is cold and our ancestors went through some really tough times just to survive. I think maybe some of that has carried through the generations. We are also very competitive. When I think about Icelandic women specifically, we've been through a lot. We've fought for women's rights and the right to vote, and we were one of the first countries to have a female prime minister. There has always been that fight in women so there is nothing wrong with the woman being strong and that translates into the CrossFit environment.
Rania Gamal is a Dubai-based fitness, lifestyle and health aficionado teaching women not only to eat healthy but also about being independent and being empowered. She gave us five tips she swears by to stay in shape. 
WAKE UP THREE HOURS BEFORE YOUR WORK TIMING: If there is one common thing about CEOs and successful people, they all wake up early. If your office timing is 9am, don't wake up by 8 am and rush to the shower because, whatever you do, you'll still be late for work and you won't have a healthy breakfast. Not unless your office is close by or in the next room! This can result in a bad day.
You need one hour to exercise so you have a stronger body, 30 minutes to prepare a healthy breakfast and not those easy-to-cook frozen, ready-to-fry or any food with preservatives, 30 minutes to eat, 30 minutes to shower and get dressed and 30 minutes to read or watch some news. It is very important to do all of these - exercise, eat healthy, read and enrich your knowledge every morning. Remember your work is not your life, it is just part of it.
 OPEN YOUR EYES TO THE TRUTH: Sometimes you should know how to clarify the truth from advertising. Just because you heard that a certain slimming tablet has made your friend slim, it doesn't mean it could be effective for you. First we have different blood and body types so something that works for others may not work for you.
Also just because you see the package of a tantalising-looking juice drink claim that there is no added sugar doesn't mean it has no sugar, or just because it is in the diet section doesn't mean it will be healthy for you. I believe in natural things such as fruit and vegetables and the right amount of protein and carbohydrates rather than buying 'dietary' products in the supermarket.
MIND YOUR OWN BUSINESS: Don't be envious with Sarah if she has a slimmer body, don't get jealous of Wafa is she has a flat stomach. You don't have to focus on what others have and what they are doing.
EVERYTHING ELSE MATTERS: When it comes to losing weight and being fit, everything matters. You cannot go to gym regularly and eat buffets everyday or grab fast food after a sweat of just 30 minutes on the treadmill. You also cannot skip lunch and stay on the couch every night or every morning.
NEVER STOP: Never ever stop. That is the main and most important thing that you should learn when you are on the journey of physical fitness. You have to be strong emotionally to be able to fight the battles and challenges that you have outside. You may think this is a cliche but it is really true that the beginning is the hardest.

Dubai's coolest gym

Recently opened, the UFC Gym in Business Bay is your one stop shop for getting fighting fit.
Having witnessed Miesha Tate demolish her opponent Holly Holm in the UFC hexagon, being broadcast at the new UFC Gym in Bay Square 1, what we took away from the bout was how incredibly fit the fighters have to be.  
The sport attracts the toughest athletes on earth. So we can't think of a better place to recommend to start pumping iron in Dubai.