Results Archive

Winner: P H Lim
Results: Lost 9.1kg, 31.5cm and 6.7% body fat.

I’ve struggled with weight my entire life. Anyone who has ever tried losing weight can attest to how difficult and challenging it can be. Also, it can be a very lonely journey because no one can truly appreciate what you’re going through. You see friends and family who are half your size enjoying food, whilst you feel like you’re putting on weight just by looking at a carrot. My story is not unique. I have tried many diets over different lengths on time, however the end result is always the same. Nothing changes, or progress is slow, and I give up. I’ve been a big girl my whole life and I thought that this is just how I’m meant to be. 

At the end of 2020, I started following Rebel Wilson on Instagram. For those who don’t know her, she is an Australian comedian/actress who is well-known for being a big girl. However, she decided to take charge of her health, make 2020 her year of change, and lost about 30-40kgs. I was so inspired by her, and decided to make 2021 my year of health. No matter what happened, I would not give up on exercise and healthy eating for a whole year.

So I started counting macros and calories, and drastically reduced the frequency of eating out. I started weight training, and took the dog out for regular walks. I was starting to see results, but progress was slow and getting a bit mundane. I was a student at MYN about 1.5 years ago, so I knew there was an annual BBL challenge. I’m the kind of person who gets bored easily so I need to constantly find challenges to keep things interesting. So come April 2021, I signed up for BBL for a bit of fun. I had only one objective in mind. I WANTED TO WIN!

So began the hot yoga classes! I have practiced Bikram on and off for about 13 years, so I thought coming back into the hot box would be like a fish taking to water. NOPE! I WAS WRONG! The first class back was a huge challenge on my stamina and mental strength, but I managed to stay in the room and do every posture. I didn’t even need to lie down! I went home and told my partner, “Oh no, I’m in trouble. This is a lot harder than I thought.” Fortunately, it didn’t stay that way. The more I went to classes, the more my body remembered, and the easier it became. Soon, the heat didn’t bother me anymore. It was just another element in the room. Poses like standing bow pose that was supposed to raise your heart rate didn’t make me pant or breathe heavily, because my heart muscle was getting used to the intensity of the workout. In fact, there were some classes where I didn’t sweat as much which made me feel like I wasn’t working hard enough! This only made me want to work harder at the next class.

Week 7 and 8 were the most challenging for me. I was getting tired and unmotivated. How can it be that there is still 6 weeks to go??? I’ve worked so hard already but the finish line is still so far away! To overcome this, I just listened to my body. All I had to do was 4 classes a week. If I didn’t feel like going for a 5th or 6th class, I didn’t go! I would maintain my activity level by doing things I did feel like doing, like going for a walk, lifting weights, eating a burger etc. Or sometimes I just needed a few more hours of sleep instead of heading to a Saturday morning class. The key thing is that I never forced myself to do anything that made me unhappy. And once I overcame that mental hump, I was back in the game!

The regular weigh-ins and measurements were a great way to keep me on track as well. When I could see progress and my hard work paying off, that was the fuel that kept me going. Clothes were getting looser and fitting better. My chronic pains were slowly subsiding. My skin looked clearer. I could lift heavier at the gym because yoga aided my muscle recovery, and I could hold yoga postures better and longer because I had built up strength in the gym. Win win!

When Kristina announced me as the winner, it was one of my happiest moments, because I proved to myself that I could achieve anything I put my mind to. I believe that if you want something badly enough, you should verbalize it, put it out into the universe, then work hard at it. That’s exactly what I did, and it worked! Here is my advice to anyone who is looking to lose weight or take part in future BBL challenges. Educate yourself about nutrition. Count macros and calories to make sure you are eating in a caloric deficit but still consuming enough protein so that you can build lean muscle. Remember, you can’t outrun a bad diet. Next, besides hot yoga, do other activities you enjoy to keep you active! I personally like weight training and running, but if that’s not your cup of tea, find something else that gives you an elevated heart rate. Swimming, HIIT, brisk walking, anything! As long as you have fun, you will continue doing it.

I want to congratulate my fellow participants who came on this journey with me. Attending 4 classes a week for 13 weeks is an achievement in itself. Seeing familiar faces every week gave me great comfort and there was a great familial atmosphere where everyone was constantly checking in on each other. I could see the physical changes in everyone and also people getting stronger as the weeks went on. I never felt alone and I felt like I had found my tribe. This comradery is probably the greatest thing I’ve gained from this experience.

Now that BBL is over, I’m on to my next challenge- the Queenstown half-marathon in November 2021! If you ever see me in the studio, or see me running at Anderson park or around Tamatea, feel free to wave and say hello! I’m always down for a good chat.
Namaste!
P H Lim