Expert Advice: Q&A with Eugene He of NatroSlim

At some point in our lives, we have all tried jumping onto the ‘healthier living’ bandwagon. Whether we’ve been successful through our numerous diet-changing attempts, detoxes or short-lived binge-exercise kicks, the mantra of a healthier lifestyle has always resonated strongly with most of us. It isn’t always the easiest task, of course, especially in a country known for being a food haven. To add to the struggle, Singapore has a bustling nightlife and late nights and calories from alcohol make the task of changing one’s health for the better, that much harder.

At NatroSlim, a relatively new weight management and lifestyle company in Singapore, established with the motto, ‘Empowering People, Touching Lives,’ people looking to start their healthy journey are taught to focus on four aspects – Smarter Eating, Get Moving, Support and Balanced Living. We spoke to NatroSlim’s Programme Director Mr. Eugene He, about his expert advice about everything – from starting this often challenging task of adopting a healthier lifestyle, to keeping motivated while on it.

Smarter Eating:

Marie France Asia: What exactly is smarter eating and how does a person looking to lose weight, go about doing that?

Eugene He: Smarter eating is knowing when, how and what to eat to ensure your body stays healthy and lean. To summarize, at NatroSlim, we promote a diet that consist of 50% non-starchy vegetables, 25% lean protein, 20% complex carbohydrates and 5% cold pressed oils. We also encourage avoiding pro-inflammatory ingredients such as sugar, gluten, dairy and hydrogenated fats.

MFA: What are the biggest three tips you could offer to someone who is trying to develop better eating habits?

Eugene He: Read up to learn more about what you are eating. Most of the times, the information you learn will encourage and motivate you further to eat well.
Start slowly. Don’t expect to change your dietary habits overnight. Pace yourself and set achievable targets.
Spring clean your kitchen, pantry, work desk and drawers of offenders such as snacks and sweets. If it’s not there, you can’t eat it.

MFA: What kind of portion control would you recommend to someone looking to lose weight?

Eugene He: Your brain takes about 20 minutes to realize that you are full, so take your time and don’t gobble up your food. As a rule of thumb, the amount of carbohydrates such as rice and noodles should fill only 20% of your plate.

Get Moving:

MFA: Where should a physically inactive person start?

Eugene He: Start from home or in the office. At home, you can start with low intensity activities such as gardening or floor cleaning, or take long evening walks. In the office, there are stretches and exercises you can do while on the chair.

MFA: Where does one draw the line between healthy exercise and over-excessive exercise?

Eugene He: If you are not an athlete but you engage in high intensity workout for at least 2 hours daily, or if you find yourself trading important events just so you can hit the gym or go for a run, then you might be exercising excessively.

MFA: How does one maintain a workout schedule and stay disciplined without external help?

Eugene He: Always tie a goal to a workout schedule. That will motivate you to stay disciplined. Do ensure your schedule and goals are realistic and achievable.

Support:

MFA: What kind of support systems exist for people looking to lose weight, or what type of support systems would you recommend?

Eugene He: If you belong to a gym that offers group classes, you can often find regulars in these classes. Befriend them and motivate one another. There are also independent exercise groups all over Singapore and they usually have their regular group exercise at the local park. At NatroSlim, we will be starting our regular support meetings so any interested participants can email us at [email protected]

MFA: How can one be motivated to embrace a healthier lifestyle?

Eugene He: Always reflect on your current state of health and ask if your current lifestyle will put you at any health risks in say, ten years time. On top of the health risks, will the state of your health implicate your loved ones and friends? For many people, their wish is to live longer, but my personal mantra is: live healthier longer.

MFA: Would you recommend group exercise to someone who has always been physically inactive, as a way of moral support?

Eugene He: Definitely. Many people are shy or nervous about joining a group exercise but I assure you that after the first session, you’ll get over it.

Balanced Living:

MFA: What is balanced living exactly?

Eugene He: To put it simply, it is to lead a life of health and happiness with moderation.

MFA: What special qualities can natural methods bring to the table, in terms of encouraging a balanced lifestyle?

Eugene He: Approaching a balanced lifestyle naturally is usually non-invasive and without harmful side effects. Results might take longer to achieve, but they are there to stay. Artificial methods to temporary achieve results, such as the use of drugs for weight loss, is not sustainable and can come with unwanted side effects. One must also take note that not all ‘natural’ is good. There is just too much junk information in the internet or peddled by untrained practitioners, so always research or refer to a reliable source. If it sounds too good to be true, it often is.

MFA: To what extent can indulgence be incorporated into a balanced lifestyle, and how does a person stay motivated while attempting to lead one?

Eugene He: If you love your char kway teow or chocolate cake, go for it, but in moderation. Forcing yourself to go on a strict diet and feeling miserable everyday is not balanced living. If you need to indulge, set yourself a cheat day weekly. If you absolutely will not get rid of drinking alcohol, then ensure you understand how to drink responsibly and know what to eat regularly to support your liver health. There is no fixed formula for a balanced lifestyle and if in doubt, it is always a good idea to see a nutritionist or a naturopath.

Diya-Maya Tsering Bhalla