Fat to Fit: Timothy Skinner in Hong Kong

Outtakes from a shoot with Timothy Skinner, shot by Dino Busch.

My feature with Timothy is out in the paper - can read it online here at SCMP.com Body Transformation. 

Click to enlarge pics

Working out in the park instead of expensive and cost ineffective gyms:



Update: Ah the gratuitous Thirst Trap images.

Big loser a winner on the trail

FIT & FAB

Being half the man you used to be tends not to be a good thing, unless you're Andre Blumberg. Over the past two years, the 42-year-old Hong Kong-based German has shed so much weight that he literally looks half the obese, 100-plus kilogram guy he was....


P. Ramakrishnan and Jeanette Wang
Aug 07, 2012

Tough to get toned confesses Alexa Towersey: Fit & Fab, Health Post, SCMP

Alexa Towersey, wearing a tracksuit and ponytail at the crossroads of Hollywood Road and Lyndhurst Terrace in Central, looks like any one of the tourists ambling about. That is, until her track top is lifted. 

There doesn’t seem to be an ounce of fat on her well-defined abs. Surely this body was built after a lifetime in the gym. 

“No, I was teased for being too skinny through intermediate and high school. My nickname was Alexa Anorexa,” says the fitness expert. “So, in contrast to a lot of people, I started going to the gym to get bigger and put on some muscle.” 

 Alexa Towersey. “I didn’t walk into a gym and transform overnight.” 

She was a runner at school. “I was far too polite to win, though. My mum told me I said ‘excuse me’ when I had to pass the other children on the track.” 

Then she tried soccer, netball and skiing, but her true passion was riding horses. On most weekends, she was up at dawn, competing in various events around New Zealand. These days, however, weight training has become a love affair. Like most gym-goers, she gets really “grumpy” when she hasn’t trained for a while. But she swears her body is the result of smart, not long, hours at the gym. 

“Doing crazy hours in the gym is how you get injuries, not results.” 

What are you doing differently? 

Honestly, it’s something as simple as having a goal. I started triathlons 15 months ago, and set myself a huge goal of getting to a World Championships of some sort. I’ve managed to qualify for this year’s Ironman World Championship 70.3 in Las Vegas [a triathlon race consisting of a 1.9-kilometre swim, 90-kilometre bicycle ride and a 21-kilometre run]. That’s my goal. 

Are you determined every day to reach that goal? 

Don’t get me wrong, I don’t wake up every day excited about having to train. There are days when the work-life balance is overwhelming and I’m tired and irritable, and it’s hard to find the motivation. But I do it. It’s just a choice I make. That said, the most important thing I have learned in the past six months is to listen to my body. I used to train through thick and thin, on no sleep, when I was sick and even injured. Recovery is just as important to getting results as training. 

Is there a weakness anywhere in your regimen? 

Swimming is not really my forte, and has been a humbling experience for me. I have progressed from hating it, to disliking it, to enjoying it on the odd occasion – “odd” being the operative word there. 

What’s the secret to rock-hard abs? 

I don’t do traditional sit-ups – never have, never will. It’s just not my thing. My core strength comes from a background in heavy weights, and when I’m eating well, you can see the definition, which is always a bonus. To see abs, you need to have low body fat. To lose fat, you need to gain lean muscle, and you can only do that when you train and eat for your body type. 

How much weight training do you do? 

I enjoy lifting heavy weights, and my body responds really well to this type of training. One of my pet peeves is that there is a huge stigma attached to women and weights. Girls shouldn’t be afraid to do weights. I know I’m not everyone’s ideal body type, and a lot of girls are intimidated by how much muscle mass I have, but you have to put this into perspective. I have spent a good proportion of my life doing this. I didn’t walk into a gym and transform overnight. Most women don’t have the hormonal profile to be able to develop this much. And it takes time and dedication on so many levels. 

What’s your diet like? 

I think people really underestimate how important good nutrition is. You can train as much as you like, but unless you’re a genetic freak, if you don’t eat right, you won’t get the results you want. I’m definitely not into deprivation, I like clean, green and lean. Clean and organic fruit and vegetables where I can, Brussels sprouts, lean white meats, and fish. I tend to avoid gluten and dairy – that cuts out a lot of processed foods – and I don’t drink any more. 

What do you indulge in? 

My one weakness is Cadbury’s Creme Eggs. I once ate 18 in a row, then had to give the last six away, not because I felt sick, but because I felt guilty. 

Photo: Sabrina Sikora 

By P.Ramakrishnan

Now that's a stretch: Tiana Harilela swaps luxury for Yoga

Many in the Hong Kong "in" crowd might remember Tiana Harilela, 36, from her spell working at a luxury champagne company and frequent appearances in social columns.

Dressed in her designer gear and blinged out, she was by no means unfit, but she's now in the best shape of her life, and she attributes it to yoga.

