[rahma]

http://www.islamonline.net/servlet/S...ce%2FHSELayout

So why don't Arab women feel this need to exercise, what is holding them back? Is it their religious or cultural beliefs? Or maybe it is a lack of motivation?

Dr. Laila Al-Marayati, an American of Palestinian descent, explained the role of cultural traditions on making women less inclined to working out.

"I think that culture and religion have an impact on whether or not women exercise in public. But I don't think they impose any barriers or could provide any excuses for not exercising in private," said the spokesperson and past president of the Muslim Women's League (MWL), a Los Angeles-based organization.

"One factor that would explain why Arab women don't exercise as much may be that athletics and sports in general are not emphasized in society, especially for women. Therefore, they may be more inclined to see exercise and sports as male-oriented activities."

I often worry about how I'll exercise if/when we move to the ME. I think I'll have to make it a condition that I'll be near a health club and that the husband will get up and go running at 4 am with me before it gets bloody hot.