Jazzy Tasdelen: ‘Big’ people can be fit too – Rock The Naked Truth

Jazzy Tasdelen: ‘Big’ people can be fit too

She wasn’t fat, but in high school she was teased relentlessly about her weight that Jazzy Tasdelen was made to believe she was fat. At that time, sports and health were not top priorities for the 38-year-old mother of a new-born and marketing director who was more into creative subjects at school. The bullying at school became so bad that she attempted suicide twice in her teenage years.

Things got slightly better after she left school but she faced a different set of troubles in her adult years. At the age of 30, she was diagnosed with hormonal conditions polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis, as well as lupus which is a long-term autoimmune disease. The hormonal conditions make it very hard for her to lose weight and also caused a heap of fertility issues.

Understanding that her weight gain was medical, Jazzy did not let that affect her too much and she continued to lead a healthy and active lifestyle. She engaged a personal trainer and started lifting weights. She also tried to do more activities such as stand-up paddle boarding, running, pilates, yoga, body combat and other gym classes like spinning.

Previously, fitness was all about the weight loss and appearance to her. But after giving birth, her mindset has changed. “Now that I’ve had a baby, my mindset has changed. Working out is not about weight loss but more about the future of my health and the longevity of my health. I want to be fit and healthy to be able to play games and sport with my son and live a long life,” she said.

Through these struggles with weight and fertility, Jazzy’s biggest internal challenge was self-doubt. “I have a lot of insecurities about being a larger person and the fitness industry is so geared towards people having a certain physique and looking a certain way. I would often let myself be intimidated by this identity and not push myself or reach my full potential,” she revealed.

Fortunately, Jazzy had supportive people around her. She started sharing her journey on social media where she found like-minded people who encouraged her to rise above and beyond her anxieties, and she began to push herself to reach her full potential. Her milestones include completing her first ever 5km Fun Run and deadlifting 120kg in her first ever lifting competition. “Doing an early journey story with Cheryl from Rock The Naked Truth was a also really good starting point for building my confidence,” she mentioned.

Jazzy believes that a huge misconception about fitness is that ‘big’ people can’t be fit; that they are lazy and they make themselves as such. “There are some physical limitations for some sports or exercises, but that doesn’t mean larger framed people can’t run, bike, swim, lift, do yoga and still be fit! I hope to change this by leading by example, by trying the sports and exercises that some deem I’m not fit enough for.”

*This #FitForAll series is brought to you by Rock The Naked Truth x HUAWEI, with the objective of promoting inclusivity for fitness. Fitness is for all and fitness looks different on everyone.

Jazzy is wearing the latest #HUAWEIWatchFIT that has many features to aid you in your fitness goals – for just $148. Click here for more details!

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I had a very unhealthy relationship with my body w

I had a very unhealthy relationship with my body when I was in my early 20s and the relationship carried till Circuit Breaker. This period of isolation forced me to reflect on my own inner child wounds.

I was born with big hips structure and damn jialat metabolism. At 24, I tried to lose weight by jogging every morning and only having yogurt for the whole day. I did lose some weight but I also lost a lot of my hair. That lifestyle lasted for 2 months and I was not in a good mental space. Then I went back to my usual diet and gained all the weight back.

In 2021, I got molested in the bus by this Gray Hoodie Ah Pek. He sat beside me, pretended to fall asleep and circled his thumb on my thigh. He then alighted the bus and looked back at me with a smirk. I swear I was beyond disgusted.

Due to genetics, I have a heavier bottom and the yoga pants and bicycle shorts that I buy online are not squat-proof (very transparent at the butt area) so most of the time when I head out for training I would need to double wear my yoga/bicycle pants with shorts. But that day, I was in a cover-up dress that showed nothing and was feeling disgusted and fat. I reported him to the police anyway.

Later, I released myself from a very toxic situation when I was constantly seeking for acceptance and at the same time, I received news that Gray Hoodie Ah Pek was sentenced to 2 counts with 4 months imprisonment.

At that point of time, it was very dark and I questioned myself frequently, “Is it because I am not good enough?”, “Confused, I was fat but why did that ah pek still touch me?”, “Guilty, because I was one of the reasons that sent him to imprisonment and he might have a family to feed.”, “Why me?”.

To cope, I went back to doing yoga and also started Muay Thai. I felt more balance, love and acceptance towards myself; learned self-defence, resilience, discipline and how to stay grounded.

Definitely, there will still be days when I question myself with my own self-acceptance, but I made a promise to myself to continue to learn and grow mentally and never stop.

Thank you for reading my story. Namaste.

- Val (@soundslikehokkienmee)

Came across this photo taken in 2010 and I had pos

Came across this photo taken in 2010 and I had posted it on Facebook with a caption “omg I look so fat here”.

This was when I was struggling with my eating disorders. I was starving myself, taking slimming pills, counting calories and I remember feeling so miserable all the time.

How was this fat?! I clearly was struggling with my body, with my self-worth, with my confidence. And this lack of self-confidence showed in many different ways.

For example, I was constantly in relationships or dating because I needed attention for validation. I would stay in toxic relationships even though I know it’s bad, and I would enable it further, because at the back of my mind I just want to feel loved.

It took me over a decade to reach where I am now and it hasn’t been easy at all. There are days when some of these past demons rear their ugly heads but I am able to better deal with them now.

Self-love is a journey, so be patient and keep working at it!

“I hated my body with a passion, the entire preg

“I hated my body with a passion, the entire pregnancy, and after my pregnancy. I hated it. I felt like it failed me. I felt fat my entire pregnancy instead of embracing the fact that my body was growing a human and creating a life and just being all around awesome.

I was still weighing myself and going, “Well, how much does the baby weigh and how much weight have I put on?” I couldn’t find clothes that fit me.

Part of my trauma (on top of PCOS, lupus, endometriosis, ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome) during my IVF journey as well, was multiple people saying, “Oh, when are you due?”, when I wasn’t even pregnant. I’ve had two flight crew in the past saying, “I do have your letter of authorization for travel.” I’m like, “What are you talking about?” “Well, you’re pregnant. You must be due soon.” And that was when I was just fat and trying to get pregnant.

My body issues and my self-esteem issues followed me into my pregnancy. I gained 27kg while I was pregnant and it was because of the meds. I wasn’t eating everything or anything I wanted; in fact, I was vomiting every day and still getting fat.

I gained more weight after I gave birth and got to 129kg, which is the heaviest I’ve ever been in my life with a baby going, “I’ve done this bit. Why aren’t I having the other bit now?” I literally was worse after I had the baby in terms of my mental health surrounding my weight.”

- @jazskimo keeping it real and sharing her thoughts about her first pregnancy and childbirth. This was after 7 years of IVF and S$130,000 spent. She’s in a better place mentally now with a beautiful son and is on her next IVF adventure to try for her second child.