LOSING has an unfavorable connotation. It's because it is related to defeat.
But the personal experience of artist and sports photographer Kieron Tan about losing has an opposite impact on him, which boiled down to how he managed his physical build.
In his PITIKalon SKT Facebook page, he posted how he struggled for four years in losing weight from 269 pounds (lbs.), he succeeded in crushing weight to 155 lbs. and currently to 170 lbs.
He said, "This post is not to brag but to inspire whoever is on the same boat. To those who don't know who I was before, I was a guy who endured having a weight of 269 lbs. last July 2017. This adventure started when I saw a friend's post who did an "IF" diet (lifestyle change). I was interested and was a bit challenged. So, I started "intermittent fasting" immediately. The next day, I read an article that upholds "No cheating and no letting down," I was determined to do it because I believe that I can do it. In this intermittent fasting or lifestyle change, I start eating by noontime. I also eat in between and take my dinner at 6:30 p.m. But for the first 2 to 3 months, I didn't eat even during the in-betweens. I only eat twice a day or at lunch and dinner. So my weight started to drop fast."
He started running after eight months of engaging in a healthy lifestyle. He dropped about 100 lbs. in a year.
In his second year of being physically fit, he ran his first-ever full marathon with a total distance of 42.2 kilometers (km).
"To celebrate my second anniversary, I clocked in at a time of 4:04:15 and not bad for a first-timer. I was around 155 to 159 lbs. during that time. I was this crazy dude you can see on the streets every day. During that period, I ran about 600 to 800 km. monthly, which is crazy and it lasted a few months to become this crazy dude," he shares.
He had an opportunity to join a relay triathlon team in early 2020, which he enjoyed watching the bikers and their bikes.
"So I told myself I will learn to ride a bike and someday, I can also join a duathlon race."
Just before the Covid-19 pandemic, he bought his first-ever bike and started to learn how to ride a bike. Then after two weeks, the Covid 19 pandemic lockdown happened.
"I was stuck on an indoor trainer at home. And after a year of biking, I already did an 8848 m climb in a single ride (Everesting challenge, in which you climb the height of Mt. Everest) and my longest ride was a 247km Northern Negros (Longer) loop."
Kieron Tan maintains a slender weight of about 170 lbs. but no more "intermittent fasting." He is back to eating anything after the run and bike workout. He never worries about weight gain and weight loss. He is already confident that he can keep his current weight. He just wants to stay fit and be able to run and ride his bike daily.
He added that no matter how your age or fitness level is, continue to train your mind and body to stay active and healthy.
"And whatever you do, in word or in deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Colossians 3:17)," he shared.