#MumStory: She Lost 50kg And Is At Her Fittest At 49

Tired of being sick and overweight, Siti Sharifah bte Osman hired a fitness coach and turned her life around

Photo credit: Siti Sharifah bte Osman
Photo credit: Siti Sharifah bte Osman
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For as long as Siti Sharifah bte Osman could remember, she was always heavy, tipping the scales at 109kg at one point when she was in her early 40s.

The 49-year-old mother of two grown-up children was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. In her former job as a supply chain professional at a multinational firm, work stress compounded the problem. She wound up also being on antidepressants.

“My weight ballooned gradually while I was having to manage stress in a sedentary job while taking care of the family. I turned to food for comfort and didn't exercise at all. But about two-and-a-half years ago, I told myself I needed to change my life,” shares Sharifah, who dived into a serious weight loss journey.

She hired a fitness coach on the recommendation of an ex-colleague, and underwent a lifestyle overhaul. After 17 months of working out and controlled dieting, Sharifah not only lost 50kg (almost half her body weight), but became healthy enough to go off all her medications from before.

Sharifah recently received her Zumba instructor certification, and is participating in her second 10km Great Eastern Women’s Run on October 27, 2024. In the process of getting fitter and healthier, Sharifah also inspired her husband and son to embark on their own weight loss regimen.

Read on for Sharifah’s #MumStory.

How did your weight affect your life previously?

Sharifah before and after her weight loss journey. Photo credit: Siti Sharifah bte Osman

Sharifah before and after her weight loss journey. Photo credit: Siti Sharifah bte Osman

I've always been on the heavier side. When I turned 40, illnesses like diabetes, high blood pressure and sleep apnoea started coming in. My doctor even suggested bariatric surgery at one point, but I did not want to go through such a risky procedure as my children were young at that time. I wound up being allergic to some of my medications - my face was swollen with hives and I couldn't sleep. Because of my size, it was hard to do many basic things like bending over to cut my toenails.

How did you achieve such dramatic weight loss?

My fitness coach is very dedicated and has been my biggest cheerleader on this transformation journey. On top of personal training sessions, he put me on a healthy diet. I stopped eating rice and focused on protein. I had to say bye to my staples like nasi lemak, nasi padang, lontong and fast food, and start prepping my own meals.

On top of all these, my coach did daily check-ins. My Apple Watch was linked to his watch so if he saw that I was not moving by a certain time, I'd hear from him! Every morning at 6.30am, he would conduct a free workout class via Zoom for all his students.

What did your routine look like?

Sharifah training with her coach. Photo credit: Siti Sharifah bte Osman

There would be slight variations day to day, but I might jog in the early morning around 6.30am. After that, I'd climb up 13 floors to my home and do 500 skips. When I'm done, I'd get ready to head to the office by 9.30am. At lunch, you'd find me at the gym. In the evening, I would rest.

Every week I'd plan out my meals - perhaps scrambled eggs for breakfast or grilled salmon with vegetables for lunch. The diet has evolved. Now my focus is strength building. My coach just gave me a list of groceries for five days of meals!

What challenges did you face?

I was so big that I hated going out, so the earlier personal training sessions were done at my home. When I first started doing lunges, I had to hold the wall, and I couldn't squat. I wanted the air conditioner turned on while working out. My trainer obliged at first. Gradually, he conditioned me to get used to the heat. He'd walk with me from my block to the gym and then back home. Once I got used to perspiring outdoors, I started taking walks on my own every morning.

What kept you going?

I didn't give up because I felt my coach believed in me. He was so hardworking that I'd feel guilty if I didn't put in the same effort. You just need that one person to push you and cheer you on. I followed the plan and saw progress. Eventually I got better and more confident.

In the first month, I lost 4kg. After seven months, I lost 20kg. After that, I told him I could probably drop another 20kg. It took 17 months in total to lose 50kg. Now I enjoy my jogs and lunchtime gym sessions. I never want to go back to my old self.

My husband had his second heart attack two years ago. Our lifestyle was so unhealthy. I told myself the two of us old folks cannot become a burden to our two children. Plus, my 19-year-old daughter is intellectually disabled and has attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). She will need to be cared for her whole life, and we can't pass this responsibility to our elder son. He is 25 this year and recently got married.

