New Year’s resolution spurs runner and family to lose over 100kg combined

SINGAPORE – It all started with a half-hearted New Year’s resolution in 2022 before a visit to the doctor jolted Sharifah Osman into making a concerted move to fight the flab.

The mother of two not only managed to bring down her weight significantly, but she also motivated her husband and son to adopt a healthier lifestyle as the trio succeeded in losing over 100kg within two years.

The then-supply chain manager, 49, recalled she said she wanted to lose weight, just like in previous years, when a colleague asked about her New Year’s resolution in January 2022. At that time, she weighed 105kg, which made her obese for her height of 1.58m.

But a visit to her doctor later that month made her stick to her resolution, as she was reminded that she had been taking medication for three major chronic illnesses – high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes – for several years.

Sharifah said: “I thought ‘this is getting out of hand’. My husband had a second heart attack that year. My daughter is still young, she has special needs.

“And my son, I cannot burden him with this. He is going to take care of three people, two parents who have chronic illnesses and one special needs sister, it’s not fair on him.”

That realisation prompted Sharifah to engage personal trainer Deen Mujahid, who motivated her to exercise and change her diet by cutting out rice and other unhealthy food.

That was the start of a satisfying journey as she has since lost over 50kg in 17 months, and on Oct 27, will take part in her second Great Eastern Women’s Run.

Her weight loss has also helped keep her illnesses under control and wean her off the medication.

“I need to do something to change my life. It means this time has to be serious. I feel like it’s very hard to lose weight, we love food, and food is like my comfort. Whenever I’m stressed, I eat,” said Sharifah.

“That’s why building good habits is very important. When I met my coach, he was always very consistent. He always follows up, when I see progress, then I gain confidence. As I lost weight, I could do (more) exercise, so it becomes like a routine every day.”

When she started exercising, Sharifah, who lives on the 13th floor of her HDB block, would take the stairs instead of using the lift, skip rope, walk 5km daily in the morning and hit the gym during lunchtime.

Deen, whom Sharifah described as her “saviour”, was humbled by the title. Said the 31-year-old: “I believe every head has to bow and it’s every coach’s dream to be called a saviour.”

Her first GE Women’s Run in 2023 was through Deen’s initiation, as her workouts had mostly been static.

“I was so scared, because I’ve never done a run before. But after that run, it gave me confidence to do other runs,” said Sharifah.

She has since participated in the Run for Hope 2023 and Run for Light 2024 events.

Sharifah’s resolve also helped convince her husband Supian Abdul Ghani and son to take up a more active lifestyle.

A golf course marshal, Supian weighed 98kg in 2022 and had suffered two heart attacks in 2012 and March 2022.

The 54-year-old, who managed to lose over 20kg, said: “After my second heart attack, Sharifah told me to buck up and take care of my health because there may not be a third chance.

“She also told me to quit smoking which I eventually did.”

Their son Syahmi, who shares his mother’s love for Zumba, weighed just over 100kg in 2022.

The 25-year-old preschool educator, whose weight is now 70kg, said: “Having my mother do this also motivated me to keep up with my diet and (new) lifestyle.”

The family now go on walks or bicycle rides together regularly.

As for Sharifah, who has since left her job, she hopes to become a personal trainer and one day enrol her family on a 5km family run together.