In this interview, pageant queen / current FHM Models 2012 Contest Finalist shares her views on fitness and health.
Q:What sparked your interest into Fitness & Health?
I believe that looking good and feeling good inside out play a major role on our total well-being- from daily performance at work, efficiency, social image.
Q: Where does your motivation comes from?
To be frank, my motivation fluctuates. It is good to have motivation that drives you through workout/exercise/eating healthy. However, translating these motivations into a habit is more rewarding, especially so during your “lazy” or “crappy” days, if it is already a cultivated habit you will have less trouble dragging through necessary workouts or lighten the urge to indulge in junk food- I am still trying to work on it.
(They say 21 days to break or make a habit!)
Q: Please share with our readers your past contest achievements as well as current or future contests you are interested to take part in.
I’d clinched Miss Singapore Commonwealth 2011/12 title which was in early 2011. Right now I’m in the running for FHM Models 2012 as a finalist. I had the privilege of 7pages editorial spread with FHM last year as a contracted model by my agency. This year, I am yearning for the cover and therefore in this contest (time to hit the gym again!)
Q: What is your workout routine like?
When I head to a gym workout, I would do a 20-30minutes run on the treadmill to start up, followed by some simple routines that I used to do during my netball training days. Before my modeling career took off, I was playing netball competitively for 8 years straight, before my modeling career ignited). These includes some leg strengthening exercises, back extensions, static, crunches and static for the core abdominal area and light arm toning.
Q: Please do share with Fitness Sutra readers your favourite exercises.
- Static Training - It is a must-do in my list- it forces the mid rift/core abdominal to hold the body straightly in position. From this lifting and maintaining posture should be felt in abdominal area most intensely, followed by the glutes, thighs, and lastly the shoulders.
- Back extension stretch - Basically, you have to lie “tummy down and face down” facing the bench, lock your ankles (like locking your ankles before doing crunches) and slowly bend backwards, face facing the sky. Do stretch to your maximum by pressing your palm against the bench, then fall flat down and do fast but controlled repetitions using your back. I usually put this in between crunches (ie, alternate a set of crunches and a set of back stretching).
- Ankle Lifting Exercise (Helps to tone my legs) – I try my best to do it very slowly, standing in front of the mirror, stand straight with hands on hips, slowly lift yourself up using your ankle while standing. Doing it very slowly in a controlled manner will well satisfy my needs for toner legs, especially when I wear heels alot.
Q: Where do you usually train?
For convenience, I workout at my apartment’s gym, though a tad limited and small as my exercises are simple and do not really require the need for complex equipments/machines/weights. I used to do yoga at a yoga studio and very much enjoyed it, however in lieu of some back problem diagnosed by a specialist, he advised against doing yoga- tough luck.
Q: Do you watch your diet to maintain a good physique?
I’ll be very frank here: I do not really watch what I eat that tightly as I do not gain weight easily. However, I have a naturally habit (due to small stomach capacity) of eating small and frequent meals throughout day and night. Small consumption portion for me would range from ¾ of a plate of chicken rice, to a hearty salad or a snickers bar.
I try to consume some fruit juice or smoothie, or a portion of yoghurt in the day too. I’m admittedly bad at drinking sufficient plain water (which is so essential for a good functioning body!) as it usually makes me feel full and so conveniently forgettable if on the move. To rectify this, I tend to buy mineral water instead of a sugary or carbonated beverage to match my meal. Sometimes I’ll blend a smoothie in the morning to kick start my day. In it, includes zero calorie green tea for caffeine fix, blueberries and strawberries for their anti-oxidant property and rich vitamins, pitted prunes and wheat germ for fiber which thicken up the smoothie too.
I’m also a believer of eating well balanced meal, good/natural-state food to feed your body with the required nutrients and vitamins. Ever heard of the saying: What you eat is what makes you? I believe strongly that it will reflect on your physical and inner health state too. Glowing good skin, shiny black hair and strong immunity will always set a positive tone, it comes with the price of watching what you intake! One good example, sometimes when I have a fast food meal (which is quite seldom), I will somehow rather feel “not so great” after that, which I reason out to be “trashy food” releasing all the grease/saturated fat from deep frying and other undesirable substances which are definitely harmful for us! Morale of story: Eat healthy, drink healthy (fluids/juices, not alcohol!) and you will perform better and feel good always!
Q: What’s your favourite cheat meal food?
I have a soft spot for desserts- any chocolate or calorie-laden desserts such dark chocolate truffles, a slice of red velvet, tiramisu or a good crème brulee- just to name a few! I would succumb to some cheese as cheat food too, favorite appeitizers- some good buffalo cheese or mozzarella. All time favorite: Matured red cheddar!
Q: What is your supplementation like?
I believe that natural nutrients from food are the best policy to stick to via a healthy and balanced meal. However, since sometimes my meals are inconsistent, I try to pop a multi-vit supplement (GNC) and Collagen pills for my backbone as prescribed by specialist. NutriFirst’s Acai is rich in Anti-oxidants, which is good to have too.
Q: What are your immediate goals?
Food wise:Balanced and healthy meal for my body- to make sure protein and carbs are well portioned (sometimes I tend to forget proteins as I don’t really like red meat).
Hydration: Jack up plain water intake
Beauty sleep: Get a more regular and timely sleeping pattern/habit. (stress and overworked from exams and competition has overthrown my sleeping pattern)
Exercise (most importantly): Get back that well toned bod with more consistent training.
Q: Apart from fitness trainings & workouts, what other hobbies do you personally have?
Well I seldom have time for myself apart from schoolwork and modeling assignments/jobs. If I do, I’ll hop into my bikini for a sun-bathing session with girlfriends! I used to take up external French classes too, which I’ve not committed in recent times, but yes picking up new languages! I would love to travel when I can if time allows, ANYWHERE! Well lastly, I’ll confess that I enjoy doing and solving complex math/IQ questions too (I know it sounds dorky haha) as I used to be a Math Olympian Achiever- the satisfaction after much deliberation for the right solution is definitely awesome haha! So yes if I’m stuck in a room alone, that is what I would do for a tad!
Q: Please do share a Quote to our readers regarding motivation.
Break excuses, cultivate a HABIT!
Q: I’m sure many of our Fitness Sutra readers would love to show their support. Is there any way for us to do it?
I would greatly appreciate Fitness Sutra readers’ kind support for my on-going FHM Models contest. Grand finals will be at TAB (Ground level of Orchard hotel, 442 Orchard Road) on the evening of 8
th of June 2012 (Timing:7pm-9:30pm). There will be Triumph Swimwear show, along with other exciting shows apart from crowning FHM august cover girl! If you happen to be there do remember to call out to me! Hope to see you there!
