How walking just 25 minutes a day can have such a huge impact on someone's life

DUBAI // Just 25 minutes of walking a day has set accountant Mehdi Syed on the road to a healthier lifestyle that is transforming his outlook on life.
The 29-year-old from Pakistan weighed 205 kilograms just six weeks ago, but since beginning a new fitness programme, with walking at its core, Mr Syed has already dropped 15kg and now has his sights set on reaching his goal of getting down to 90kg.
It is an ambitious target, but with the help of personal trainer Minnie Bustamante, and his new love for taking stairs, his dangerously unhealthy lifestyle will soon be in the past.
"The hardest thing was getting started and then being consistent," he said.
"I was looking for something different, and someone to motivate me. Minnie could understand what I was looking for and said she could help.
"The prime goal was to lose weight, now it is a lifestyle change and walking more is a key part of that.
"It is something I want to take forward for the rest of my life."
Healthier eating habits and regular exercise are the key components of Mr Syed's new life. Smaller portions of food are essential, and he has also cut out the traditional Pakistani food loaded with oils and spices that helped to contribute to his ballooning weight.
Ms Bustamante, a personal trainer at Fitness First in The Springs Town Centre, said walking for 25 minutes of every fitness session with Mr Syed has been a crucial part of his success so far.
"Walking on the treadmill for beginners is an important way to gauge fitness during their basic assessment," said the 35-year-old Filipino.
"People think they can lose weight by coming to the gym for an hour a week in just a few weeks.
"They need a complete mindset change and that involves changing their diet, and particularly how often they walk.
"If someone is sitting down for eight hours a day, an extra 20 minutes of walking is very important.
"I always ask clients what floor they work on and if they can take the stairs rather than the lift if they are on the second or third floor. It is a good exercise and something they can do naturally - it is an easy amendment to make."
Obesity often leads to diabetes, hypertension and heart disease, chronic conditions that can be managed with a healthier lifestyle.
Mr Syed visits his trainer four days a week and he has seen encouraging results after finding the motivation he needed to make a difference to his life.
"I told him his condition was something that had to be taken seriously," said Ms Bustamante, who has been a trainer since 2007.
"At first he could walk at just 4km an hour, now he can jog at 6.7km an hour. It is a lot more natural now for him and part of his daily routine.
"Motivation is an issue for many people but there are plenty of fitness gadgets and technology that can help with that.
"Most measure steps and have a timer so it is easy to challenge yourself to walk farther every week and do it in a faster time."
The fitness product market is packed with activity trackers to help inspire a healthier lifestyle and encourage more steps taken each day.
Some devices can track your movement, calories burnt and sleep patterns. Others have built-in GPS trackers or heart-rate monitors or can be paired with smartphones to provide an accurate picture of your health.
Daniel Southam, 19, is a fitness instructor and personal trainer living in The Gardens.
"In this age, a sedentary lifestyle is common as a result of modern technology. Life is made easier for us, but there is technology out there to help reverse that process," he said.
"Walking is a great way to burn calories, to get out and get some exercise. It may not seem like much but it does burn calories.
"You can start off slow, then build up the intensity. It is low impact and can be a gateway to other exercise.
"Gadgets are useful. Anything that gives you feedback is good. People may not see a physical difference in themselves but, when the data of what they have achieved is there for them to see, it encourages them to do more."
nwebster@thenational.ae