What does your workout routine look like these days?

I would walk 5km every morning or evening. Once a week, I'll walk 10km. In the afternoons, I'll be at the gym doing my own training on the machines. About two or three times a week, I'll have personal training. My trainer also has a set of bodyweight exercises for me to do at home. Right now, my focus is on strength training to prevent sarcopenia (age-related muscle loss). On Friday or Saturday evening, I try to attend Zumba.

How do you fit in working out while balancing work and family?

People think that I'll get tired after working out - but I'll feel even more lethargic after a heavy lunch. In fact, after half an hour on the elliptical machine or treadmill and a light healthy lunch of chicken breast and boiled vegetables, I don't feel tired. If we plan our day and our meals in advance, we will actually have more energy and be more alert, and handle other tasks better.

Now that you’re fit and healthy, can you do things with your family that you couldn’t before?

In the past when my family and I went to the park for walks, I would be struggling to catch up to everyone. This is no longer a problem. These days I might go for a run while my daughter is at the playground, and I can catch up with her physically if she wanders off for any reason.

What else have you gained from this journey?

Sharifah at Great 116, a fitness challenge for Great Eastern Women's Run 2024 participants. Photo credit: Siti Sharifah bte Osman

Sharifah at Great 116, a fitness challenge for Great Eastern Women's Run 2024 participants. Photo credit: Siti Sharifah bte Osman

Definitely mental resilience to get through difficult moments. Also, it's so important for women and mothers to take care of ourselves. If our health deteriorates, how do we continue caring for others? If we only take care of others, we start to lose ourselves as women.

Now I feel so empowered to try to meet new targets. I want to lose more body fat, improve my upper body strength and do a pull-up. In my 20s and 30s, I would never have been able to do some of the exercises I'm doing now, and I'm almost 50! I'm going to New Zealand next month, and I'm so happy I'll be able to do a hike then. Looking further ahead, I want to be mobile in my 60s and 70s and enjoy life!

Tell us your personal goals for your second Great Eastern Women's Run.

I hope to improve my timing, from last year's 1 hour 27 minutes to 1 hour 15 minutes.

Sharifah after completing her first 10km Great Eastern Women's Run in 2023. Photo credit: Siti Sharifah bte Osman

Sharifah after completing her first 10km Great Eastern Women's Run in 2023. Photo credit: Siti Sharifah bte Osman

Last year, together with my friend, I wanted to challenge myself by doing the 10K instead of the 5K run. But I suffered a panic attack just before the event started; my back was hurting for some reason. I had to breathe and told myself to go through with it despite the pain because I didn't want all the training to go to waste! I ended up completing the run and having such a good time, thanks to the scenic route and carnival-like atmosphere. It was also the very first "sports medal" I'd ever received!

How have your husband and son changed their lifestyles?

Sharifah and her family before and after their lifestyle makeover. Sharifah's husband and son lost about 20kg each from their own efforts. Photo credit: Siti Sharifah bte Osman

Sharifah and her family before and after their lifestyle makeover. Sharifah's husband and son lost about 20kg each from their own efforts. Photo credit: Siti Sharifah bte Osman

We used to have supper like Indian rojak, but have since stopped. And we don't eat food from the hawker centre anymore. We all have our different schedules but they have also lost significant weight on their own. Both of them lost about 20kg each, and my husband's diabetes is now under control. Oh, and my son actually took the Zumba certification course together with me.

What would be your advice for busy mums who are trying to lose weight and be healthier?

Take small steps. Even if it's just for 10 minutes or half an hour, go out, get a bit of sun and connect with nature. It benefits your mental well-being at the very least. Change to healthier meals if you can. Your family will follow what you do because they look up to you, so you have to do this for yourself and for them.

The Great Eastern Women’s Run (GEWR) returns on October 27, 2024 at the Singapore Sports Hub. Race registration is closed. You can contribute to GEWR's fundraising, which will go towards two charities, Daughters Of Tomorrow and Singapore Cancer Society. Find out more at simplygiving.com/event/gewr2024.

#MumStory is a series by The Singapore Women’s Weekly to uncover the underrated and underreported moments in motherhood, parenting and everything in between — because we believe every mum has a story worth telling. Got a story to share? Email us at sww@sph.com.sg or slide into our DMs on Instagram.

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