Her first experience of physical or hatha yoga was with her late grandfather, businessman George N. Harilela. "He taught me my first ever yoga pose. He was also the first person to introduce me to the yogic kriyas [cleansing rituals] at a young age. But his biggest influence on me was his subtle teachings of the 'true self' and the inner aspects of yoga. He is still in my heart as my first teacher."

While among the glitterati, she says she was far from a spiritual being. Up until her early 20s, she kept a distance from everything spiritual and Indian.

"I knew I needed a practice with a challenge, so I turned to Ashtanga Vinyasa as taught by the late Sri K Pattabhi Jois of Mysore, India. This was one of the most powerful yoga practices I had ever seen and tried. I was hooked."

Frequent trips to Mysore have followed. She cites Paul Dallaghan, who runs the beautiful Samahita Yoga Thailand retreat in Koh Samui, as one of her biggest influences. Dallaghan's master, Sri O.P. Tiwari, is the head of the Kaivalyadhama Yoga Institute in Lonavala, near Mumbai. Through their guidance, Harilela is now an Ashtanga yoga teacher teaching simple pranayama, a special form of breathing exercises.

"It is one of my favourite things to teach because it brings everything inwards and I have personally seen how it has transformed me," she says.

What's been the biggest effect of doing yoga?

The biggest surprise for me is how it has changed my body. Physically I am stronger and leaner. There is a lightness about my body now. Because the asana practice I do is about two hours long, postures flowing one into the next, and practised six days a week, there is a wonderful effect on the respiratory system. You sweat out toxins and allow for your body to move back into balance. Ashtanga Vinyasa is a very cleansing practice.

What do you preach and teach?
I teach Ashtanga Mysore style, which is the best way to learn yoga. It's like having a private class with other people in the same room. You learn in the correct way pose by pose. You only move to the next pose once you have mastered the previous one. Everyone is doing the same sequence within a time frame at his or her own pace. Nowadays, there is a lot of rock 'n' roll and music in yoga classes. In this class, the music is the breath, and it is one of the most beautiful things to witness and try. It also allows for independence in the student. The teacher is there to guide and to help.

How did yoga help your recovery from the motorcycle accident you had in India last year?
I smashed the right side of my body and face. I was unable to fly back to Hong Kong due to complications. I still suffer pain in my face from nerve damage, and I have problems with my right shoulder and hip from the crash. I never thought I would be back to my practice. It took a long time to be able to do some of the things I was doing before. Meditation, yoga asana and pranayama brought me back. There was this inner sense of spirit that kept me going. It's a story I tell my students when they think they cannot do something. The human spirit is unbeatable when it shines.

Your Hong Kong friends may be surprised at how fit you are now. What do you tell them?
It's a combination of yoga and balance. While I am still working on balance in life, I feel my levels are better. I eat healthy as much as possible. I have a green and predominantly wheat-free diet. I sleep early. It's a different lifestyle altogether from what I was doing years ago. It's peaceful and there's less chaos and drama, which I feel adds to looking and feeling good on the inside and out.

Have you changed your diet?
I have. I have a predominantly vegetarian diet, eating fish once in a while. I have also changed my thought process about food. I pay attention to the foods that have acidity in them and those that are alkaline. My husband is a great chef and mainly cooks healthy vegetarian cuisine. He is always showing me herbal substitutes to take. I think maintaining a good diet and having fun cooking is the best way. You cannot just exercise and not add the food part in. We aim to show it can be fun and delicious to be healthy.

What's your indulgence?
Well, that's easy: chocolate.

Pic Caption: Tiana Harilela credits her late grandfather, George, with introducing her to her first yoga pose and the cleansing yogic kriyas.
Photo: Edmond So

March 25, 2012
Byline: P. Ramakrishnan

His Body of Evidence: Personal Trainer Douglas Pieterse Sweats it Out

The rule of thumb is simple: you cannot go to a dentist who has bad teeth, visit a doctor who has poor health habits, and you surely can’t be trained by someone who looks like they could use a sit-up or 20. The merits and perils of the job are such that personal trainer Douglas Pieterse, 30, co-owner of Sweat gym on Stanley Street in Central, has to maintain a fit and fabulous physique. Not much of a challenge for someone listed in a magazine as one of the eight best bodies in Hong Kong, right?

“I don’t really know what to say to that, but I was surprised when the magazine opened with my shot,” says Pieterse. “There was a rugby player who had eight-pack abs.”

As a Brazilian jiu-jitsu exponent, he’s never had to wrestle with weight or wage a battle of the bulge. “For the job, yes, I do think it is important to lead by example,” he says. “It’s important that I know what the clients are going to experience; I convey the exercise to them. Working out is not easy; it’s a commitment.”

With a wife, two sons under the age of two, a full-time job and an overbooked schedule, it’s amazing that Pieterse finds time to work out. “My day often starts at 5am and ends quite late. In the middle, I make time to work out, usually in
the late afternoons, the non-prime time hours, when most people are at work. I also ensure that I dedicate some time to my own workouts on weekends.”

