Even at 105kg, I didn’t think I was overweight

Azhari Ishak speaks with Sophie T. about his weight loss journey and how he found the perfect balance to achieve good health and fitness.

Azhari Ishak, 26
Fought obesity by setting realistic fitness goals and sticking to a healthy-eating plan.

I have always loved my mother’s cooking and would eat ample amounts of her fabulous dishes. But it wasn’t until I completed secondary school that I finally took a good hard look at myself and realised that all that yummy food was the bane of my life!

My sedentary lifestyle and overeating had taken my weight to another level. I was 17 years old and obese – at 178 centimetres, I weighed 105 kilograms. It amuses me a little now when I look back that, at the time, I never saw myself as “overweight”.

Growing up, I was very much an indoors person; I loved reading and playing computer games, and as you can imagine, these leisurely activities involved a lot of snacking. Local fish crackers were a perennial favourite and I would have a pack or two a day. On top of that, there was also my mother’s cooking, which was delicious. She was very adventurous when it came to cuisine – one day it would be Italian, the next it would be Western – and all her meals were made with rich ingredients.

None of my family members were overweight, so we were all under the impression that we were a “healthy” bunch – until I hit my heaviest at 105 kilograms. Comments started trickling in from my family members and other relatives. I remember my mother sitting me down for a talk where she asked me, “What are you going to do about this?” I didn’t know how to react and found it easier to come up with excuses to justify the weight gain; after all, at the time, it still didn’t occur to me that this weight gain should be seen as an issue or a problem.

But my parents would not let the matter go. At first I opted to block their comments out, but time wore me out and eventually, I started questioning this weight gain myself. And so began my weight loss journey.

After completing my Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia (O-Levels equivalent), I decided it was time to clean up my act before starting college. I used my allowance to pay for a gym membership and devoted three hours a day, six days a week, to exercise. I also cut my food intake down, and slowly, I saw the pounds slipping away. All my workouts were cardio-based, though, and not coupled with proper muscle conditioning.

After four months, my weight was down to 60 kilograms, which unfortunately, I wasn’t able to sustain for very long.

I got a job after obtaining my college degree and sad to say, the weight piled back on. Due to a hectic and erratic work schedule, I found myself eating irregularly; those years of eating well went right down the drain – before I knew it, I weighed 83 kilograms, despite working out as often as I could.

But then I had a second turning point, which led to the healthy lifestyle I go by today.

Some friends of mine were eager to check out a CrossFit (a strength and conditioning fitness methodology that promotes broad and general overall physical fitness) gym. I tagged along and experienced the trial workout of my life which nearly killed me! It made me realise how out of shape I was despite being a regular at my own gym.

This experience caused me to re-evaluate my health and fitness levels as well as the routine I was practising. I realised that I had to start setting proper fitness goals and had to have the discipline and motivation to achieve it. I couldn’t blame work – or anything else for the matter – any longer.

I joined the CrossFit gym and started educating myself on the topic of fitness and proper nutrition – I would consult my trainers on matters I wasn’t sure of. I cut out junk food from my diet and learned how to balance good eating habits. Moderation was my motto, and this time, I did not go overboard by totally eliminating certain food groups as I did previously. For instance, instead of completely cutting out carbohydrates to lose weight, I consumed it in moderation and avoided compulsive bingeing.

Today when people ask me how I lost the weight, I always stress that it’s about starting somewhere, even if you have to start small. When I first started working out, I couldn’t do more than five minutes on a treadmill – it took a lot of discipline to not give up at that point, but I pushed on. It’s also important to know your nutrition facts and stick to a healthy-eating plan.

It has taken me 10 years to reach my healthy weight, and today, I can proudly say I have maintained my weight goal of 75 kilograms for a year and counting. What matters most is that this time, I know I’m doing it right. I want to accomplish more, and I am not afraid to disallow any shortcuts. If you are striving for a leaner, fitter and healthier you, persevere and be consistent – you will eventually get what you want.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Shawn Lor @ Blink Studio
CO-ORDINATION: Nur Akmar Yusoff
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