Like the many who aspire to achieve ambitious goals, I was graded PES BP on enlistment. While the intensive Basic Military Training (BMT) on Tekong and the grind of Army life helped me to shed some weight and gain fitness, these gains vaporised after I passed my Operationally Ready Date (ORD).

Ten years of working adult life saw me going from my lean self to having a figure which might rival Jabba the Hutt from Star Wars. Not only was I pushing 38 on the BMI scale, I constantly felt weak, falling sick on many occasions, and struggled to focus at work.

However, I’ve managed to undo those 10 years of damage and emerged leaner and arguably fitter than I was during NS. Here, I’ve compiled eight most effective tips that made my fitness journey a fruitful one and I hope these can help you achieve your fitness goals!

Know Yourself And The Enemy

“If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles,” said Sun Tzu in The Art of War. Take time to make a full list of your habits and make decisive plans to overcome the undesirable ones. By doing so, you’ll identify where your bad habits are and how you can effectively solve the problems.

Constantly Calling Yourself Fat Won’t Work

You only call yourself fat once. Constantly reminding yourself that you’re fat will only lead to frustration, anger, or end up being miserable. Mental fitness is often a misunderstood adversary, and it is paramount that you need to have a clear mind in order to succeed. What made me feel more positive is calling myself “perpetually metamorphosing”.