Fitness is something that many of us tend to overlook in our day-to-day life, but this mama cat has given us some motivation to carry out a healthier lifestyle!
Starting her fitness journey at a young age Nana has now became an inspiration to many. With over 220 thousand followers on Instagram, she is now a celebrity coach, TV host, and an entrepreneur!
Sevenpie received a golden opportunity with celebrity fitness coach Nana, who was once struggling with self-esteem and confidence, but shaped her whole life with the help of a personal life coaching professional and has now became a force to be reckoned with.
Read on, as Nana tells you what got her into fitness, how she juggles her lifestyle, and since became a content creator.
1. Hello Nana! It is so great to finally meet you! Could you tell our readers a little about yourself?
I’m a mama cat who wears many hats! Some days I’m a TV host and entrepreneur, and most days, I’m a fitness & wellness coach.
2. Your Instagram pictures have gained popularity with fitness related content, what would you say inspires you to work out often?
I had very low self-esteem when I was young. Even though I was super active and fit throughout my life, I still struggled with self-esteem & confidence. I picked up weight training at the age of 26 years old. I worked hard to get my dream body that has curves and definition. Now, at the age of 34, I’m more comfortable in my own skin. I maintain a slightly more feminine physique focusing on having good health. What inspires me to workout often, especially with machines like the Nordictrack 9.9 vs 14.9 elliptical, is the feeling that exercising gives me. It makes me feel free. It helps me get in the zone, connect to myself better & helps me understand my body. It always lifts up my day.
3. You are such an inspiration and a motivation for many of us, How did you start your fitness journey?
I owe my love of fitness to my mom. Since I was a toddler, she always introduced me to different types of fitness activities. She also taught me how to do sprints, which led me to represent my school, the Gombak District & Selangor State in track and field events throughout my primary & secondary school years. During uni years I got into Outdoor Rock Climbing and only picked up strength training after I graduated. Initially, sharing my routines on social media served as a diary for me to keep myself motivated and little that I know it would be my life calling to help and inspire others to get active and healthy.
4. What does a typical day in the shoes of Nana look like?
In the year 2020? I would say it’s a crazy mixture of being too chill and too busy. My days have been so unpredictable. On good days, I would be channelling my creativity to creating, recording & editing videos and photos for clients & my business page; or I would be having fun channelling my ‘makcik’ vibes hosting TV shows. On a chill day, I would just meditate, binge on Netflix series and think of new business opportunities or creative plans.
5. How do you find balance between working, staying fit and life?
This I struggle with A LOT! I still owe myself work-free vacations from 2 years ago! I can say that I’m quite a workaholic and I hardly have a social life. But getting sweaty either at home or at the gym has always been part of my weekly plans. I think these days, especially now with the pandemic spreading faster than ever, everyone is struggling and constantly finding alternative ways to sustain & survive. I hope and pray that 2021 will be a more rewarding for everyone, where each of us can feel slightly at ease and get the life balance we all need, plus stay worry free and safe.
6. What are some of your must-have fitness items and why?
Good Sports Bras, comfy skin hugging leggings, comfortable training shoes, a good quality yoga mat and resistant bands. A perfect combo for killer workout anytime, anywhere!
7. You are also a content creator and a fitness Influencer, What is it like being a content creator and an Influencer in this day and age?
It is challenging in a good way! There are so many talented content creators out there and they are a lot younger than I am, with fresh new ideas as well. Being one of the season ones forces me to think outside of the box. I have to constantly keep up to date with the latest trends – think TikTok! Gosh, never in a million years would I imagine sharing my awkward dancing online for others to see…and not to forget the current super cool and advanced editing skills! In a good way, it also pushes me to try & learn something new everyday – especially when it comes to finding ways to deliver educational content, that are fun yet beneficial for the viewers.
8. Fuelling your body is important when it comes to fitness. What does a typical healthy meal look like for you?
Naturally, I don’t have an appetite for junk food, thanks to mom! So eating a healthy meal comes easily and it has become a part of my lifestyle since I was young.
Typically I would skip breakfast (I usually don’t have an appetite in the morning) and just have a cup of black coffee either with dark choc pea milk, a dash of cinnamon or MCT oil.
For lunch & dinner, I would go for something simple like grilled chicken/fish/beef with a clean homemade sauce/soup (sambal/curry/asam pedas) and heaps of lightly sautéed garlic veggies with brown rice or basmati rice.
For snacks, it typically would be a serving of fruits – persimmons, mini mandarin oranges, apples and Honey Korean Lai!
I also make green smoothies at least 3-4 times a week!
9. Can you share some of your favourite fitness brands and why you love them?
Under Armour! I absolutely love their products! Their designs are so badass especially the #ProjectRock collection. The #UAMeridian collection is so comfy & feminine. I even wear them out for meetings and regular outings.
I also love the brand’s vision and what they stand for – pushing everyone to work harder during training, to believe in ourselves and to trust the process coz #TheOnlyWayIsThrough.
10. For our readers who are thinking of starting their journey into fitness, what are some of the advice you’d give them?
Find your Big Why! Don’t do it because someone else asked/told you to do it. Never compare your journey/progress with others because the hurdles you face are different – think about hormones, genetics, existing health conditions, your background, support systems and environments. Get to know your body, its capabilities & physical limitations. Get into fitness activities that you enjoy the most so you have a good time doing it, and learn more about food & nutrition as it is key to improve your overall fitness & health. Learn the correct techniques (hire a personal trainer if you need to coz it can save you from getting injuries), be consistent and just trust the process. It’s okay if your progress is slow as long as you are consistent. Remember your fitness journey is a lifetime journey. It’s not a quick fix that is over and done with in 30days, 60days or to meet special events. Make it a lifestyle and it will be a breeze & a joyful one!
