Singapore #Fitspo of the Week: Chermaine Zhou

Life goes beyond the digits on the scale and your body is capable of so much more! Yahoo’s #Fitspo of the Week series is dedicated to inspirational men and women in Singapore leading healthy and active lifestyles. Have someone to recommend? Hit Cheryl up on Instagram or Facebook!

Name: Chermaine Zhou (@xoxochermaine)

Age: 31

Height: 1.53m

Weight: 46.5kg

Occupation: Communications Manager

Status: Single

Food: I think like many others, my relationship with food has come a long way and I’d like to think of it as pretty balanced now. As a self-proclaimed foodie, I don’t follow a very strict or specific diet, and I indulge in a good meal and drinks every once in a while. I do try to eat less carbohydrates and focus more on protein and veggies in order to perform better on my runs.

When I was younger, I used to think just eating less was the way forward, but now that I exercise so much more, I realise the most important thing is being able to sustain your lifestyle while still fuelling yourself with the nutrition that it needs. Starving yourself or overindulging in a particular type of food may only backfire and cause you to binge.

However, if there’s one thing that I think that helps keep my fitness in check, is that I choose my vices and shy away from sugary drinks and snacks. I mostly drink non-sugary drinks and rarely drink bubble tea, except isotonic drinks and my much-needed coffee.

Exercise: I exercise about four to five times a week and it consists mostly of runs, especially when training for an upcoming race. As an avid runner, I run with various running groups such as The High Panters, Superhero Runners, Adidas Runners, Running Department and Happy Pace Club. When I’m not running, I’ll be working on my other muscle groups in HIIT, spin , yoga, boxing and gym. I’m always up to try new activities.

When you were younger, were you active in sports?

Funnily enough, I was never the type that was into sports when I was younger. So many of my friends are pretty surprised that I run so much now. As I got older, I think the mindset of being “forced” to workout in PE lessons when you’re younger, shifted.

There is no teacher forcing you to complete a workout and everything comes from within. The whole experience and satisfaction of being determined and consistent enough to start and finish a workout on my own accord got me hooked and thinking, “Hey this is something I might actually enjoy!”

How did you get into running?

When I went through a bad breakup back in 2018, I was running mostly 2-3 times a week as a means to clear my own thoughts and to get some “me time”. Then I got introduced to Class Pass and started going to group classes such as bounce, spin, boxing, HIIT and yoga. It was addictive and fun exploring new activities as a large group and I found myself working out much more and making it a lifestyle and routine.

But as I worked out more I also realised that when I was running on my own, I wasn’t improving as much as I wanted or motivated enough to run longer runs (mostly 5km), and was finding it hard to invite any of my friends to run longer runs with me.

So when a friend from HIIT class mentioned that they were in a running group and invited me, I took a leap of faith and went for my first group run and never looked back. Learning from one running club to another, I realised the beauty of the running community and how everyone was so motivating of each other, and encouraging each other. It really felt like I could speak a common language.

Being a part of this running community, I realise how important it is to surround yourself with like-minded people who share the same common passion and who offer positive motivation and encouragement to each other. Am really so thankful for the many amazing friendships formed from running. 🤍

More than just a form of physical exercise, running has become a form of self-care and lifestyle.

You had a bad injury right?

It was the start of the COVID-19 period in 2020 when I was buying some takeaway dinner (there was no dine-in allowed then) when I was walking down a short flight of stairs and missed the last step. In that moment, I tried to break my fall and ended up having a fracture in my fifth metatarsal (left side of my foot). It goes to show how an injury can literally happen anywhere and everywhere.

Tell me more about the recovery process.

Being an active person, the first thing I asked my doctor when I went for the check-up was when I could run again. When he told me I would be in crutches for at least two to three months, to not even think of running yet and expect a long recovery process (probably a year for a full recovery), I remember tearing when I walked out of the doctor’s office.

After taking out my cast, my left calf looked nothing like my usual leg as the muscles had atrophied due to being immobile for so long. It was heartbreaking to see my own leg in that state, though I knew the muscles would come back slowly.

From walking in crutches, not being able to walk to the kitchen to grab my own drink, and learning how to walk over again, it was such a helpless and humbling experience.

What did you learn from this?

I would say breaking my leg was one of the major milestone experiences in my life that taught me to treasure simple things like being able to walk and run. It was then that I promised myself to finish a half-marathon after recovering and when I could start running again. Since then, I’ve completed two half-marathons - the Great Eastern Women’s Run 2021 and Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon 2022.

When did you feel the least confident about yourself?

I guess it would be just before I started working out more often in 2018 as it was a tough period for me. I was conscious of my weight and health but didn’t know where to start and was always pushing it off to a time when I felt “ready”. I then realised it was a very harmful way of thinking and that you would never start if you were always waiting to be “ready” or for someone to accompany you to work out.

it was after running and working out more that I really discovered a fitness routine that works for me and focused on how my body felt after working out, instead of just the aesthetics, and that is when I found true joy in exercising.

Did you ever struggle with your body?

Up to now, I think it’s still a work in progress. There are days when I’m super confident with my body and days when I wish it could be skinner or more toned. But I am mindful not to let myself fall into the social stigma of a certain body type and I love my body for the way it is.

Are you satisfied with your body now?

Right now, I am really satisfied with my body as I’m reminded and amazed of how much it can do for me (eg. running 21km). I now view my body as something I’m so proud of as each and every scar and broken bone is something I’ve overcome and it has led me to where I am today.

Have you ever received any comments about your body?

I think in this day and age, especially with social media being so highly used, and appearances are the first thing people see, it is common to receive comments and feedback, especially for females.

As a petite girl, I used to get a lot of comments about my height and how I wasn’t “like the other girls”. That did made me question and compare my body type to others, but as I grew older, I learnt to admire my body for its petite perks and unique identity.

If you could change anything about yourself, would you?

Don’t think I would change anything as I think it’s always a journey but I hope to continue being consistent and balanced, and growing to be the best version of myself – in all areas of life including my fitness goals.