The Setback
From photos taken two years ago, you can be forgiven for mistaking Aaron Leow for an aspiring sumo wrestler. Then, he tipped the scales at a whopping 124kg – supersized for someone just 1.70m tall. The 22-year-old financial consultant recalls: “I stepped onto the weighing machine for the first time since Secondary 4 and was horrified to find out I was humongous!” While people he met over the years were kind – no snickering or snide remarks about his heft or shape – the last straw was having limited sizes for clothes and feeling winded after a short walk, says Aaron. He steeled his will and set an ambitious target for himself: lose 50kg within two years.

The Wake-Up Call
“I was always unhappy with my weight, and often told myself to lose it. But I never got around to it until I discovered I weighed 124kg,” says Aaron. Besides this, he was grappling with bouts of asthma, which he was afflicted with since childhood. At that point, for him, enough was enough.

The Plan
Aaron began to pore over books, magazines and websites to learn more about nutrition as well as workout programmes. He picked routines that targeted specific muscles and toned his body. He was also an adventurous dieter – he tried almost every kind. Here’s a sampling of what he tasted: fasting, low-carb, calorie controlled, low-fat, vegetarian, detox, high protein, complex carbs, nuts and veggie, one meal a day and six meals a day.

He starts his day with a 20-minute cardio workout. On Mondays, he does weight training for his lower body; on Thursdays, he focuses on his upper body. He keeps Tuesdays and Fridays to target his calves, forceps and abdominals.

The Reward
Since he began his programme, Aaron has dropped an astounding 53kg.While some friends have labelled him “crazy” for his extreme weight loss, he’s nonchalant about their reaction. The reason? “I rarely have asthma attacks nowadays and don’t fall ill. Plus, I feel full of energy and look great,” he explains.

What’s Your Story?
Stand to win attractive prizes when you join the Belly-Off! Club and get featured! Tell us what you weighed then and now, what made you decide to shed the bulge, and what you did to lose it. Include your “before” and “after” photos.

E-mail: magmenshealth@sph.com.sg.