Singapore #Fitspo of the Week: John Lim

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: John Lim (@johnlimtq)

Age: 27

Height: 1.69m

Weight: 65kg

Occupation: Banking Analyst

Status: Married

Food: I don’t follow any specific diet. I previously tried to follow a strict diet which involved cutting out certain food groups, and while it led to quicker visible results, it was unsustainable mentally, physically, and socially. Balance and sustainability is key, so I try to ensure that my meals compose of a good mix of protein, carbs and fat, and I don’t restrict any specific foods.

Exercise: I usually do calisthenics three times a week, weight training two to three times a week, and team sports such as soccer and basketball once a week. I try to set aside one or two rest days a week to allow my body to recover.

Q: When you were younger, were you active in sports?

A: I was exposed to a range of sports when I was younger like sailing, competitive swimming and sprinting in primary school. I also used to play team sports such as basketball and soccer fairly frequently when I was in secondary and primary school.

How did your fitness regime evolve as you got older?

I developed my own fitness routine, particularly for calisthenics and weight training when I was older. At that time, I also stopped competitive swimming and sprinting. I still play basketball and soccer for leisure as they provide good opportunities to meet new people and keep healthy.

When did you first start going to the gym?

I started going to the gym when I was in junior college to develop strength and bulk up because I used to be fairly skinny and prone to falling sick. Weight training in the gym also helped to improve my power and speed on the court and track.

How did you get into calisthenics?

A friend introduced me to calisthenics when I was studying overseas in Australia. I only really started getting into calisthenics when I explored more online and was fascinated at the variety and number of skills that could be done with merely bodyweight movements, such as handstands and muscle ups.

I wanted to work towards being able to perform these skills and improve my control over my body. Furthermore, I love the outdoors and working out in the park allows me to exercise in fresh air as opposed to being confined to the four walls of a gym.

Also, the open space is a good place for bonding and catching up with a larger group of friends. I believe calisthenics is for everyone, regardless of fitness level or age. I also really like how calisthenics focuses on the use of bodyweight, which affords me flexibility in my workouts regardless of where I am.

What are your fitness goals now?

General health and immunity have always been the priority, but specific to calisthenics, I am trying to master a handstand push up and full planche.

Have you experienced any incidents that made you feel insecure about yourself?

I used to be one of the smallest in primary and secondary school. Being small, others naturally perceived me to be weaker, such as in team sports. It motivated me to want to work towards being better, faster and more effective as a sports player.

At this stage in my life, I don’t believe fitness is just about achieving a single goal, but about consistency and working towards constant progress, which is similar across all aspects of life.

Did you ever struggle with your body?

I used to struggle with being able to gain weight and therefore muscle mass when I was younger. It’s less of a struggle since changing my diet in terms of volume and composition. I tend to focus more on my training volume and ensure I have adequate rest.

Are you satisfied with your body now?

I’m thankful that I’m healthy and that I can freely engage in the sports or activities I enjoy. People have made positive comments, but I try not to focus on aesthetics alone because it’s not the most important thing and I think there is a risk of obsessing over what others think.

If you could change anything about yourself, would you?

While I believe in constant progress and growth, I’m still contented and thankful to God for who He has created me to be and the physical abilities He has given me. There’s always the temptation to compare with others who work out or those in the fitness industry, but I think that can be fairly unhealthy mentally especially since we’re all built to be different.