How losing 11kg in 15 weeks helped Asep reverse his pre-diabetes

“I feel healthier than ever! No more daily medication for me!”

Asep has reversed his pre-diabetes and shaped a six-pack physique he’s proud of…all in 15 weeks.

The 41-year-old was in shock when doctors told him he was pre-diabetic during his annual health check-up.

He’d always thought himself healthy. But his active lifestyle and cardio exercise weren’t enough to offset his diet laden with ‘Asian comfort foods’ like fried chicken and crackers.

It was a wake-up call to fix his health…and partnering with Ultimate Performance helped him reprogram his diet, learn the art of weight training, and strip off the years of body fat he’d accumulated.

Fifteen weeks later, he’s not just lost 11kg…but he’s brought down his blood pressure, fixed his diabetes, and resolved painful long-running neck and lower back problems. Even his friends are commenting on how much younger he looks.

Here, Asep explains more about the transformation he’d been through, what changed with his diet, and how he’s been able to come off his diabetes medication…

What was your main motivation for joining U.P.?

I used to think I was healthy enough, but I realised I wasn’t, and I wanted to be. I’ve tried to stay active in the past, but it never seemed to be enough, and then the annual screening result came back from the doctor showing I had pre-diabetes and that was when I decided I needed to do something. One of my colleagues had joined U.P. in the past and had life-changing results and that really inspired me to join.

What was your lifestyle like prior to joining U.P.?

I did plenty of cardio exercises, so I always thought I was healthy enough. Weightlifting was never something that appealed to me, so I never bothered to do any of it until I joined U.P. I understood how to use some of the equipment at the gym, but I didn’t know what it was for and the correct form when using it. Joining U.P. has really opened my eyes and helped me to understand my body so much better.

My diet was completely wrong too. I ate a lot of spicy food and crackers, fried chicken – basically Asian comfort food. I’ve never really been a big fan of red meat, but I do love veggies. I would eat everything apart from food that was restricted for my religion.

Mentally, I was emotionally unstable and often moody, but I know now that was probably down to the food I was eating. Since joining U.P. I feel like my mind and body are healthier. Now I know exactly what to eat, how to eat, and what foods are good and bad for my health. It’s been the best education I’ve ever had.

It’s great to hear that you’ve learned so much about nutrition. You mentioned you hadn’t lifted weights before. What was your training program like and what benefits have you noticed?

My workout routine consisted of training at U.P. three times a week and up to twice a week at home on my own, as well as completing 10K steps a day. Even now, I still run or cycle at the weekend with my friends and if I’m on a business trip I’ll do three sessions of weightlifting a week.

Luckily, my trainer Mike is always available for me to contact, and he offers me guidance on what type of exercises I can do if there’s no gym.

I’ve realised that not all the equipment at the gym is suitable for my ability, and now I know which movements and types of exercise will give me the most impact for my transformation. Before joining U.P., I never imagined I’d be able to lift my body up when doing pull-ups. It’s always been hard but being able to do them feels like a huge achievement.

Your transformation took place over Ramadan. How did that impact your training and diet?

I never thought I’d be able to exercise during Ramadan, and I didn’t think I’d be able to lift weights while fasting. But I found that if I doubled my breakfast or doubled my dinner, without compromising on my daily allowance that Mike had set, I was able to exercise just fine. Singapore is very hot during the day, so during Ramadan I cycled at night. It was really beneficial to know that I was still able to take part in the training program fully even during Ramadan.

You had some medical conditions during your training. How did your trainer work around those and have they improved as a result of your training?

I suffered with lower back and neck problems, and experienced shoulder blade issues during training but my trainer was so helpful and adjusted all the exercises to help counteract my problems and enable me to train safely. He’s a really great listener and understood my bad habits and taught me how to change them.

Joining U.P. has changed my life. You can’t compromise on your health. I used to see a chiropractor for my lower back and neck issues but now they’ve all gone. I think it’s more than that though; everything changes – the way you look at people, the way you speak, how you think of yourself. I never thought it would have such a positive impact, but it has.

What’s more, thanks to my PT and my training, I was able to come off daily medication for my pre-diabetes. After joining U.P. I had the best annual screening result of my life, especially for my glucose level, which is now at a super healthy range, plus my blood pressure has come down. My doctor was so impressed with my result, and so am I.

What advice would you give to someone with pre-diabetes who is looking to get in shape but might be nervous?

I would say to trust the process. You’re in great hands with the U.P. team and they will help you to adjust exercises and diet so that they are right for you. Reversing pre-diabetes is a big achievement and it’s been a game-changer for me.

You’ve lost 11kg and significantly reduced your body fat percentage. How do you feel now when you look in the mirror?

I feel totally different. Coming into the program I didn’t have any expectations as such, I just wanted to be healthier. But I got so much more! The shape of my face has changed, and I have a more defined jawline. My love handles are non-existent, and I have the beginnings of a six-pack, which I’ve never had before! I can see a healthier version of myself and I’m speechless with the results because I never imagined I would look like this.

My friends keep telling me I look younger which is a great compliment. But I think the most important thing is my confidence. In the past I would never have put a topless photo on social media but now if I go swimming for example, I can walk to the pool confidently. I’m very proud of myself and appreciate myself more.

You’ve definitely seen some great benefits, that’s amazing! So, would you recommend U.P. to other people?

I would definitely recommend U.P. to others looking to change their life and their health. All my success is thanks to my trainer. He never tired of training and guiding me, and he was always available 24 hours a day to answer my questions about diet or exercises. The second week of my program I had to fly to New York for a business trip and he was willing to teach me online over FaceTime for an hour on a completely different time zone. I feel like this is how the relationship between the trainer and the client should work, but I’ve only found it with U.P. Your commitment to be part of my success and help me reach my goals helped me to remain committed to the process, no matter how tired I was feeling.

If you want to take control of your health like Asep – whether that means losing weight or overcoming diabetes – enquire today and learn how we can help you accomplish your goals.

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