Losing weight saved my life!

Eugene Wong, 36, Lost 22kg in just five months!

Eugene Wong, 36, talks about a close call with a medical condition and the course of action he took that saved his life.

A quiet evening some years back found me feeling extremely horrified as I crouched over with a nail clipper in hand in an attempt to tidy up my toes. Months of neglectful eating habits and a stressful lifestyle had culminated in a belly that had gotten so big that cutting my own toe nails posed a challenge. At 5'11, I'm long-limbed but needing to take deep gulps of breath as I reached forward to cut my toe nails meant that I was in big trouble. What kind of a 30-year-old has difficulty reaching his feet? I'd wondered, appalled.

In hindsight, I remember being constantly tired and lethargic. There were many major adjustments in my life at that time. I'd just gotten married and relocated to New Zealand with my wife – I suppose all that moving and adapting had gradually filled my personal space and replaced things like my workout routine. My immediate plan was to purchase a home workout machine – a stepper – which broke after two miserable attempts. At that time, I weighed about 90kg, was depressed and disheartened. So I did the natural thing – turn to food for comfort. I ate more, my weight increased, I felt worse – this cycle continued for another year or so to a point where I stopped checking my weight.

At that time, my wife and I were trying to start a family but after months of not being able to conceive, we made our way to the clinic on a cold wintry morning for a medical checkup. A couple of tests revealed that my cholestrol level was standing at a dangerous high of 6.9. I was way off-course especially for my age and greater trouble lay ahead if I didn't take control of my health there and then. My doctor gave me a month to readjust – lose some weight and start being more active – before starting me on a permanent course of medication. That was all the warning that I needed. My wife, similarly, was advised to lose a couple of kilos and adopt a healthier lifestyle. And so our journey began.

It helps to have a partner work through the process of weight loss with you because it's a common thread you both share. It's especially meaningful when you're working with your spouse to achieve a goal. Before we started, I'd taken the liberty to spend some time online searching for safe and effective weight loss methods. I finally found a website that led me to a set of nutritional products – and a sea of testimonials from happy and enthusiastic users.

For us, the great thing about the weight-loss programme was that it was packaged with (free) coaching services, which became very beneficial to us. Through the programme, we learned how to eat more healthfully. We did away with sugary foods, cream-rich and greasy meals and learned the importance of good nutrition. Our programme was beneficial in many ways because not only was it affordable, it was convenient and easy to follow. By the third week, I felt lighter having lost four kilograms and was more energetic during office hours. As I made progress, things came into perspective once again. I started excercising and kept up the healthy lifestyle. In five months, I'd lost 22kg. I was ecstatic! This time, medical test results confirmed that my cholestrol level was sitting at a healthy 3.4 and that I wouldn't need the medication after all. Similarly, my wife had lost some weight through our weight management programme and as we got healthier, we naturally became healthy enough to have a child. Nine months later near Christmas, she came to us – a beautiful flaxen-haired girl with rosebud lips and a lovely peachy complexion.

As our lifestyle changed, so did our careers. It was a point where we had to honestly evaluate the way we lived and how it was affecting our wellbeing in totality. A calculated decision after the positive experience led us to our current profession as wellness coaches where we help other people achieve health goals just as we were aided years ago.

Now that I was healthier, I felt better not just physically but mentally and emotionally as well. Friends were commenting that I seemed to be in better spirits; bubblier and happier. I had to reinvent my wardrobe and lose the baggy clothing that I'd had to resort to wearing. From 46-inch loose-fitting pants, I was now down to 32 to 34 inches. It makes a big difference in how one feels to be able to slip into smart and fitting clothes once again and not just the loose, sloppy clothes that becomes one's staples in order to conceal the unsightly bulges.

When people indicate their desire to lose weight, my advice is that weight management is not a short-term decision. It is a lifestyle change that encompasses every little decision that you make day-to-day. I never recommend a trial programme because it implies that failure is possible, and repeated failure will just discourage us further. I'd urge people to be serious about it and focus on the results. Six years ago, I made a simple commitment which was to be healthy for my wife and our little girl. With a little focus, determination and far-sightedness, I am so thankful to have my health back to enjoy many decades to come with loved ones.

EUGENE’S WEIGHT MANAGEMENT TIPS

Weight management essentially covers these four areas. Run through the four points below to see where you stand.

1. Drink sufficient water. A litre for every 25kg you weigh, and more if you workout. Water fuels metabolism so if you're already on a food watch, be sure to keep your fluids up!
2. Take good nutrition. Is your current diet limiting you from tapping into all the nutrients your body needs on a daily basis? Lose the unhealthy calories from fatty and greasy foods and opt for a balanced diet of fresh fruits, vegetables and lean meats. Find reliable sources to educate yourself on nutrition and where you can obtain it.
3. Sleep is essential. Clocking in a good seven to eight hours of rest every night does more for your body than you think. It's not just about rest for your head; your body needs restoration too. Hit the sack by 10.30pm and cultivate the habit of sleeping and rising early.
4. Exercise. Firstly, ensure that you have the above three elements going for you before embarking on any fitness regime. Not only will you minimise chances of injury but your mind and body will be at its best to take on a more rewarding workout to help you meet your ultimate weight goal.

PHOTOGRAPHY: Shawn Lor @ Blink Studio
CO-ORDINATION: Nur Akmar Yusoff
MAKE-UP: Skin Food
HAIR: Lee Kok Lin and Choi Khee Xim for Miko Hair Studio