Disclaimer: I’m in no way a trained fitness expert. Just a girl sharing her story on how she lost weight.
Losing weight is tough — just walk into any gym in January and you’ll probably find ‘losing weight’ on someone’s list of new year resolutions.
When it comes to dropping a kilo or two, most people achieve that goal by eating less or moving more.
When it comes to shedding over a quarter of your entire body weight though, it’s a whole other ball game because the answer is never a temporary fix. It’s a lifestyle change.
I would know. Because I’ve done it before, dropping from 96Kg in the beginning of 2017 to hovering around 75Kg in 2018.
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And embarking on a fitness journey was the most challenging, yet rewarding decision I’ve ever made in my life. Here’s how I did it.
THE ‘SECRET’
The science behind weight-loss is clear — you lose weight when you’re in a caloric deficit (you’re using up more calories than you’re consuming) and gain when you’re in a caloric surplus (you’re consuming more calories than you’re using).
If losing weight is your ultimate goal, you need to be in a caloric deficit.
And the secret to keeping a large amount of weight off for a long time, is to find a way that allows you to be in a deficit for a sustained period of time.
Tip: Take progress photos for days when you feel unmotivated. Photo: AsiaOne/ Joey Lee
To create my deficit, I combined my favourite pastime with what I dreaded most, and moved my Netflix-binging activities over from the living room to the gym.
This made the thought of exercise much more bearable because I had something to look forward to whenever the concept of exercise inundated me with dread.
Instead of lying in bed and devouring consecutive seasons of dramas, I took advantage of the free wifi at the gym and devoted a minimum of 20 minutes each day doing some form of cardio.
My choice of equipment was usually the treadmill or stationary bike because it meant that my phone could rest on a steady surface while I wheezed my little heart out.
THE RESULTS
Within the first six months, I had dropped close to 10 kilograms because I was disciplined enough to drag myself to the gym for my 20-minute daily drama fix.
Chinese New Year in 2017 (L) and 2019 (R). Photo: AsiaOne/ Joey Lee
Also within the first six months, I finished at least three Korean drama serials and two of Netflix’s biggest hits — Stranger Things and Sense8.
Apologies for hogging the equipment, but #sorrynotsorry?.
Of course, 20 minutes was not all the time I spent at the gym. Along with cardio, I learnt about resistance training through YouTube and the Instagram #fitfam, and started lifting weights.
Most days I spent about an hour sweating away; sometimes even two hours if I managed to be “distracted” enough.
Exercise: A Journey, Not a Punishment
Remember the days in school when our teachers thought a weekly marathon around the playground was a great idea? Those heart‑pounding laps felt more like a punishment than a workout. Fast forward a decade, and turning that frustration into motivation has been a game‑changer.
What Really Works for Weight Loss?
It’s NOT about:
- Crash diets that vanish faster than your weekend plans
- “Miracle” pills that promise a zero‑calorie solution
- Eliminating carbs (remember, they’re not the villain)
- Jumping on a workout routine for only a week because you suddenly get a pep talk
It’s about:
- Balancing calories over the long haul with smart, tasty choices
- Sticking to an exercise schedule that feels more like a habit than a chore
- Using the body’s amazing ability to adapt and rebuild
Getting Started—All It Takes Is a Little Faith
Jumping off the fitness treadmill isn’t about a guaranteed overnight transformation. It’s about starting with a willingness to try and believing the outcome is within reach. Think of it as a personal adventure: you’ll lose the extra pounds, but you also gain, oh yeah, a whole lot of health.
Final Tip
Picture your wellness journey like a well‑tended garden: steady watering (healthy eating) + gentle, consistent care (regular exercise) will eventually sprout the best rewards.