Rama: I heard your wife, Joey Lee, a former champion kick-boxer, really kicked your diet into gear.Douglas Pieterse: She did. The prime changes were made post-marriage, as she’s very careful about what she eats. As a busy personal trainer, I ate really badly. I ate lots of junk and fast food, as time was a limitation. In between appointments, it was KFC, McDonald’s, cookies and sandwiches loaded with trans fats. I grabbed whatever I could find. It’s true I didn’t have six-pack abs before because, as much as I trained, you cannot out-train a bad diet.

What did you start eating?Lots of greens. Now my diet mainly consists of whole foods, vegetables and fruits. No surprise there. But it’s also making sure I make time to eat right. For breakfast, oats and flax seeds with bananas or apples. Afternoons are hard, and I have to confess, even now I basically eat what I can get my hands on. Evenings tend to start with vegetables, broccoli, cauliflower and vegetable soup. Soups give that false sense of filling you up so you don’t overeat. I have a small piece of meat for protein, followed by more fruits to end the meal.

There are some people who seem to be at the gym all the time and yet see minor results. What are people getting wrong?If you are not constantly challenging your body, you will see no results. The body loves being challenged so it can adapt, so make sure you step out of your comfort zone to get the best results from your training.

What’s a good machine to use to get biceps?I don’t like using machines to work on isolated muscles. If you want bigger biceps, I suggest you start working on your pull-ups or chin-ups. This will allow you to work other muscle groups, too, and give you a better workout. The rope that we have hanging off the ceiling may look like it’s mainly for the arms, but it’s also for a full upper body exercise. Muscles don’t work in isolation.

Hong Kong seems to be teeming with gyms and new fads of training. What’s Sweat’s appeal?It’s a relatively small enterprise with two full-time and two part-time trainers, and we put together individual programmes for all our clients. With high intensity workouts, it’s a goal-oriented programme. Lots of the generic gyms follow some kind of strict programme. We go by what our clients need and like; we read each client and adapt our training to them. You know why most people leave gyms? Boredom. No one wants to do the same thing again and again, and they don’t want to be clumped together with a bunch of others who have different body types and needs.

But isn’t gym work repetitive by it’s very nature?You have to change the patterns. We do circuit training, which is fun
as it’s different each time. We use machines like the Airdyne bike and PowerMax bodyweight training tool. When we first introduce them to clients, they are amazed. They’re very simple pieces of equipment, but fun.

You work with a lot of youngsters. How do you encourage them to try to be healthy?I have found the best ways to encourage youngsters is to lead by example, make the sport a game so they enjoy it, and set attainable goals which give them a sense of success.

Can your wife kick your butt?Most likely – I haven’t taken the time to find out.

UPDATE: Douglas  now at http://www.r3personaltraining.com/

By P.Ramakrishnan
(ramakrishnanp @ hotmail. com)

Published in South China Morning Post
Health Post
Fit and Fab Column

See earlier feature: 24 hrs: Joey Lee

See earlier feature: Kick the Girls and Make them Cry

Dance in her pants: Dancer Bethany Taylor stays fit

FIT AND FAB: Bethany Taylor

The rigmarole of a gym is not for everyone. The unpredictability of weather can be a hindrance for those who like to go for a run outside, and team sports are for a chosen few. But anyone can dance at any age and at any time, right? “I suppose,” says Bethany Taylor, an interior design student. “All you need is some great music and some space.”

She started dancing at age four, when her mother took her to baby ballet in Muscat, Oman, and trained at the Emma Tse Elite Dance Academy in Hong Kong for years. “I’ve tried pretty much every style of dance – ballet, hip hop, contemporary, tap, jazz, salsa, street,” says Taylor. “My favourites are ballet and street dance; one form is strictly disciplined and the other, freestyle. I love how much attitude and fun you can have with street, while ballet is so elegant. And which girl didn’t want to be a ballerina growing up?”

Although dance is a personal and individual experience for her, it’s helped Taylor in her modelling profession, too. “It gives you amazing control over your body, and you know what angles your body looks good at. It also helps with stamina. Shoots are always so long, and you’re usually standing up, so [training for dance] helps to keep you going for long periods of time.”

Three years ago, Taylor opted to go to college in London instead of taking the difficult route of professional dancing. Although she gave up the hard-core discipline of ballet, she’s found other forms of expression through a range of classes at Studiodanz in North Point.

“Classes are mostly taught in Cantonese, but it’s helped me learn faster as I’m not distracted by what’s said and I follow the movement. I’m forced to concentrate and pick up faster, which has been an excellent form of self-discipline. And dance is the finest form of motion and discipline.”

What drew you to dance?
Ballet is so beautiful and elegant. It’s really high art. I may not do it much any more, but I still appreciate it. Now I dance for fun, and it is the most fun way to exercise.

