LIFEBOD

Category: People

  • How Eilvane Got Active, Started Eating Right, and lost 33 kg

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    This month, I’d like to share the success story of Eilvane Chieng, an amazingly talented young woman from Sabah, Malaysia. When I bumped into her a few weeks ago, I had noticed that she lost weight from a year ago. Little did I know she was actually heavier from a time before I met her. I managed to get an interview with the beautiful Eilvane and am so grateful that she is sharing her story with us here. Do leave a few motivating notes on the comments section below and feel free to ask her questions!

    1. Tell us a little bit about what happened to you in the past year that has gotten people excited for you.
    In the past year, I’ve managed to lose 10 kgs, which brought my total weight loss to about 33 kgs


    2. What motivated you to lose weight initially?
    I’ve always been in the mentality that losing weight was impossible, probably because I never actually tried; but when I lost my first 5 kgs without noticing, reality stroke that it WAS possible, and so I decided I should finish what I (accidentally) started.

    3. What was your highest weight?
    101 kg


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    How much do you weigh now?
    68 kg

    5. What did you do to lose the weight?
    – I engaged in a lot of physical activity, as well as eat in controlled portions. I also became increasingly picky with what I ate, choosing only “clean” foods: not overly-processed, lower in salt, sugar and fat, and whole-grain carbs.


    6. What’s your goal weight?
    Ideally 62-65 kg, with a maximum of 20% body fat percentage.


    7. What is the most difficult thing to overcome personally?
    My love for food, really. Because eating junk food and loving it has been a habit for more than 20 years of my life, it was difficult not to suddenly have a craving for potato chips or sausage, or rich, creamy desserts. It doesn’t help that I love experimenting in the kitchen too! I eventually learned that it was okay to treat myself to a small portion of those every once in a while, remembering also that I’ll need to work it off later by being extra good with my daily choice of foods, as well as working out.

    8. What drives you to get healthy?
    It was the realisation that my parents were growing old that became one of the major pushing forces for me, because it made me understand that my health was not only a responsibility to myself, but also a responsibility to them, as well as other loved ones in my life; I need to keep myself healthy because they’d eventually need my care, or at least, even if they’ll stay healthy all the way till 90 and didn’t need me to care for them, at least I’d be one less thing they need to worry about if I stayed healthy.


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    9. Who do you look up to and why?
    I look up to anyone who takes their health and fitness seriously. It can be that chubby girl that’s on the treadmill in the gym 3 times a week, or it can be the other girl who’s seriously ripped, but still goes on lifting weights to get stronger. Effort, determination and a strong heart are things that are worth looking up to.

    10. Favorite quote and why.
    ” I may not be there yet, but I am closer than I was yesterday.” It’s something I have to tell myself everyday as an encouragement, because there will be times when I feel like I’m getting nowhere with my workouts (because it is normal to hit a weight loss plateau from time to time), but telling myself that will help me keep on doing what I do, and push through the plateau periods to reach further fitness goals.

    You can connect with her here:
    email: asonginherheart@gmail.com
    twitter: @eilvane
    instagram: @eilvane

  • Real People, Real Voices: Q&A with Keith Dumpangol

    Ladies and gentleman, I want you to meet my friend Keith Dumpangol from Keningau, Sabah, Malaysia. He’s the male recipient contestant of the Breeze Magazine CORE’s Get Fit Challenge 3, where he was voted to be put on a fitness program for 3 months to get healthy at Core Fitness. I managed to steal some of his time to ask a few questions about what he hopes to achieve on the programme. So let’s all cheer him on!

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    1) How do you feel about being selected for the Core Fit Challenge?
    A: I feel excited! I think I’m in a ‘moment’ now where I’m mentally and physically ready for this challenge.

    2) What was your highest weight?
    A: I was at my highest at 164kg! That was almost 4 years ago. Worst. Feeling. Ever.

    3) How much do you weigh now?
    A: As of yesterday I’m at 132.6kg

    4) What did you do to lose weight before?
    A: I signed up for a gym membership and just started eating healthy. My first trip to the gym lasted me 10 minutes. Literally. 1 minute walking from my car to the gym, 5 minutes walking on the threadmill ( before I thought I’d pass out), 3 minutes of rest and 1 minute walking back to my car..LOL. And at the same time I started eating my Mickey Mouse diet.. you know, where you picture Mickey’s face on a plate. Fill his face with veggies and fill his two round ears with equal amount of carbs and protein. That’s how I started.

    5) What do you hope to achieve with Core Fit Challenge?
    A: For this particular challenge, since it’s only for 3 months, I’m planning to push myself (without going overboard lah) to lose as much weight as I can. I’ve basically set a goal of how much I want to lose so I’m going to work on that. If I reach my target, great and if I don’t, it’s still progress At the same time I hope to inspire other people who are dealing with their own weight problem to take that first step and take control!

    6) What’s your goal weight?
    A: I have never set a golden number on that to be honest. In the future, I might but for now I just want to go through this journey with a sense of achieving something.

    7) What is the most difficult thing to overcome personally?
    A: I guess consistency is pretty much on top of the list. A friend said to me fitness is not just a goal, it’s a lifestyle. Needless to say, I’m still working on that.

    8. What drives you to get healthy?
    A: Besides looking and feeling good? Well unfortunately I have family who passed at a relatively young age. And I myself am a diabetic. So I’m trying my best to break that chain. That’s what motivates me not to just lose weight but to BE HEALTHY

    9) Who do you look up to and why?
    A: Too many to mention!!LOL. In terms of weight loss though, I’ve been following this guy Jon Calvo. He lost over 180 pounds on his own based on his own method and sheer determination.
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    10) Favorite quote and why.
    A: One of my favorites is simply “You cannot change what you refuse to confront” because it ain’t be any truer. If you don’t like it, change it!

    About CORE’s Get Fit Challenge


    Borneo’s premiere lifestyle magazine, Breeze together with Core Fitness have started the 3rd year of the CORE’s Get Fit Challenge during a launching ceremony at Core Fitness, City Mall. The challenge is an event that pits a chosen male and female to go through a complimentary 3 month intensive workout course at Core Fitness to get in shape with top-notch coaching and to gain a healthier, more active lifestyle.
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    Beginning in June, starts the vigorous sessions to help two worthy contestants reach their goals. The number of entries were small but all the finalists were excellent candidates. After an intense voting process, followed by an interview session by a panel of 3 judges, Keith Dumpangol and Noor Amy Binti Ajak emerged as the chosen single male and female that will go through the challenge. Keith and Amy will be monitored by their assigned Core Fitness personal trainers and Breeze on a monthly basis to keep track of their progress and continue to give them support to carry on through the challenge. Updates of Keith and Amy’s progress will be available to the public via copies of the latest Breeze magazine and also at Breeze magazine’s facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/BreezeMagazine.