‘My kids sometimes go to the gym on weekends’
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Mandy (34) is a social media manager and has three children with Donnell (42): Maxence (9), Lamarr (7) and Mayssane (3). She has been living in Dubai for work for two years, where she does crossfit six times a week.
“Most residents of Dubai are expats, for whom the gym is the place to make contacts. I also met all my friends there. In addition, the gym is popular because appearance is very important in Dubai. The emirate has the tallest buildings, the most expensive cars and people want to look their best. However, that does not mean that everyone appears dressed up in the gym. I can safely go there without mascara. Good thing too, because after an hour of crossfit I’m lying on my knees – no make-up that would come out unscathed.
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Crossfit
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Crossfit is a combination of gymnastics, weightlifting and fitness where you do workouts on time. Eight minutes? Then you go full throttle. If a workout lasts 45 minutes, you dose your energy. The end result is the same: you are half dead. Still – okay, crawl – I step off that rowing machine laughing. The feeling that I have given everything to become the most fit version of myself is wonderful.
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“The feeling that I have given everything is wonderful.”
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I started exercising after my oldest was born. Back then it was still cardio exercises to build fitness and fit back into my old jeans. Now that we live in Dubai, I mainly do crossfit. I like to challenge myself and learn new things. As a child I could not handstand, now I even walk on my hands. That feeling of victory gives a boost: as I get older, my body is able to do more and more.
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I take group lessons six times a week. Always during the day, before working hours or in between. We have a nanny living in the house – which is common in Dubai – who takes care of the children. And because I never exercise in the evening, I can put the children to bed in peace.
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On Fridays, when the weekend starts here, they sometimes go to the gym. Just for fun. They take up swimming because they have to learn it, but that’s where their sportsmanship ends. They don’t get that from a stranger: I used to be asportive too. But they are a healthy weight and gym at school three times a week, so there is no shortage of exercise. For now, instead of going to hockey or football, I drive them to the Science Club, where they do chemistry tests. Also nice.”
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This portrait is in Kek Mama 02-2022.
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