Is there any particular dance you’d like to try?
Zumba – it’s half exercise, half dance, and looks really fun. It’s a concoction of salsa and aerobics. I’ve been meaning to go, and this year I’ll do it.

What’s your diet like?
Processed food is a definite no, but the word “diet” really puts me off as I don’t believe in dieting. If you eat properly, watch your calories, but don’t deprive yourself, maintain portion control and eat a healthy amount. You don’t need to follow whatever diet is in fashion.

What’s been a memorable dance class?
At Pure Fitness in Central, choreographer Tony Stone [who has worked with stars like Salt-N-Pepa, Falco and LL Cool J] came to teach for a brief session, and it was a serious dance-off and workout. For three hours we were moving non-stop. It was a good class. He’s in his 50s but is in amazing shape.


What other ways do you stay fit?
Gym about four times a week, which keeps my cardio up. I have regular sessions with a personal trainer, and he’s really tough. The day after our sessions, I hate him – but it’s worth going to. I do my own body conditioning regime at home to keep toned, and go to street dance classes a few times a week at Pineapple Dance Studios [in London] more for fun. There’s no exercise that I hate. I have so much energy and love being active.

What’s the secret to looking really lean and toned?
Before a shoot, I cut my carbs and salty foods, and just have proteins and vegetables. And I drink a lot of green tea and water. If hungry during a lengthy shoot, I snack on cashews and bananas.

What’s your favourite health food?
It has to be quinoa; it’s so easy to prepare and so tasty. It fills you up but doesn’t make you bloated, and you can add whatever you like to it. My favourite combination at the moment is with celery, feta and ham. I’m also a massive fan of making fresh soups. It’s cheap and easy, and you get your daily dose of veggies.

P. Ramakrishnan
ramakrishnanp@hotmail.com
Portrait by Sabrina Sikora Photography
http://sspmodels.phanfare.com/
Feb 07, 2012

Mud, sweat and gears

Byline: P. Ramakrishnan

As an executive director of a large corporation, Ho Ren-hua, 30, has the sort of buttoned up job that is common in a teeming metropolis. But even in the urban jungle, the Shanghai-based Singaporean finds the time and energy to hit the road.

"I was in high school track and field from the age of 12, and then I entered the army at 19, so there was always some form of exercise in my life from early on," he says. "I didn't stop once I was working, as keeping fit and healthy sort of becomes part of your life."

From working out in a gym, playing basketball, to running regularly, he became serious about fitness some years ago while living in New York. He decided to try running a marathon. "The New York City Marathon is one of the best organised and most popular events in the world. I signed up and ran through the city," he says. "By the end of it, I was crushed. You need to train properly."

At 26, he added swimming and cycling to his repertoire and started triathlons. He moved to Hong Kong, where he joined a triathlon club, and his passion for the sport really grew. "Some are better bikers, some swim better, and others run well. Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, but the aim is to beat yourself," he says. "We all have hurdles and crossing the finish line is the goal. What position you finish in is up to you."

What's been the biggest challenge as a triathlete?

I did very leisurely swimming and biking, but never seriously trained for those disciplines. I wouldn't say I was particularly weak or strong at either - I think I'm balanced in all three disciplines, which I think is the best way to be. I started training hard for all three at the same time and, more importantly, I really enjoy each of them. The mindset should be to enjoy all aspects so you don't bemoan one part.

Is this the best shape you've been in?

I'm lighter than I was 10 years ago. When I was 19, I was 73kg. I feel fitter than ever - though it's not so much about weight but overall endurance.

With age and experience what's been a big lesson?

The importance of rest. Most triathletes learn to manage their body better. It's a really good thing to learn with time - you know how your body feels and you listen to it. When you're tired or injured, you process it better. When you're young, you spring right back, but as I get older, I'm more mindful.

How is your diet now? Anything particular you do before a race?

To be honest, I don't watch what I eat, normally. I think it's one of the benefits of training so hard. The only thing I do before a race, perhaps a week before, is to cut down on junk food and heavy meals. People do tend to carbo-load before the race, as it's fuel for the body when you race. For me, it's the day after the race that I go all out. Pizza is my great indulgence.

What's the best part of being a triathlete?

It's such a motivational sport. Unlike other sports, you're not in it to win it. We don't all run to come in first; taking part is key. It's a sense of improving yourself. It's the training process. The goal in mind is not to give up. And it's the sport with the greatest camaraderie. People of all ages come together and inspire each other. We talk about the challenges and goals. And living in Asia, we get to meet others and plan events to meet up at, and take part in the great races in places like Phuket, Bali, Hong Kong, Bhutan and Japan. It's a touristic sport.

Why does it seem like such an intimidating sport?

There may be three fields to master at once but it's such an inspirational sport, rather than intimidating. Most of my friends who take part are older than me and they aren't competing with each other but against themselves. I find them so inspirational. The time they're trying to beat is their own, not anyone else's. And everyone has their moments of highs and lows. You're always looking to improve your personal best. I could do this for the next 10 or 20 years.

