Singapore #Fitspo of the Week: Lilian Goh
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 Cherylup on Instagram or Facebook.
Name: Lilian Goh
Age: 46
Height: 1.60m
Weight: 44kg
Occupation: Business owner
Status: Married with three kids (18, 10 and five years old)
Diet: My meals are light and low in carbs, with lots of greens, and everything else is in moderation. I try to avoid sugar. For example, I love coffee and it used to be with milk and sugar, but nowadays my coffee is just black. I also drink a lot of water and cook simple one-pot meals or easy soups, almost always with chicken and vegetables. Only the kids get rice!
Training: Three times a week of yoga, run and a weekly session of resistance training with a trainer.
Q: Do you have a sports background?
A: Yes, I played netball and was on the school’s Track and Field team. I ran short distances in secondary school, then moved to cross country in tertiary.
Did you continue to do sports as you grew older?
Does dancing count? I did inline skating, swam, Zumba, even tried golf, but nothing on a regular basis.
You said you only started exercising regularly last year. What made you decide to do that?
I have always been active but never exercised regularly because of work and family. Two years ago I experienced subtle hints that my menopause was beginning. It was a bit of a shock, as I thought it would only happen in my late 40s or 50s. When that happened, I decided to start exercising and to eat healthier. I also wanted my two daughters to run so I had to set an example.
What changes have you seen after you picked up a regular fitness regime?
I am stronger and more energetic. Yoga has made me more flexible too. I also notice that food tastes better; I believe it’s because of the smaller portions and cutting down on sugar.
What are your fitness goals now?
I would like to run longer distances and I want to take part in a 10km run with my daughter.
It’s never too late to start exercising - how would you encourage others?
Start simple and with something convenient. For example, start at the nearby park, public pool, community club or gym. There are facilities everywhere and plenty of free workouts too.
Set simple and realistic targets. I started with yoga at a nearby studio and I chose it because it was within walking distance, thus I had no excuse not to go.
It’s a cliche but, really, just do it. Don’t be shy, don’t be scared. Do what you are afraid of.
When did you feel the least confident about yourself?
Like most teenagers finding their way, I was probably least confident growing up, but who isn’t? As I got older I realised that it’s just part of life and everyone goes through it.
It helps that my hubby is full of encouragement with regard to anything and everything I do. Our family is very close and communication is a big part of the reason.
I draw a lot of confidence from this! Talking eases anxiety and stress and it encourages positivity. Just remember: healthy body, healthy mind, and healthy mind, healthy body.
Do you get any comments about your body?
I am surrounded by nice and loving people, and I get positive comments from friends and family. Likewise, I encourage family and friends too. Everyone’s on the same journey.
