Before S.U.N:

I had always been the “plus size” stereotype since my younger days. I had my really active days when I was in poly representing the school in Inter-Varsity competitions and representing clubs in touch rugby. I also visited the gym at least 3 times a week.

All that started to change when I started working in the education field as a lot of my time went into planning and administrative work. My energy was zapped away and I didn’t feel like exercising after work hours. There were occasional guilt trip moments where I would try to diet and exercise but all those were not sustainable.

In 2016, after my mum passed away , I felt that I needed to take my health a bit more seriously ( or at least I tried!) and did engage a personal trainer . Although we trained for about 4 months, I did not see any results as I only relied solely on these sessions to keep myself fit and I didn’t really control my diet. I enjoyed all the high calorie foods & I didnt bat an eyelid enjoying fast food & unhealthy fried foods almost 2-3 times a week as a quick fix when choosing to eat outside with friends/family. I ate what I craved and rarely drank a lot of water. I could even drink 2-3 cans of coke daily without even thinking twice!

My turning point came when I climbed a flight of stairs on the overhead bridge and realised how out of breath I felt! My heart was pounding almost out of my chest – something had to be done about this I thought to myself! It was time for a change.

After S.U.N:

I will always refer to Phone as a major blessing and godsend in my life! He has sparked a 180 degree change in my attitude towards my lifestyle! I liked that he gave me the autonomy to make my own choices in eating rather than dictating what I should/ should not eat. This made me take ownership of my eating patterns and to be more mindful of what I was putting into my body. I did give myself treats every now and then when I wanted and kept on.

The daily weigh-ins albeit a painful experience for me, became motivational spinoffs where Phone would encourage me to look at the bigger picture instead of looking at the mere numbers on the scale. He made me look at the changes on my body rather than relying on a number to make myself feel better.

His mantra on “ Take small steps” was easy to follow as I soon started to adopt a sustainable way of doing exercise daily despite my busy schedule. I started doing the things I enjoyed like walking as part of my cardio for the week. I now can walk up to 20km twice a week without thinking twice as I use this time to wind down and also reflect on my day. Taking something easy and making it a workout is such a novel way that wouldn’t have started if it hadn’t been preached by him.

He really walks the talk by exercising daily himself regardless of his busy schedule and although I sometimes may feel the urge to slacken – I’m reminded of my coach’s discipline and if he can do it I can do it too! No excuses! His positive disposition and exuberant nature made training sessions something I would look forward to rather than dread! He was also very patient – reviewing videos and taking the time to explain things to me when I didn’t get it right.

As we trained, he also shared tips on keeping a positive outlook and using meditation to sustain my mental wellness. This meditation has helped me gain clarity when executing decisions and relating to problems both personally and at work.

To be the biggest believer in myself -Never would I have thought that I could achieve a 40kg weight loss in a span of a year! I also learnt the importance of having the right people around me in my fitness journey. Thank you to Phone and the S.U.N team for supporting me all the way. It has been a community that welcomes and grows together. I am truly inspired to continue investing in my health and improving on the way I approach exercising and a healthy lifestyle.

One of the best decisions I’ve made in the past year is to choose to invest in my health and with Phone who has turned out to be an amazing friend throughout this journey and I am truly indebted to him for transforming me to become a stronger, happier , healthier confident version of myself. Thank you Phone for helping me achieve this milestone in my life!

I crave working out ! I can't do a day without exercising which is crazy! I feel lethargic and I find it funny that I have to force myself to rest. I used to think that lifting used to be for boys and that I had better stick to doing the more demure exercises for fear of getting bulky ! It was heartening to know that I now derive much pleasure doing deadlifts and squats like the BIG BOYS at the gym. Phone has taught me to gain confidence in working out at the gym by patiently showing me the techniques to engage my core and utilize the right form to execute the mind-muscle connection.

BEFORE S.U.N:

I’m a 38 year old guy, married to a beautiful wife and dad to 2 girls. HR by Profession for 10,000 headcount strong organisation in the essential services sector.

Due to heavy workload, late night dinners and lack of time to exercise, I ballooned to a whooping 100kg about a year back. I couldn’t find sizes for clothings that fitted and even walking short distances tired me out. This made me feel lousy about myself at times, and it certainly affected my self esteem to an extent. Because I did not feel good nor confident about myself, I was afraid to step into or workout at commercial gyms. This became a vicious cycle for me and I was stuck in the rut. I just didn’t know how to kickstart my fitness journey.

After S.U.N:

Phone encouraged me and walked this journey with me in every step of the way. In and out of the gym. At the gym, he motivated me during every session, pushed me to do better, maximise my potential and optimised my workout. Outside the gym, he provided me with a strong support and accountability system. We celebrated small wins, talked about life and we had fun all the time!

Things I have learn from this journey:

1. Never Try, Never Know.

2. Trust the process.

3. Enjoy the journey.

4. We will get there!

Fitness is now part of my lifestyle. I workout before my work day starts so that I have clarity of mind and this translates to productivity at work. I am now more mindful in making food choices as well. When stressed out, I do breathing exercises or go for a quick walk to destress, and then I come back to work stronger and more alert!