Do you do any other sport?

I have been doing yoga at least once a week for the past two to three years. My girlfriend also does it. After the intensity of a triathlon, I find it very restorative.

Caption: Ho Ren-hua on a training run in Shek O village. "Everyone has their strengths and weaknesses, but the aim is to beat yourself." Photo: Herbert Tsang

January 17, 2012
Health Post

How yoga straightened me out

German-born, American-bred Claudia Whitney, 36, wasn't always keen on the idea of doing yoga pretzel poses. She once saw yoga as a foreign form of exercise that wasn't meant for her.

"I had the same excuses as a lot of people I meet today: 'I'm not flexible', 'There is not enough time', or 'This isn't for me'," she says. "But I finally got into it 11 years ago in New York. I was hooked from my first class. I struggled the whole way through, but the experience shifted me on so many levels that there was no looking back."

An ancient practice originating in southern India, it seemed like a fad at first, when celebrities (and then everyone else) took to it. But why did the fad not fade?

"Yoga is more than a workout; I think that it becomes a way of life for most people," says Whitney, now an instructor at Pure Yoga. "You start to shift destructive patterns on the mat, and then you're capable of changing things in your everyday life. Without this outlook, the poses we do in class mean nothing, and I think that is what keeps people coming back."

Whitney thinks yoga would benefit youngsters, too, to help calm teenage anxiety and hormonal turmoil.

"I was a wild child - well, I'm still a wild girl - but growing up, I had to face some tough times," she says. "Yoga has helped me find balance and calmed me down. I wish I had started earlier, as it really centres you. I've learned to let go of a lot of the nonsense and focus on positive things ... I've honestly never been happier in my life."

Were you a sporty person as a child?

I was not a sporty child, and my diet was terrible. I ended up being overweight in my late teens and early 20s, so I started educating myself about nutrition and fitness, and that is when I first committed to working out. Changing my diet and working with a personal trainer helped me to shed the extra weight and improve my confidence. Eventually, I found yoga and, while it keeps me fit, it has become more than a physical practice. I can't imagine my life without it.

I guess you had the diet of most teenagers?

Yes, I grew up eating fried food, junk food and fast food. When I made the choice to lose weight and get healthy, I stopped eating all of these things and started experimenting with my diet. At one point I ate only raw vegan food for three years, and I felt amazing. When I moved to Asia, I was so excited about the variety of food and flavours that I reintroduced cooked food, and now I'm about 70 per cent to 75 per cent raw vegan, and I've never felt better.

Have you made a spiritual journey to India?

I spent three months in India six years ago. I travelled to Mysore first to study ashtanga yoga with Pattabhi Jois and Sharath Rangaswamy. Practise started at 5am, so I had the rest of the day to study anything I was interested in. I learned a southern Indian style of painting called Kannada, and I studied meditation and drawing with another teacher. We would sit outside his house on the ground and meditate before each lesson, which started out with scribbling with crayons to get me to loosen up. I also took vegetarian Indian cooking classes and studied Carnatic music [the classical music of southern India].

As a yoga teacher, what's your sales pitch?

If someone is really interested then I usually invite him or her to try a complimentary class at Pure Yoga. Most people are usually only interested in the physical benefits because practising yoga creates a toned, flexible and strong body, but there are benefits beyond that, like feeling more energetic and maintaining a balanced metabolism. You're promoting cardio and circulatory health, and it helps stress levels. When you practise steadily, you are also building awareness of your body, feelings, relationships and the world around you. It's a complete package.

Are men more averse to yoga than women?

Men who go to the gym usually have a misconception that yoga is only stretching and meditation, and they don't realise that it is also extremely physically challenging. I have noticed an increase in male attendance in the past couple of years. They find it's a great complement to their gym workout or any sport. Anyone can do it, and it's not going to tear up your body.

Pic Caption: Strike a pose: Pure Yoga instructor Claudia Whitney. Photo: May Tse


Byline: P. Ramakrishnan
e-mail ramakrishnanp@hotmail.com
January 3, 2012
Health Post

Ride of her life: Fit and Fab Pearl Tam: Health Post feature

Fit & Fab column for South China Morning Post

Ride of her Life: Pearl Tam

Words: P. Ramakrishnan

It's less than five years since Pearl Tam became a triathlete, but the 42-year-old is now one of the sport's keenest advocates in Hong Kong. The physical transformation aside (her waistline is notably slimmer, she says), this regime of swimming, cycling and running has had a host of health benefits, too. 

"I used to have back problems, little health issues were creeping up as I grew older," she says. These days, she no longer has those aches and pains, and is rarely ill. Before her foray into multisport, she used to run just for fun in gyms or outdoors around Sha Tin. Then, in 2007, she joined Titan Triathlon Club and, for the first time, had a proper training programme to follow. 

