“I Made It From Skinny To Healthy. The Number On The Scale Doesn't Matter As Much Once You're Fit.”

Charmaine Ang, 31, talks about how she survived an eating disorder by revamping her lifestyle through fitness. 

- Sophia Ivy Jo

Tell us about yourself 

“I’ve never been active until four years ago. When I at school, Physical Education was my most dreaded subject. Being asthmatic, I wheezed every time I did a strenuous activity, so I shunned all school sports. But, things changed. Today, I’ve tried various activities including windsurfing, pole dancing, yoga, aerial yoga and others. Now, I’m teaching yoga on a part-time basis while working with a telecommunication company.”

What pushed you into fitness? 

“When I was 16, I suffered from an eating disorder. I realised how unfit I was compared to my peers after going for a jog with my colleague. She wasn’t a regular runner, and yet when she finished with the 400m loop at a stadium, I was only a quarter way through. It was really embarrassing. I also went through a very difficult period when my late father who was a kidney transplant patient, started facing health complications. It made me realize how important it was to stay active and healthy. Slowly, I started jogging and swimming.”

Tell us about your eating disorder?