Weight Loss: TCM Slimming with Slim Couture

If you’ve seen my twitter, (follow me @yinagoh), you might have seen the above tweets I posted a couple of weeks ago, about my new slimming endeavours!

I hesitate to call it a slimming programme cos that makes it sound like a fad diet of sorts, but my latest attempt to lose the fat and shed off some weight actually involves a very holistic approach with TCM (traditional chinese medicine) as well as a healthy diet dictated by the slimming salon! No gimmicks here!

First off, THIS IS NOT A PAID ADVERTORIAL.

But because I’m so excited about Slim Couture, I want to share about it with all you readers.

An acquaintance of mine, Wan Ting, who has personally been a customer of Slim Couture herself, actually introduced to Slim Couture. What really got me interested though, was that Wan Ting told me about how she herself lost 7kg in 6 weeks time with Slim Couture! I was shocked when she told me about her huge weight loss, and was totally sold.

I then visited Slim Couture‘s Facebook page, and looked through ALL the testimonials and photos they posted up.

You know how some big brand slimming companies always promise incredible results, with beautifully air-brushed photos, and an unbelievable before and after comparison photo?

There was none of that sleekness and blatant advertising that I’d come to associate with slimming companies, but Slim Couture‘s Facebook page was filled with screenshots of testimonials sent in by customers, and really authentic-looking “before and after” photos.. You know it’s real because the “after” photos are not perfect bods or airbrushed by any means, but showed clear improvement and results on customers, in a realistic and believable way.

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If you’re a long time reader of my blog, you’d know that I’ve been battling with weight loss issues my entire life. I was fat until I hit my 20s, when I lost more than 10kg with slimming pills, hardcore exercise, and by eating very little. It might not have been the healthiest method, but yes, it worked for me back then and I lost 10kg, and dropped about 2 dress sizes.

The last time I blogged about weight loss and keeping healthy was almost a year ago, when I was at Amore Fitness for personal training and classes. And since then, I’ve actually put on a shocking amount of weight 🙁 The kind of unhealthy food that I was eating (come onnnn so much good food every day, 不肥才怪) as well as my busy schedule and lack of exercise actually caused me to totally neglect taking care of my body, and slowly but surely, the weight stealthily crept back on….

And I really can’t help it sometimes, because I tend to eat very well especially with my friends, YZ and my family 🙁 Unlike the lucky girls out there, I put on weight VERY easily. 还有我的嘴巴真的很痒.

So when I weighed-in at Slim Couture during my first session on the 17th of October, I was feeling quite depressed already. For the record, I weighed 56.1kg, which is 3kg more than my usual weight of 53kg. And even worse than the weight, were the photos I had to take in my underwear (standard protocol for before-and-after comparisons) because I LOOKED SO BAD.

Not even kidding about how terrible I looked. I have actually been avoiding looking at myself in full-length mirrors for the past few months when I’m not dressed, because it makes me feel so lousy about myself 🙁 It was like reality crashing in on me, when I looked at the photos of myself with my unsightly fats that couldn’t be hidden anymore.

If you’re going to exclaim “But you where got fat?!” to me, let me tell you that I have 100% photographic evidence that I’m not ready to share yet, of just how fat I am. 

I can get away with it because I have quite a small face, and genetically skinny wrists, calves and long legs. But in actual fact, I’m a big UK8 (for tops) and fat UK10 for bottoms, and TVD clothes in size M are getting tight on me. Super FML because I can’t even fit into the clothes I manufacture anymore. That totally sucks. 

The worst thing is that I have to go out so often to meet people professionally, as a blogger, as a business owner. And I feel so insecure and unconfident when I know that I’m not looking my best. So I’ve been trying my best to cover up with long-sleeved apparels like blazers and loose tops in order to hide my fats 🙁 And you know what? MY FRIENDS ARE ALL SLIM, TALL AND PRETTY. Or two out of the above three. Lol. That does wonders for my self-esteem, I can tell you. There are times when I really hate myself and what I see in the mirror.

Even for me, the queen of photoshop *Yes, I am really good at photoshopping away my flabby arms and what not*, there’s only so much that angles and photoshop can do for you, and I knew that it’s time I really did something about how unhealthy and fat I’ve let myself get.

In my 26 years, I’ve tried practically everything when it comes to weight loss. Cardio and running, personal training, detoxes, slimming machines and treatments, crash diets, even appetite suppressant pills. 

Some of them worked, and others didn’t. But there didn’t seem to be any foolproof method for me to actually lose weight and stay slim for good, except maybe if I go on a starvation diet, which is about the most unhealthy thing you can do for your body.

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Why did I decide to try TCM slimming at Slim Couture?

Simply put, I was desperate to lose weight, and to find an avenue that could help me with the weight loss healthily. TCM slimming is not something unheard of, after all, my good friend Jessica lost over 10kg doing acupuncture! And Wan Ting (that friend of mine who lost 7kg) was so super confident that Slim Couture could help me, because she’d experienced it for herself, as well as recommended many other friends and colleagues there, with outstanding results too. Without any hesitation, I agreed to go down for my first session last month, which was on the 17th of October.

Basically, TCM slimming therapies target fats by stimulating the acupuncture points and unclogging the meridians – commonly known as the natural energy pathways of the body. This helps to increase the body’s metabolism of fats, which in turn transforms into energy for the body’s consumption and is dispelled.