"I grew more focused. I worked out harder," she says. "I work harder in my office, too, as I'm more focused and goal-oriented." Tam, who lives in Tai Lam, enjoys working out on the trails and riding around the country park in that area. "In a gym, you can run and run, but you're going nowhere. In the countryside, there's a goal in sight, a beginning, middle and end. You feel like you've accomplished something after every run or ride." 

Did a triathlon seem overwhelming in the beginning, especially since you came to it so late? "Maybe, but I'm one of those people who want to meet a challenge head on. When I decided I was going to work out harder, stronger and better, I didn't let anything stop me. It's both a mental and physical challenge, in equal measure. For some people, getting up early to work out is hard as they don't want to get out of bed. I usually train at night because of my day job [at a toy factory] and busy mornings. So even when I'm tired after work, I say to myself: "It doesn't matter; I must work out." And then I take the 10-minute drive to the location, change and go for it. 

What's been the biggest challenge? 

The hardest part for me was the swimming. I didn't know how to swim front crawl before I joined the triathlon club. The coach gave me some exercises and taught me techniques to conquer the discipline. Now I'm a bit more relaxed about it. I always ran in the past, so that was no problem, and biking is always enjoyable. I used to bike for fun before; now it's more strenuous, of course. 

Can anyone do this? 

Yes, I think anybody can do this. You don't need an expensive gym membership, huge personal trainer fees or designer workout wear - just the will to do it. The most expensive part of this is probably getting a good, light bike, but that's a one-off expense. You can get a cheap bike, too, if you can't commit to the sport and just want to try it first. When you're sure, you'll feel self-motivated to get the best equipment. For running and swimming, your body is the best equipment. 

Did you ever hit the proverbial wall and think you can't do this any more? 

Sometimes I have that feeling, but I say to myself: "It's all or nothing." When I work, I work harder when I feel I'm getting tired; I tell myself to. When I feel bad during a swim, I say to myself: "Keep going." The body won't fail you first. It's your mind playing tricks on you. 

Do you have a role model? 

Daniel Lee Chi-wo, the former Hong Kong triathlon champion who was one of Asia's best. I don't think he competes any more, but he remains in great shape. He has a bike shop, and when I went there to get my bike, I kept stealing glances at him. 

Is there a particular goal in mind? 

I want to do more competitions, like the Kam Sheung Road Duathlon organised by Titan Triathlon two Sundays ago. In Hong Kong, I'm always looking for races I can compete in. The purpose isn't to come first or second, but just to participate. I encourage my friends to just try it. That's another goal, to get more people involved. 

How would you encourage others to join the sport? 

I'd tell them that it's not just for health and fitness reasons, it's a lifestyle choice. And somehow, being a triathlete also makes you do better at everything else, too. It clears your mind and keeps you physically fit. You'll work better no matter what your job is. If you skateboard, do rowing or ride a bike, you'll do those things better, too. 

Is it an individualistic sport? 

It can be. I train by myself and with friends. It's up to the individual. I found it a great way to meet people. It's a very social sport. I have made a lot of new friends. When we see one another running, swimming or riding we always encourage each other. The competitive streak only comes out during races. While we're training we want everyone to do better. We discuss future competitions, common goals and the many amusing things that have happened during races. 

December 20, 2011 

Health Post Pic Caption: Pearl Tam says training for multisport events has sharpened her mind and her body, and helped make her more focused in the workplace. Photo: K.Y. Cheng

The Arc of a Diver: South African Diver's stellar career as a model in Asia: David Oshry

Fit & Fab: David Oshry 

Health Post Weekly Column

Words: P. Ramakrishnan

Images: Sabrina Sikora 

Years before David Oshry, one of Asia’s top male models, posed in swimsuits, he competed in them. From ages eight to 18, he was a diver, jumping off boards around his native South Africa, where he competed against the best athletes in the region. 

In 1996, he made the Olympic team, but to his dismay, the South African government decided not to send a diving team to Atlanta in the US that year. “It was a political and financial thing,” says Oshry, 30. “I still have my Speedo trunks and a box full of medals in the bottom of a cupboard at my parents’ house in South Africa. There is no way the Speedo would fit me now.” 

That’s not to say he’s out of shape – it’s because he’s put on about two pants sizes in muscle since he quit diving and starting training in the gym. Sport has always been part of his life. In his younger days he also swam and dabbled in athletics, soccer, tennis, squash, field hockey and chess, “until I realised it wasn’t really a sport”, he laughs. “When you have spent most of your life training really hard, I find it is kind of like an addiction,” says Oshry. “If I miss gym for more than three or four days I get cranky and experience what can only be described as withdrawal symptoms. It’s not that different from giving up cigarettes or alcohol.” 

South China Morning Post: So what does a diver’s workout consist of? 

