It’s not a race..it’s a “fitness” journey.

I’ve been in the fitness industry for almost 20 years now, and it’s a hard industry to navigate even with a health science diploma! With so much misinformation, “new” ways to lose weight, unrealistic curated social media posts, and fake claims it can be confusing and discouraging. What I coach is a scientific holistic approach and over the years the one thing I preach the most is there is no “quick fix” or “special diet” that gets you results. It’s a lifestyle! It’s your mindset of what health means to you. It’s doing the internal work to get the external results by looking at both the mind and body connection. It’s your own personal fitness journey…do not compare yourself with others but let others inspire you to start yours. So that being said, I want to introduce you to an amazing, strong, Singaporean women, Joyce Sng.

I first met Joyce Sng when she came in to interview for a position as a personal trainer at my studio in Tanjong Katong. I instantly fell in love with her passion, positive energy, electric personality and her inspirational story. She has been a part of my F45TK Team for a year now, and her determination and passion reflects in her coaching style.

I sat down to ask her about her fitness journey and what helped her lose 55kgs and become the best healthiest version of herself…

BEFORE

Age 30-33

AFTER

Age 43

Meet Joyce Sng

TWD- How many times did you attempt to lose weight?

(Joyce) I started gaining weight during my late teenage years and as I entered my early twenties, I was surrounded by friends who were slim, and we frequently browsed fashion magazines which was a past time for many of us. Being influenced by all these, I decided to lose weight by dieting. Without any guidance, I substituted my meals with fruits and managed to shed some weight, but I felt weak and looked haggard. It took a toll on my body which I finally gave up and gained back more weight. 

After that incident, I was introduced to ‘slimming’ pills which had to be prescribed by a doctor. I felt that this was my second chance and decided to make a trip down to the clinic. I started on the diet pill and cut out certain food in my diet and I saw the results within the first few months. But I suffered from some side effects which were dehydration and insomnia. After close to a year, I knew I had to stop before my liver get damaged. Once I stopped taking the diet pills, all the weight came back on again. 

I gave up on losing weight and the thought never return till I ballooned up to 128kg and had to see a doctor due to a back pain. One thing led on to another and I was diagnosed with a fatty liver, enlarged spleen, high cholesterol, gout, and pre-diabetes. It was a wake up call for me and gradually made changes to my lifestyle by introducing fitness and healthy eating habits. 

TWD- What was the thing that kept you going?

(Joyce) One significant incident I remember clearly was feeling breathless climbing up a flight of stairs. After a couple of months of fitness training, walking up that flight of stairs was a breeze. Seeing the changes in my body and felt the increase in my energy level, it motivated me to want more of it.

Apart from incorporating healthy habits, having a circle of friends with similar lifestyle provides me support, but we also encourage each other to remain consistent. 

TWD- What are your top 3 tips to someone who would like to start their own weight loss journey?

(Joyce) Set small and achievable goals - It can be as simple as clocking in extra steps in your daily activities.

Be consistent – This is important to build the discipline which helps to create routine. 

Be patient – Rome was not built in a day. Results will take from days to weeks to months or even years. Enjoy the journey of becoming the better you. 

TWD- What was the most challenging part of your weight loss journey?

(Joyce) The biggest challenge was adapting to the changes in my lifestyle. As humans, we fear change because we fear that we might lose something that is associated with that change. And that was something I had to overcome. Embarking on this journey without proper guidance and lacking self-confidence made it more difficult. 

TWD- What is your daily routine?

(Joyce) My day starts at 6am with a 45mins workout before I start my work. Some days I will go for an afternoon swim to relax my mind when I get too bottled up with work. As for my meals, I have them at regular timings to avoid over-eating. I prep my meals in advance to have them over a period of 2 to 3 days. Last but not least, have an early night. Sleep is important as it allows the body to recover and reset. 

TWD- What keeps you motivated now?

Family, friends, and food. Really, I mean it!
I confess, I have a sweet tooth and have cravings on many occasions. It can be very depressing to cut off all my favorite food all at one go. Learning to cope with my eating habits and sticking to a regular workout routine have allowed me to give myself a little treat as a reward occasionally.

I was trying hard to get my family to adopt a healthy lifestyle (everyone was overweight and unfit), it didn’t work, and I didn’t give up either. It was after many years of my healthy habits and changes in my physical appearance, they realized they need to invest in their health too. It is a gradual process for my family and even till today, I still reach out to them occasionally to make sure they are on the right track.

Friends noticed the drastic change in my lifestyle and appearance too. It has become a routine over the years that even I do not notice the change in myself. A few friends have shared with me that they are inspired and motivated to see my transformation. This helps them to be in check of their own journey. There was an occasion when a lady on the streets who came up to me and commented that I looked great and encouraged me to continue to do what I am doing. It truly warms my heart when I received such feedback and I hope I can continue to inspire and motivate people.

Many times, people refer to social media platforms or advertisements, hoping to find a shortcut to weight loss. Unfortunately, there is no short cut and a lot of misinformation given as well. With my own personal weight loss experience and my growing passion for fitness, I have become a part-time fitness trainer, and this allows me to provide guidance and motivate people who are looking to make the change to a healthier lifestyle. What works for me, does not mean it will work for you. Every body is different, and we all need to find the change that best fit u