"You've lost weight ah." For the majority of us, hearing someone say that to you usually makes you smile. Unless you're underweight and trying hard to get some meat on your scrawny frame, it's always a positive thing to hear that you've lost weight. But why? Are we all so self-conscious or have such bad self images? Do we all think we're fat and overweight such that any sign of weight loss is good?

At some point during my Gavin Gets Garang journey, I mentioned that vanity would never work for me as a motivation in losing weight and getting back in shape. I knew that only because, like many other guys, I'd aspired before at one time or other in my life, towards attaining those elusive six-pack abs, giant biceps, and other Holy Grails I believed would score me points with the ladies. I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing, but I discovered that the remote (and some say impossible) prospect of becoming eye candy for women just wasn't enough reason for me to stay disciplined in a fitness plan or diet regimen. Or perhaps I just recognised that women really aren't as superficial as us men, and that having a ripped physique was just going to end up impressing more fellas than it would babes.

So over the last four months on this back-to-fitness journey, I wasn't too concerned about shedding the kilos from my then-75kg weight, or about getting discernible abs for the first time in my life. My main motivation was to be able to keep on doing the sports I loved without getting breathless, and more importantly, to get fit enough to compete better. Staying healthy was another important reason. As you might have read here, I tried as much as I could to stick to a regular fitness plan, kept reasonably disciplined with my eating habits, and I also set targets (passing my IPPT, finishing the Men's Health Urbanathlon, climbing Mount Kinabalu, etc) to work towards to.

For the first three months after I embarked on this, I gradually shed about a total of three kilograms. One kilo a monthon average isn't much, and it really didn't show at all. But since I wasn't fixated on weight loss, it didn't bother me too much except cause a little worry that I maybe wasn't doing enough. But during the last month or so, I lost another two kilograms. This time, however, I've been told that I look like I've suddenly lost a lot of weight. In fact, every single day for the whole of last week, a different person has remarked that I've lost weight. That's pretty damning testimony, and also a little spooky.

But here's the catch: The people who've told me I've lost weight have said so in a manner that sounds nothing like flattery. They said it in a way that was less "Congratulations! You've lost weight! You look healthier and fitter, and will you accept a date with my hot, single only-sister?" and more like, "You've lost weight! What happened? Do you not have enough money to eat? Were you just released from prison? Do you need Bob Geldof to compose a song so various artistes can sing towards your cause?" It's as if I look like I'd lost all five kilos in a week instead of over four months.

Yes. I'll admit it takes a bit of the joy away when people don't seem to think that all your hard work has resulted in something good. On the other hand, I'm glad vanity was never a reason for me, or I might be seriously bummed out now. I imagine I'd be damned depressed too if I had gone in for cosmetic surgery and come out looking worse than before (like say, Courtney Cox, that girl from Dirty Dancing, Kenny Rogers, I could go on forever...). Instead, I'm pretty happy that I'm almost back at being that tireless workhorse on the football pitch that I was 10 years ago, that I'm confident enough to run to the office from home, and that my tummy fats don't flop out of my jeans in multiple folds when I sit down.

So even if it is true that I may not actually look better at a healthier weight, who cares? There are more important things than looking good. I'm feeling a lot healthier and fitter, and I'd take that over looking pretty any time (not that it's even possible for me to look good). Besides, ahem, you don't really need to rely on looks when you've got the charm anyway.

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Read about Day 00, or what Gavin Gets Garang is all about.