When asked to write about my weight-loss journey, I struggled to tell the tale because it really wasn’t at all weight loss that occurred to me. What I had experienced with my body was something more; in fact it wasn’t just my body. I became stronger, fitter, clearer and in some ways, wiser. After much thought, I find it’s safe to say that what had happened to me over the period of a year, was a wholesome transformation.
Like most people, I started off the year with resolutions of losing X amount of weigh in Y amount of time. Very often, these resolutions are doomed to fail due to their unrealistic nature. In January 2019, I had the same resolution I always do – calorie count and lose weight – and within a few weeks (no surprises here!) I fell off the diet wagon.
Later that month, my cousin convinced me to sign up for a run and to train for it. I signed up for the 10Km run at the Malaysia Women Marathon. In anticipation of the run, my cousin and I walked every weekend for the next five weeks to prepare for my first 10K. On race-day, I barely made it within the qualifying time of two hours. I saw many fit women that day who were seemingly older and definitely fitter and that is when I decided to shift my focus from losing weight to getting fit, so I’m not panting like a thirsty puppy at the end of a 10 minute routine.
So, what did I do? I tried different types of activities as each activity worked different muscles and brought a different type of joy- Hiking, Swimming, Yoga and Dance. I signed up for another 10KM run at the PJ Half Marathon on 25th August 2019. Training for this was much easier as I was committed to improving my personal best. I did improve my timing by a mere 10 minutes. From that day I realised that the people who surround you play a big role in your motivation when it comes to achieving your fitness goals as on that day I met a full Marathon runner who encouraged me to try harder, offered to help me improve my personal best in running and if during any of our workouts I said “I can’t do this”, his reply was always “Why cannot?” – that made me think, “Yes, why cannot?”. He also taught me to be patient with myself, not to rush my expectations and I will see results. Another young man I met told me “Get in the pool and swim like an animal!” What these young men taught me is that nothing is impossible if you have the right attitude and for that I will forever be grateful to them and to the many others who encouraged me in my various activities. I went on for my next 10KM run a mere three months later and in that time improved my personal best by another 10 minutes.
I love food. I didn’t cut out my favourite foods from my diet, still ate what I loved but in moderation. I must admit there are days I overindulge but I then make up for it by getting in just a bit more activity. I have a sweet tooth and anyone who has seen my Social Media posts will know that wasn’t compromised.
Most people are focused on the number on the scale. After the period of a year, I now understand that my weight (like my age?) is just a number. I am now fitter and stronger, working to have toned muscles, and this is definitely better than being thin.
I don’t know where journey of mine will end, but I hope it goes something like this “She never gave up!”
Written by Devika Sothinathan
