ROCKstar of the Month (November): Ivan Chan – Rock The Naked Truth

ROCKstar of the Month (November): Ivan Chan

I was never good in sports since young. I hated P.E. lessons in school and I couldn’t master any sports, such as soccer or basketball which were popular amongst the boys. I didn’t eat proper meals and I always munched on titbits (anyone remembers kaka?).

Hence, I grew up being a wimpy and skinny guy due to lack of exercise and poor nutrition. This went on until I was enlisted for National Service when I was 19. Regular meals and training in the army did improve my health and I somehow managed to survive the tough training back then.

Fast forward to two and a half years later, after I completed my NS, I entered the workforce when I was 22. Due to the stressful work life as I was building my career, I neglected my health, skipped meals and never exercised at all. My health deteriorated and I fell sick frequently due to my low immunity. I was so weak and thin that a gust of wind could blow me away easily.

Things took a turn for the worst when my immune system became so weak that I contracted Tuberculosis (TB) in 2004. It took me six months of medical treatment before I was discharged from this disease. However, even after this episode, I continued with my sedentary lifestyle. All I cared about was my career and setting up my family with my wife Wendy and subsequently, the arrival of my two daughters.

Falling sick was part and parcel of my life then. When I turned 39 in 2014, it suddenly struck me that I need to change my life and take care of my own body. I told myself that I need a healthy body in order to take care of my family. At that time, Wendy was already very much into running and fitness. Seeing a positive change in her health and confidence due to a change in her lifestyle, I decided to give running a try.

I started to search online about nutrition and also started to work out in the gym. In less than two months, I started to gain lean mass on my skinny frame. I looked and felt healthier. I drew up a simple fitness regime for myself, with one to two running sessions and three sessions of gym per week. Within six months, my body weight increased (in a healthy way) from 51kg to 60kg, and my BMI is in the normal healthy range for the first time in my life!

With a stronger body and mindset, I stepped up my running regime and started taking part in races. I completed my first ever full marathon when I was 40. Although it took me more than six hours to complete the marathon, it was definitely an achievement unlocked! Thereafter, I continued to participate in several half marathon and 10km races.

In 2017 when Wendy joined ROCKrunners for her weekly runs, I saw that she loved the sport even more when she had like-minded people running with her. So in January 2018, I decided to tag along for the weekly run with ROCKrunners. I started to know more running friends and attended the weekly runs more often. My two kids would occasionally join us too!

There has never been a dull moment running and training for races with ROCKrunners. One year has passed and I have forged many treasured friendships in ROCKrunners. I feel that they have become my extended family members and have formed a part of my life now!

I will be 44 in 2019 and one of my New Year resolutions is to continue to keep fit (the reason for naming my Instagram account as dadtokeepfit), run happy and run safe with my peeps at ROCKrunners!

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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.