FROM FLAB TO FAB

All the women in my family are bottom heavy so having a pear-shaped figure is a genetic curse. When I was pregnant with my second child, I put on 20 hefty kilos. For once in my life, I understood the meaning of “heavyweight”. And for once in my life, I also understood how an elephant must feel, lumbering around with thunder thighs and a big bottom. It was no fun at all. I felt big, fat and flabby.

When I saw pretty mommies like Aarti and Ida, who remained slim despite having had kids, I was green with envy. I wanted to be just like them. When I witnessed Vera's speech about running a marathon and her svelte figure... I knew what I had to do. I have to run to lose weight!

The first time I ran, my thunder thighs were rubbing against each other, causing so much friction I was afraid I might catch fire! I felt unbearable itchiness. I stuck it out and after a few more runs, the itchy feeling faded. I started to enjoy the feeling of sweating it out each time I ran. I imagined the toxins and fats in my body melting away with my perspiration.

In the beginning, I started training short distances like 2.4km which means 6 rounds around the stadium track. I slowly increased to 7 rounds... 8 rounds... 9 rounds and 1 month later, I completed 10 rounds! 4km! What a milestone! I was elated. I went home and promptly shared my achievement with my mother. I ran 10 rounds today! I exclaimed proudly.  Instead of praising me, she frowned and said, Wa! You run so much for what? What if you suddenly collapse and die? You have two young kids you know!!

My friend Geri, an experienced runner, encouraged me to sign up for SHAPE 5km Run in August 2014. Since she was the instigator, she took it upon herself to be my de facto running coach. 

The first time I ran with Geri, I almost... died. She has these super long and lean legs like power kegs. Oh man, can she run. In fact she's so fast, she can run 5km in 29 mins, that's less than 6 min per km, mind you. So there she was running next to me and observing me and correcting my form... lift up your feet more, swing your arms by the side, not across your body, take 3 breaths in and 1 breath out... It was overwhelming and intimidating but of course I was grateful. I mean there are people out there who pay for a personal coach but here I was getting free coaching. I can't complain right? But when I heard Geri say let's do a 30 second sprint, my heart almost stopped. Sprint?? Seriously? Before I could say no thanks, Geri said go! And she started tearing away like the wind. I pumped my legs and swung my hands as fast as I could to catch up with her. I was gasping like a goldfish and my lungs felt close to bursting. Those were the longest 30 seconds of my life! By the end of the 30 seconds, I was gulping for air! Phew! I survived the sprint! 

Geri and I got together some other exercise buffs and formed a running group. We meet on Saturday mornings for our runs. I am so glad for the members in our running group. They are infinitely encouraging. No matter how small my progress they would say, good job, well done. I eventually completed my first 5km run in 45 minutes. I’m a terribly slow runner but when I crossed the finish line, I experienced such an incredible high… in fact it’s a scientific fact that running releases endorphins in your body which makes you feel pleasure! You won’t even need coffee, alcohol or drugs! If you wanna get high, just run.

After that, I was bitten by the running bug and never stopped running. A few months later, I completed the Great Eastern women’s 10km run with my running buddies. 2 years of running has helped me to shed 4 kilos...moving me closer to a healthy BMI. To date, I have completed 7 10km runs. This year I also completed the Shape 15km run and the Straits Times 18.45km run. And I will be attempting my first half-marathon at the end of this month.

My running journey has brought me from Flab to Fab.  Where I used to feel flabby, lethargic, anemic and bloated, I now feel fit and accepting of my body. Besides the physical benefits, running has made me so much stronger mentally. I finally understand Napolean Hill's famous quote: “Whatever the mind can conceive and believe, you can achieve.”  It has been a remarkable and rewarding journey and I would like to thank all my running buddies for being part of this journey.

Someone once said: “Running is so symbolic of life. You have to drive yourself to overcome the obstacles. You might feel that you can’t but then you find your inner strength, and realise you’re capable of so much more than you thought.”

(860 words)

Presented @ Katong TMC's Humorous Speech Contest on 18 August 2016