Time To Get Moving!

It can be hard to maintain a fit lifestyle in a city like Dubai, which throws up one temptation after the other. Be it the hautest new eatery to come to town or the creamiest, calorie laden dessert to hit our neighbourhood cafe, there is something or the other to tempt us away from the straight path.
While many of us find the going tough on a daily basis, there are a few (okay, we admit it's more than a few judging by the kind of fit people we seem to run into everyday) who not only manage to keep up the tempo, but go so far as to influence others to join in their daily workouts. Be it friends, colleagues or family - they are the rare breed who seem to have been born to be tagged as 'influencers'. One such person whose profile we came across recently is Jennifer Chalouhi - Creator of JumpFitDubai and a Personal Trainer, whose Instagram is filled with pictures of her doing what she loves to do the best - jumping around - and most noteworthy of all, with her young family, including husband and three daughters.
"Fitness has always been a part of my life, since I was 12 years old and it really started when I got my first pair of rollerblades," says Jennifer in an interview with City Times. "Exercise elevated my mood, relieved the stress I was going through as a teen and gave me those feel good endorphins every time I worked out and that is what has inspired and has kept me motivated." Something we are sure we could find out if only we managed to make our way out of the door in our exercise gear at least once a week.
A personal trainer's life is no bed of roses, however. Imagine come rain or shine or that stiff shoulder when you wake up in the morning, there is no option, but to don your gear and hit the ground running.
"Knowing that I could inspire and motivate others, through fitness is what made me choose this field," explains Jennifer. "I also was not happy in the corporate world, which I was in for over 10 years. Once I had the support from my husband I made the decision in my early 30s to change careers and finally do what I've always been passionate about, which was teaching fitness."
And now she is bringing that passion to the fore in her role as one of the brand ambassadors for the YAS Family Fitness Fest, taking place at Yas Island today and tomorrow. "It's the perfect time to inspire other families to gather their partners, spouses and kids and head for a 2-day free fitness festival all weekend long. My aim is to encourage others to attend. I'm a mum of three kids and I know how hectic it can be to manage a weekend with a big family. But here is an opportunity where we can all be together with our loved ones, workout, and bond, laugh, dance and just have fun. It's a perfect excuse to get the whole family to get their heart beat racing and enjoy some time in the sun together." Excerpts from our interview:
What advice would you give out to those struggling to keep their New Year resolutions related to fitness?
Try not to go too hard or too fast. Take baby steps that will lead you to big success! Change one small habit. Give up sodas on one week and maybe fast food another week and cook more often at home. Slowly but surely, build healthier habits. Eat more veggies or healthy fruits like berries to replace that Snickers bar. Skip watching TV at night and go for a walk instead. Small changes can lead to big results. 
You raise three kids; manage your job as a fitness influencer/coach. How do you manage to find 'me time' in between all this?
With humour I say, "Where there is a will, there is a way" and with 17 hours in a waking day with at least 7 hours of sleep nightly, "me time" is possible. And my 'me time' can be as simple as sitting on the beach by myself. Finally, getting my nails done. Reading a book. Or taking a nap! Or managing to work out on my own. I try to find one hour a day for 'me time' everyday and sometimes twice a day! 
Working out is part of many people's lifestyle today. But there are many of us who don't move as much as we should. How would you motivate such people?
I take either of the two approaches; I mention why exercise is vital and important to our health and how exercise reduces our body's stress hormone cortisol, it also stimulates the production of endorphins to the brain known as serotonin, exercise can also help lower blood pressure, reduce cholesterol levels, and prevent type 2 diabetes. Anyone who is sedentary for too long will be at a higher risk for any of the above and sometimes being aware of this is motivation enough to help someone get started. My second approach is to let it be known that exercise is not necessarily getting a gym membership. It's as simple as taking a walk to work if you can or before work, not eating at your desk. Finding a workout partner and motivating each other to move. Dancing in your living room, running on the beach with your kids. Once fitness is broken down into more relatable terms for absolutely anyone, people feel more relaxed, encouraged and understand that fitness is all about moving and getting that heart rate up which in return will lessen appetite, encourage you to drink more water, help you make better food choices, get your blood flowing and your brain and heart active and healthy.
What's your personal motivation to do this day in and day out?
