Why weight?

Growing up I took part in numerous activities including ballet, gymnastics, and swimming. I was pretty active all through to high school and managed to stay in a healthy weight range for my age and height. Then in university when most people usually gained the "freshman 15", I did the exact opposite. I lost a huge amount of weight in a rapid amount of time. So much so that my own mother didn't recognise me when she picked me up at the airport when I went home for Christmas holiday! At my lightest, I was down to 118 pounds at 5'7" -- that's a BMI of 18.5, which according to the charts is borderline "underweight". I can't remember how or why I'd lost that much weight so fast but I do remember being sick of the unhealthy, greasy canteen food at the dorms so I began eating less but still went to the gym for 45 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Sure, I was skinny but I wasn't strong skinny because I made up the caloric deficit in alcohol and pizza on the weekends!

  

Circa 2004-2007

After graduating and moving on to the working world, it became easy to slip into a sedentary lifestyle. With my job and commuting taking up most of my day and weekends spent partying and nursing a hangover, there wasn't much time to join an activity or a sport. But heck, YOLO! I had fun all those years! However, as I entered my 30s I felt like I was burning out. So here I am in my 31st year and in the next stage of my life where I've decided to make a conscious effort in treating my body better and, thus, feeling better overall!

What I Do
I work out 5-6 days a week for at least 30 minutes a day. I do a combination of running/jogging, swimming, and strengthening exercises. I usually run using my C25K app 2-3 times a week for my 5K training, resulting in approximately 6-10km a week. Once or twice a week I swim at least a mile (I'd like to swim for longer but the pool opens at 8am and I have to be at work by 10:30am). The rest of the time, I focus on strengthening workouts such as core exercises. I like to change it up so not every week is the same. This way my body doesn't get used to the repetition and it saves me from getting bored. I listen to my body and do what it feels like that day.

I usually work out in the morning -- this gets it out of the way and if anything pops up after work, then that's me done for the day! It's tough getting up early but I know that I'll feel better once I've exercised and I find that I'm in a much better mood the rest of the day too. There are days though when I can't find it in myself to wake up early so I make it a point to work out when I get home in the evening. Sometimes, when I have energy to spare, I'll even workout twice a day.

I've become more aware of what I put in my body. At the moment I am counting calories (with MyFitnessPal) and simultaneously consciously making an effort in choosing healthier meal options. I like having porridge with fruit for breakfast, a salad with protein for lunch, and maybe a sandwich or soup for dinner. I also like to squeeze in a filling snack in the middle of the day so I'm not starving by dinnertime. I try to drink at least 2L of water a day; it's important to stay hydrated especially after a workout and living in the tropics (30C average daily weather!).

What I Don't Do
I don't follow a strict schedule nor an eating plan. I'm sure if I did, I'd probably lose more weight quicker. So far I'm happy with the results so I'll stick to what I'm doing for now.

Although I've read that weight training helps burn fat and is good for strengthening muscles that I need for running/swimming, I have not yet touched any weights. I've done it before but once I stopped, I gained a lot of weight very quickly as compared to when I just focused on cardio. So, I think I'll stick to cardio for now and maybe add weights later on.

When it comes to food, I listen to my body. Not every day is the same, even if I try to eat as healthy as possible. I do get cravings and if I can't take my mind off that chocolate chip cookie, I'll indulge in one instead of three. I'm scared that I'll end up bingeing if I don't give in to that tiny craving! I try to stay away from fried, oily, and fatty foods and have not had McDonald's in two months (this is an achievement for me!). I love pasta too and it's something I cannot give up, but I've put a limit on my carb intake. I've also cut out sugary drinks like Coca-Cola, Nestea, etc., and alcohol has been brought down to a minimum. I'll go weeks without a drop of alcohol and since I've been off it for a while, I've become a cheap drunk! ;)

It's been 7 weeks since I began this new journey of a more active and healthier lifestyle. I feel better about myself and my body, I'm happier and less moody, I'm more alert, my skin is clearer, I feel strong, and best of all I'm gaining my confidence back. To top it off, I've lost 6 pounds too. Here's to more positive results in the upcoming weeks!