DAMIEN NG: HOW I LOST 22KG AND STILL KEEP IT OFF

“All the time, I told myself I must press on!”

Friends who haven’t met Damien Ng until recently must prepare to do a double take. Up until July 2013, the 48-year-old entrepreneur sported a tummy that highlighted his chubby 85kg. Several attempts to lose weight had failed, he admitted, “due to lack to discipline”.

 

It was while surfing the Internet one day that Damien accidentally clicked on an advertisement for the Health Promotion Board’s (HPB) Lose To Win™ (LTW) programme. “I felt very inspired by the message. I decided that I wanted to do something about my tummy,” shared this father-of-one. “So I signed up.”

 

The three-month programme helps participants to lose weight healthily and sustain the weight loss over the long run, by combining physical activity as well as nutrition and mental well-being workshops. But with physical activity accounting for half of the programme, the beginning was tough for Damien.

 

“It was twice a week for the first month and once a week subsequently. It could be Zumba, kickboxing, Bokwa or circuit training, but we’d run as a warm-up,” he added. “As I adjusted to the pace, I started exercising even outside these sessions; from 30 minutes of brisk walking daily, I progressed to short-distance running. All the time, I told myself I must press on!”

 

This can-do spirit also saw him weigh himself every day: “Whenever I noticed a drop in weight, I became even more motivated to work towards my weight loss goal.”

 

When Damien completed the course in October 2013, he weighed in at a considerably trimmer 70kg. He was also named Best Cadet for LTW 5 (Punggol) from among the 100-strong cohort.

 

While others are likely to sit back and chill over their achievements, Damien continued to incorporate into his lifestyle the knowledge and advice he picked up from LTW. He set up LTW Palace, an interest group comprising 40 former LTW participants, and even developed a passion for running.

 

“I do an average of 57 minutes for 10km. For 21km, I do 2 hours and 11 minutes,” beamed Damien, who has also completed Nike We Run SG (10km), Run For Hope (10km), 2 XU Run (21km) and Nathan Singapore City Race (45km).

 

LTW Palace, meanwhile, was his initiative to “help myself and my friends to maintain our weight loss”. Members meet once a week for various activities including brisk walking, badminton and running. Some of them, including Damien, have signed up for events together, such as the Green Corridor Run (10km). Training also focuses on building and strengthening core muscles now.

 

But all work and no play can make everyone dull, so they find time to bond over the occasional karaoke session and BBQ party.

 

Now 63kg, Damien attributed the further weight loss to discipline and perseverance. He laughs whenever he shares episodes of friends not being able to recognise him these days but he feels proud to be able to inspire others who want to lose weight.

 

“It’s most important to believe in yourself,” he said. “A thousand miles must begin with the first step!”