I know fitness makes me feel good mentally and physically. At first you have that mental block in your brain of, do I really want to do this, I'm so tired, I have too much on my plate, but I know that once I clear my head from those negative thoughts, fitness helps my mind function better, and gets me going on a positive path day in and day out with all those feel good endorphins.
From your Instagram posts it is evident your family, including your three girls are an integral part of your fitness activities. Do you believe that's the key to lead a fitter life - involve the whole family?
I am sure if my family were not into fitness with me, there would have been a huge bump on the road. Even before kids, my husband and I have always been active. Joining marathons or hiking in Hatta. Swimming on the weekends or working out in our apartment complex gym before or after work. We also knew that once we had kids, we would remain active and we would make sure our kids became active. It has been an integral part to leading a fitter life. I truly believe it creates an ever lasting bond and fitness is a great way to connect a family. 
Very often we find within a family different members have different interests and goals. Do you believe working out together or just enjoying a fitness activity together has brought your family together?
Absolutely! We don't always have everything in common. You are always dealing with different dynamics in a family. But fitness and activities has been one thing that can always bring any family together. 
How would you advice other families to take this up?
It starts with the parents first and leading by example. When the kids are younger it's really easy to round the kids up into the car and head to the beach, or bike ride or go out for a walk or to special activities and events. Once the kids get older, it does get trickier and it's our job to be a bit more firm, especially since fitness is for their own wellbeing. If the kids are older, and you have 2 teens like me now, and they don't feel events or activities are for them, ask them to invite a friend to come along. Show them how fun fitness activities can be. I promise you, once you stand firm as a parent and get the family involved, they will thank you later and show that they did have a good time even if you sometimes have to force them to go.
Do I have a fitness idol... Not really. However, I do get inspired with new workouts from other fitness enthusiasts and one in particular has been Zuzka Light who I discovered in 2007 on You Tube. She has been my favourite ever since.
The motto I follow on a daily basis... is very simple. "You can do it!" It's the motto I chant in my head the moment I wake up and it helps me get out of bed every morning. 
My resolution for 2018 is... To get my kids even more active on weekends and to do this together. With the weather being so wonderful right now, I want to spend more time at the parks in Dubai. Rollerblade or play tennis with my daughters. Go for a run with my husband.  
How do I make my posts stand out among the crowd on social media?
I am really one of the lucky few who have started in the fitness industry in Dubai since 2009. So the many that are still living in Dubai know me. And I've managed to sustain a good following of clients via word of mouth and before social media took over. Plus, I believe just being true and honest to my posts is what people want to see and can relate too.
To what do you attribute your present success?
Thank you, this question makes me feel very humbled and grateful and it could be those factors and also staying authentic, and true to myself, as well as to others. I also carry this "deep" innate passion from my heart for fitness. It's become a part of me and has never changed.
My world pre Instagram was... Less hectic!! With social media and Instagram and all these different portals it's really hard to keep up. My world pre-Instagram was based more on social interaction, phone calls and networking at different events. Now, it's a mixture of all the above, and more and finding that healthy balance to keep up and not neglecting what life was like before social media can be challenging. 
Being a fitness influencer in today's world... I honestly feel honoured. It means people trust me, maybe can relate to me and believe in me and I couldn't ask for more than that. I'm truly grateful. 
The secret to being a superwoman is... Being organised first and foremost. I write down everything. Or shall I say, I type down everything into my phone. Reminders and notes are everywhere so I don't miss a thing! Also prioritising your priorities is super important. That can be your spouse; your kids, your home, children's activities and then you bring into the mix your friends, your work, etc. It can become overwhelming, but if you manage your time effectively it can be done. Once you do that, you will have the most important support from the people that count the most, which is your family.
 
The best thing about living in Dubai right now...at this moment is it's clear, crisp weather, everyday sunshine, palm trees and beaches within 5 minutes. Burj Khalifa, all the free parks and outdoor workout areas, The Dubai Fountain and the wonderful people from all over I get to meet.

• Dubai