David Oshry: An average workout would begin with about 45 minutes to an hour of stretching, muscle building and strength exercises. Then it’s either into the water or, if it is too cold, train on the trampoline. The water is the most tiring aspect. It doesn’t sound like hard work, but when you dive over and over again, about 100 times a session, it eventually wears you down. 

SCMP: Were you on a special diet? 

David Oshry: I used to follow a “see food” diet. That is when you see food, you eat it. I just remember being hungry all the time. I used to eat more than all the other members of my family put together. 

Did the training teach you to be disciplined, or were you always that way? 

David Oshry: I don’t think of it as discipline. It’s more like conditioning. I started out at a young age doing things a certain way, over and over again. By the time I was old enough to question whether this was the way I wanted to do things, I already had certain character traits ingrained in my personality. Character traits such as never giving up, no matter how tough a task is physically or mentally, or how distant the reward seems. Or being able to step forward, peer over the edge of a three-storey concrete tower, turn your back to the water, and jump off. 

SCMP: Are you still a competitive person? 

David Oshry: If I try a sport and I am not instantly good at it, I feel like an amateur and I don’t like it. But that’s really just a fancy way of saying that if I can’t win at something, I don’t want to play. 

SCMP: Do you still dive? 

David Oshry: I seldom dive anymore. Diving isn’t like riding a bicycle. I can’t just pick up where I left off. I can still do some very basic things, although not very well. Compared to what I used to be able to do, it is downright embarrassing. 

SCMP: There are many gym fans out there who aren’t as cut as you – so what are you doing differently? 

David Oshry: The single biggest thing that I do differently is that I go to the gym and I work out. A lot of people these days are looking for a magic formula, that new special routine or exercise where they don’t have to sweat, where it doesn’t hurt and they don’t get too tired. Well the truth is, there is no zero-impact, feel-good exercise that lets you eat anything you want and still look great without putting in the effort. It really isn’t rocket science. 

SCMP: Which exercise routine or diet have you found works best for you? 

David Oshry: I like the Body for Life way by the author and celebrity motivator Bill Phillips. He advises things such as eating more small meals through the day instead of three large meals. I also prefer to go to the gym more frequently and work out for a shorter time. If I ever spend more than an hour in the gym, I know that it will get harder to convince myself to go back the next time. And I am a firm believer in taking one day a week off from your diet and gym routine. 

SCMP: Do you have any indulgences? 

David Oshry: I enjoy a beer or three on occasion. The trick is to try to make sure that your off-days coincide with your day off. 

Beyond the treadmill

Fit & Fab: Michal Bucek
Health Post,
The South China Morning Post

By P.Ramakrishnan
(ramakrishnanp@hotmail.com)

Michal Bucek, 30, a personal trainer and a top triathlete, has a list of achievements so long it could take up this whole page. He recently returned from the Holy Grail of triathlons, the Ironman World Championships in Kailua-
Kona, Hawaii. A few weeks later, he finished third amateur overall at the Taiwan 70.3, a half-ironman in Kenting.

He’s in the best shape of his life, but he has worked hard for it. Some people are naturally thin, but Bucek isn’t one of them. Growing up in what is now
Slovakia, he was the odd one out within his active family, who often kayaked, ran and swam together on weekends. “I was very overweight, and I was super lazy,” says Bucek. It’s hard to believe that when you see him stream past the
finishing line, clad in some unforgiving spandex.

The turning point, he says, came at age 17, when he began to look for a girlfriend and become self-aware. He started a triathlon training programme, and has kept fit ever since. He’s following in the footsteps of his 60-year-old father, a member of the International Olympic Committee who still
stays in great shape.

“When I see my father, I’m still inspired. Others tell me I am their
role model. I, in turn, see my father as mine,” Bucek says.

Are age and weight factors in becoming a triathlete?
It doesn’t matter if you are middle-aged or overweight. You can start anytime as long as you train properly. It’s got nothing to do with age; it’s more about self-confidence and commitment to the sport. If you are mentally ready, it can be done.

Why are more people leaving the comforts of a gym to try out adventure sports?
Because it’s a quicker way to lose weight. In fact, the fastest way to
get in shape is probably to train for and do a triathlon. In a big fitness
centre, 99 per cent of the time the focus is on weightlifting and not on endurance. Running on a treadmill is boring; you feel like a hamster going nowhere. When you train outdoors, you burn more calories, especially in Hong Kong, as conditions are tough. So, you can burn 40 to 50 per cent more calories.
The humidity, the temperature, the fact that your body is not very comfortable, unlike in a carpeted gym, makes your heart rate go up.

So you never work indoors?
I do workouts with my clients indoors, in a gym. I work on making their muscles stronger. It’s not about building big muscles, but strengthening them.

Do people lose confidence after the initial burst of excitement that comes from starting training?
I’ve never had to push a client; they come in motivated. They train for results, and you can see results quite quickly. They come by themselves, and they train on their own when I’m away. I’ve never had to babysit a client. I want people to love what they do. If they don’t, it’s self destructive. If they do, even if it’s raining, they’ll get the right gear and still train because they’re passionate about the sport.

