Singapore #Fitspo of the Week: Lim Yao Peng

Life goes beyond the digits on the scale and your body is capable of so much more. Yahoo’s #Fitspo of the Week series by 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: Lim Yao Peng (@_yaops_)

Age: 30

Height: 1.68m

Weight: 70kg

Occupation: Speed and strength coach

Status: Single

Diet: See-food diet

Training: Preferably four to five times a week, about 1.5 to 2 hours each time.

Q: You played table tennis competitively for many years. How did that start?

A: My father brought me for lessons when I was seven as my elder brother played table tennis too. Then I represented my school in table tennis at the age of 10 and played all the way till I was 16. I played for school at the national schools level and was selected to play singles among the top 32 players from 16 schools.

At the age of 10, you started getting into athletics too. How did that happen?

I was selected to join the Track and Field CCA (co-curricular activity) after Sports Day in Primary Three. I was doing sprints (mainly 100m and 4x100m relay, occasionally 200m) ever since my introduction to athletics.

How did you balance competing in both table tennis and athletics?

The CCA schedules for both sports during primary school complemented each other. When I was in secondary school, I chose to skip one session of table tennis (out of three sessions) to train for sprints. When I was 13-14 years old, I was training sprints on my own on days that I had no table tennis training.

I started formal training for sprints only when I was 15, going to the tracks at Victoria Junior College and MOE Co-Curricular Activities Branch, and later at Gombak Stadium. I had to be extremely disciplined and focused to juggle between all my training and studies. Thankfully, my parents were supportive of my lifestyle.

When did you decide to stop competing in table tennis and focus solely on athletics?

I knew sprinting was something I love deeply and could excel in, compared to table tennis. Thus the transition was straightforward once I completed my table tennis season with Anglican High School.

Athletics has been a huge part of your life, competing in it till last year. What are some of the highlights of your athletics career?

During the two decades of competing in athletics, my highlights include being part of the SEA Games 2011 and 2017 teams and a finalist for the World University Games 2013. Each of these major games were special – 2011 was my debut for the National Open team, 2013 was special because I was part of a squad that was involved in the biggest game participation second to Olympics and 2017 was a comeback for SEA Games despite doubts from the community.

2013 was also a year that the six of us (relay team) decided to go full time while putting our studies on hold. As funding was only for five, I had to find my own sponsors who were willing to journey with me for a one-year commitment. 2018 was my swan song with Team Singapore.

What made you decide to stop competing?

I knew I had pushed myself enough over the years and given my all for Team Singapore, especially during the last three years working as a coach and being an athlete at the same time. Also, I was satisfied and tasted enough of life as an “elite” athlete.

When did you start coaching and what are your plans next?

I started coaching part-time after my GCE ‘A’ Levels. After I completed national service (NS), I coached my alma mater for a season on pro bono basis and also took on other part-time jobs such as being a rope skipping instructor for primary schools and corporate groups. I also had a strength and conditioning (S&C) coaching opportunity with a renowned swimming club for eight months after NS. It was during that period that I started honing my skills and knowledge as an S&C coach. Along the way, I did sprint coaching with clients through word of mouth.

By 2012, I decided to start my own business during university when I was just a Year 1 Sports Science undergrad. I started the business with broad services, from personal training to performance coaching but have since streamlined it to just performance for speed and strength in 2015.

The next major step for me is starting a gym with my brother, GRITYARD, a strength and conditioning gym based on all the training and knowledge we have accumulated over the years as national athletes, to help anyone and everyone achieve their personal fitness goals.

What are your fitness goals now?

There isn’t a particular goal. I love my sport and still use it as my staple for keeping fit. I’m also getting myself more involved with my favourite activities like rollerblading and Olympic lifting which are things that I had to limit during my athlete days.

When did you feel the least confident about yourself?

Probably like any athlete, it was during the comeback from a prolonged period of injury. I just had to persevere and continue to work on the process goals and handle what’s within my control.

Does it take a lot to maintain a body like yours?

I would like to say no, however I know it will be a half-truth or false to many! The thing is, I was never big when I was young, neither was I skinny. My lifestyle has been really consistent since young with a lot of sports. Even during the current phase of injury (about five months), although my exercise regime has reduced by 70-80 per cent, thankfully my food intake was reduced naturally, so it balances out. Energy in less than energy out!

Do you get any comments about your body?

Too much veins. Legs too big. Too buff for a sprinter. Arms are too small. I wish I’ve got a body like yours. I wish I got legs like yours. God is unfair.

What are some misconceptions of fitness in today’s society?

That you need a beautifully sculpted figure to represent fitness. However this is subjective and is a by-product of a mix of elements in one’s lifestyle from eating habits, types and duration of activities, social elements, work-life balance etc. These can affect how the body looks and functions. At the end of it, there’s no fixed rule or one fixed type of body to represent fitness. Just eat well, live well and think well!