As compared to taking slimming supplements or crash dieting like what I tried previously, TCM slimming method is healthy, has no side effects, and the results are long-lasting.

During each session, a skilled therapist does Gua Sha (scraping) and Ba Guan (cupping) on me, not just on my back, but on my stomach, my arms, even my thighs. Honestly, for some areas (like my inner thighs) it can be really sensitive and painful during the Gua Sha part ;__; But it only lasts for those few minutes, and after so many sessions, I can now tell you that IT’S WORTH IT.

Since my first session, I have gone for a total of six sessions (twice a week, but I skipped a session the week I went to Hong Kong), and I guess everyone must be curious to know the results so far.

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I’ve lost about THREE kilograms already!

Not just that, my measurements have even significantly decreased, with a total of 25.5cm lost off areas like my arms, tummy, hips, and thighs!

Even I myself could hardly believe the results so far.. But the weighing scale and measuring tape don’t lie! One of the most amazing thing is that I actually lost 0.5kg after coming back from my Hong Kong trip, when I was so worried that I would put back on weight from all the good food! O_O I was really shocked to find out that I didn’t put on any weight in Hong Kong!

To be honest, I haven’t really seen a very visible difference in my physique, yet. Because I put on so much weight this year, even with the 3kg that I’ve lost with the help of Slim Couture, I’m just hovering slightly above my USUAL healthy weight of 53kg. Also, my fat percentage is still incredibly high =.=

However, the clothes that were getting too stiflingly tight on me earlier this year are now just a tad more comfortable to wear.

And also, I can now look at my own full-length reflection in the mirror without cringing as badly.

All these little things really hearten me, and I am feeling so much more hopeful and encouraged than I did a month ago!

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I have another six more sessions to go til the end of my twelve sessions, and I am hoping to lose another 3kg, to hit my ideal weight of 50kg. The folks at Slim Couture are extremely encouraging and kind, and have assured me that it is fully possible, if I am disciplined enough with my diet, to see myself to the end of the next three weeks!

Yes, it’s not just about going for TCM sessions twice a week, I also have to follow a fixed diet for optimal results! Obviously, going to Hong Kong kind of screwed up my diet a little.. But on the whole, I’ve been trying my very best to stick to the healthy diet that I’ve been prescribed with, and I’m SO happy that results are showing.. The last I measured, I’d already lost 5cm off my waist! (You can’t imagine how horribly fat I was to begin with)

It should be common knowledge by now that your eating habits and diet play a MAJOR role in weight loss. Although TCM helps to regulate blood circulation, internal secretion, detoxing, improve metabolism and digestion, which helps to promote the overall healthy effect on slimming, it can only be truly effective with the right diet.

So.. here’s some of the food I’ve been eating on my diet:

Healthy protein in the form of chicken or fish, and lots and lots of greens!

Cherry tomatoes to snack on throughout the day, which are really yummy! I’ve even figured out my favourite brands by now! (Try the Genting brand of cherry tomatoes, they’re really sweet!!)

ALOT of fruit, especially Dragon and Kiwi, to help detoxify and also to provide more fibre! Certain fruits like mango or durian are not advisable, due to the high fat content.

Of course, I can still indulge in the occasional steamboat like Hai Di Lao! Teehee. So my diet ain’t all that bad. I just have to make sure I don’t take the sodium-laden soup and unhealthy sauces, and stick to healthier options!

After the past three weeks of being with Slim Couture, my eating is so much more in control now. The awesome thing is, I still can eat three meals a day as per normal, and I don’t have to starve myself to lose weight! However, I now stay away from junk food, I cut out as much rice/noodles/carbs as possible, and I’m drinking a lot of water. No more binge eating or mindless snacking, which only leave me with a disgusting sense of guilt.

Now, I’m hoping that by the end of all twelve sessions, I can have a physique that I’d be happy with! Because I need to take my wedding photos sometime next year, and both YZ and I have been delaying it because.. we both think that we won’t look good in our wedding photos, the way we are now.

I guess if you’re genetically thin and have no weight issues, you won’t understand how much of a big deal this is to me. But it is. Just another six more sessions and three weeks to go! *fingers crossed* I believe that I can do it! :DDD

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For all those who are struggling with weight issues like I am, please remember that at the end of the day, you should never feel defeated or let yourself be defined by the numbers you see on the weighing scale! It’s more important to start changing yourself in ways that matter, such as adopting a healthier lifestyle with the right diet, rather than obsess over numbers, and the society standard of “thin”.

For myself, I know that I’ll never have a hot bod or be able to fit into a UK6, no matter what I do, because my body just wasn’t built with a frame that small. Regardless, I want to be the best that I can be, not for others, but for myself 🙂

My point is, don’t attempt to lose weight for the wrong reasons and with unhealthy methods! I’ve been there, done that. But now with Slim Couture, I feel like I am truly making a difference for myself and my body, in a holistic and healthy manner.

Check back with me in three weeks time.. I’ll be updating again, with the best kind of results, I hope! Meanwhile, you could take a look at Slim Couture‘s website, and Facebook page, if you’re curious to find out more.

Until then, stay healthy, and stay happy 🙂

xoxo