How often do you train personally?
Whenever I have some free time. Between work assignments, I work out. Early mornings are great for me. I work late hours, but I’m lucky that if I’m training a client, I can do the sport with them. So I’m training all the time. I ride my bike to see my clients. I don’t take a bus or cab. In Hong Kong, that can be very dangerous, but I have no choice. I wear all my safety equipment and pray my instincts are sharp in traffic.

Are Hongkongers in it for vanity or for health?
Both. It’s 50/50. At first, I trained mostly Westerners. That has
changed. I used to train mostly women, and that has changed. Now more local residents, and more men, are coming in. People realise that the body is a
machine, that must be looked after. More do it for health, and they see quick results, which encourages them to keep training.

Is there a motto you follow?
Anything is difficult if you don’t really want to do it. Everything is easy if you have the commitment.

Zoom for Improvement: Photographer Olaf Mueller for Fit & Fab column: Health Post, in SCMP

Fit & Fab: Olaf Mueller 

Photographer Olaf Mueller never really struggled with weight. At university, he was a sporty student, working out and playing team sports regularly. Post-marriage and two kids, he remained active, ate a low-carb, high-protein diet, and exercised religiously. 

But even those who’ve known him for years have been amazed by his recent transformation to a lean, mean silhouette. Apart from weight, he has shaved off years in his looks. But there’s no secret Benjamin Button pill he’s swallowed. Since picking up triathlon, Mueller has transmogrified from artist to athlete in the space of months. 

“I wanted to break out of the routine of my daily life. I love challenges and one day in March I decided, for myself, I must do something new,” says Mueller, 31, who did his first triathlon in June. He’s signed up for the Phuket 70.3 on Dec 4, a triathlon that involves a 1.9km swim, 90.1km cycle and 21.1km run. The challenge of the sport, he says, is not race day itself, but the long preparation before it. 

“I started [training] seven months before and it’s a daily commitment.” 

His wife Jessica, like a host others, are amazed that his recent self-shot photos aren’t the product of Photoshop. “I’ve never been this fit my entire life. My entire physical structure has changed,” he says. Mueller admits the temptation to quit in the beginning was there. A natural runner, he was so bad at cycling he found it “depressing”, and swimming was even worse. But he never let go. 

“I’m an extreme character; once committed, I’m in for the long run. I was tired for the first two to three months, then I hit a wall and then, something clicked and it stopped hurting. Now I have so much energy, if I don’t train, I feel something’s wrong.” 

Was it hitting 30 that made you rethink your life and health? 

Age had nothing to do with it. I wanted to do something new. Especially in Hong Kong, you can get so sedentary and in a routine. I’m always at events and exhibitions, and the drinking culture of the city is hard to escape. I’ve always loved my beer, but something strange has happened recently, my body automatically rejects alcohol after a certain point. I get my fix through the sport. 

Do you train with others? 

I train on my own – I have a busy life full of people so this is my quiet time. I get up at five in the morning to start my training routine – it used to be hard to get up early, but not anymore. I live in Clearwater Bay, where there are others in group training, but I wanted to do this at my own pace. I have an online coach – it costs about US$250 a month – who puts me on a training schedule. He plans my workouts, he understands how fast I can recover, he tells me what to do and not to, what sort of equipment to get, and so on. What most people do wrong is that they dive right into the routine and crash and burn. You need to build your stamina, heal your muscles and get your bones ready for the impact. The online trainer helps pace me properly. 

How long do you train for? 

I train between 14 and 16 hours per week. People think they don’t have that kind of luxury of time, but it’s really a matter of discipline. It’s not that difficult. Because I’m up so early, I get to see my kids go to school. I work long hours, so in the past, I rarely saw the kids in the morning as I was asleep. 

What’s the best part of your routine? 

It may seem wrong but I eat more than ever – guilt-free. Most people eat less as they want to get slimmer, but my primary objective was never to get thinner – that happened automatically. I wanted to be fit, to meet the challenges. Because I burn so many calories so quickly, I get to eat whatever I like. I eat more carbohydrates, more healthy fats, and less protein, as digesting red meat makes me tired. I still enjoy wine and beer, but I drink plenty of water as alcohol is dehydrating. I don’t deprive myself of anything – and still this is the best shape my body has ever been in. 

Have you changed your wardrobe? 

I was always a large or extra large and have all these amazing clothes that now float on me. I still haven’t had a chance to shop – my waistline has gone from 35 to 30. 

But surely this isn’t for everyone? 

I think for me, that was part of the appeal. Only a very minor population on the planet has the stamina to do this, to commit to it, to not give up. I do have to say, it’s an expensive sport to get into. But for me, it’s been the best thing. Triathletes are the fittest people in the world. 

By P. Ramakrishnan 

Portrait: Olaf Mueller

Health Post, 

South China Morning Post