ABU DHABI: Aamer Ali, a Palestinian based in Abu Dhabi, weighs 83kg. As recently as 2014, he was more than 131kg. And no, he hasn’t been working out at a fancy gym or gone on a drastic crash diet. It’s good old walking that has resulted in his 48kg weight loss over a span of three years.
Ask Aamer about it and he would rather attribute the accomplishment to the Meetup group Abu Dhabi Walkers that inspired him to walk as a healthy pastime.
“Since I am a bachelor I was looking for avenues to spend my free time. I came to know about Abu Dhabi Walkers and found myself responding every time they announced a walk,” says Aamer, who works as a document controller at a government firm.
“I walk very briskly and eat healthy. With the encouragement and exercise tips from fellow walkers, I have managed to lose my excess weight and become fit.”
No pressure
Presently, the group has more than 2,000 walkers from 10 nationalities who share exercise and diet tips and motivate one another to stay committed. Members are told to walk at their own pace, so that they keep returning to the group without any pressure.
In 2014, when Meetup groups were just becoming popular, Emirati Jassem Al Ali formed Abu Dhabi Walkers to encourage people to walk for good health, socialising or just plain fun. Over time, Abu Dhabi Walkers came to have four groups in the capital, each taking a different route.
Residents register for free and meet twice or thrice a week, covering five to 10 km. The routes are changed occasionally to provide a change of scene.
“I am a walking enthusiast who loves to keep fit. I felt forming a Meetup was the best way to gather people with similar interests,” says Jassem.
Group co-ordinator
Aamer, who has been with Abu Dhabi Walkers since its inception, has not only lost weight and adopted a healthy lifestyle but also made friends along the way.
His commitment to walking has even earned him the position of the group’s co-ordinator at the Corniche. His role includes organising and scheduling Meetups and encouraging people to join in. The group starts with a warm-up session and then proceeds for the walk from the Hiltonia intersection to the Muroor end of the Corniche.
Refreshed
“The Corniche is a great stretch to walk with all its amenities and the wonderful skyline. People come for fun, to enjoy the fresh air or for serious exercise. But by the end of the walk, everybody is refreshed,” says Aamer, who hopes his weight loss inspires more people to get outdoors.
While some walkers are regulars, others join in now and then. But everyone agrees walking with others keeps them going. “It’s fun walking in a group rather than doing it alone,” says one of them. “I call it a productive get-together,” adds another.
How regular walks can benefit your body:
Walking has many health benefits, says Dr Manar Shalak, specialist in family medicine at NMC Royal Hospital, Abu Dhabi. Check out some advantages:
1. It strengthens your heart and regulates blood circulation in the body.
Regular walking has been shown to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. It lowers levels of LDL (bad) cholesterol while increasing levels of HDL (good) cholesterol and keeps blood pressure in check.
2. It keeps weight in check
Walking increases muscle mass and tone. The more muscle you have, the faster your metabolism – so the more calories you burn.
3. It prevents osteoporosis
It stimulates and strengthens bones, increasing their density.
It also helps maintain healthy joints and prevents conditions such as arthritis.
4. It boosts vitamin D levels
If you walk outside in daylight, you can boost your body’s stores of vitamin D – a nutrient that is hard to get from food.
5. It gives you energy
A brisk walk is one of the best natural energisers around. It boosts circulation and increases oxygen supply to each and every cell in your body, helping you to feel more alert and alive.
Join Abu Dhabi Walkers by visiting the Meetup page www.meetup.com/ADwalkers