Well, I’ve always been a big kid. Chubby since young and made fun of by many of my peers.

Although I laughed it off, it always had an impact on me and I grew up very unhappy with myself, even though I lost some of the weight during my days of competitive tennis.

Then it all happened one day, mentally I broke down and all the stress at work got to me. I put on a hefty 70 kg and hit an all time high of 140 kg at my “peak”. My lifestyle revolved around drinks, food, as little sleep as I could muster, work, more drinks and more food.

I smiled on the surface but I was truly struggling inside. Struggling to come to terms with myself.

I went for my medical checkup one day and the doctor told me that my life expectancy would be really short if I did not change my lifestyle. I still didn’t heed his warning and carried on my merry ways until one day, I saw my uncle pass away with multiple organ failure because he did not take care of his health.

How quickly things changed.

I stopped drinking, cut down on my diet, exercised more regularly and made it a point to help others where I could. My work improved tremendously and my energy levels started going up.

The moral of the story or the point I’m trying to make is that we are all at some point or another, unhappy at the way we are. What it takes however, is the ability and willingness to try and make that difference and importantly, to pay it forward.