Singapore #Fitspo of the Week: Miesha Tate

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: Miesha Tate (@mieshatate)

Age: 32

Height: 1.67m

Weight: 67kg

Occupation: Vice-president at ONE Championship and Instructor at Evolve MMA

Status: Attached

Diet: I’m not as strict as I used to have to be, but in general I try to stick to a low carb diet even if it’s just small things like removing the top piece of bread from my sandwich. I practice intermittent fasting and typically fast in the morning, completely skipping breakfast.

Training: I run 5 km, 3 times a week and then lift weights right after. I also typically attend a few martial arts classes at Evolve MMA, usually no-gi Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu because I love grappling.

Q: What led you to mixed martial arts (MMA)?

A: I was the only female to wrestle in high school. I discovered how tough I really was and this gave me the confidence to try competing in MMA at just 19 years old.

What kind of sports did you do when you were younger? Any other sports you did besides martial arts?

I played volleyball and soccer as a child. As a teenager, I ran cross country, track and wrestled.

What made you decide to start competing in MMA professionally?

I just loved it so much. I didn’t even know I could compete professionally as a woman in martial arts. At that time, there was no real opportunity for females, so I didn’t make much money, it was more for the pure passion than anything else.

What are some of the highlights of your MMA career?

Really, anytime that I got through a tough spot, because anytime you can triumph through adversity, it is a victory. One of my biggest triumphs was submitting Holly Holm in the fifth round to become the women’s UFC bantamweight world champion after being down on the scorecards.

Why did you decide to move to Singapore? How are you adapting to life in this part of the world?

Singapore is an amazing place and I’m so grateful to be here with the opportunity that ONE Championship and Evolve MMA have provided.

In your new roles as VP of ONE Championship and an instructor at Evolve MMA, how do you intend to spearhead the women MMA scene here in Asia?

I’ll start by sharing my experiences and being an example that hopefully other women can look up to and realise that it can be done. When I was young, I did not have any female athletes in martial arts to look up to. I am happy to see changes regarding women and martial arts but I will continue to make every effort to push down barriers and break glass ceilings.

How has life changed since becoming a mother?

It’s definitely different! The thing is, as a professional athlete, it is all about you. As a mommy, it’s all about my daughter. My reason of motivation comes from a different place, but my drive and passion remain the same.

How do you keep up your fitness regime with your busy schedule and various responsibilities?

My health and well-being affect everything else in my life, so I don’t ever hope to find time to work out – I make the time. Sometimes it’s just 30 minutes, sometimes two hours, but that is time that I see as wisely invested in myself.

Was there ever a time where you did not feel confident about yourself?

Oh, of course. As a young adult, I knew I was tough but I didn’t really know who I was yet. This left me vulnerable at times and I’m thankful that martial arts was a part of my life because it taught me how to lose and come back stronger for it. Winning is easy, but losing has real value on perspective and what it means to push beyond what you thought were your limitations.

How did you overcome it and become more confident?

I chose not to listen to the naysayers. I heard them, but I did not listen. I was determined to take my own path, and that meant sometimes falling flat on my face and having to hear all the “I told you so” comments. But I chose to let it fuel the fire and burn brighter in spite of it.

Do you get any comments about your body?

Yes, and that’s okay. I wasn’t put on this planet to make everyone happy. I was put here to make a difference, and that’s what I always keep in mind. I’m proud of my physique because I’ve worked hard for it. Many say I’m too muscular or manly, but I really could care less. My body is a by-product of years of hard work and dedication; nothing anyone can say can make me feel bad about that.