I am fanatic when it comes to K-Dramas. I watch one after the other. Crushing on different oppas, envied on the starlets’ strong characters, and falling in love with the story lines.

As I envied the starlets, I try to emulate their strong and lean bodies. This is what motivated me into getting a life transformation regime – I worked out!

During a class reunion dinner, I reacquainted with another K-Drama fanatic named Fara. I did not recognize her at first because she was no longer the shy, plump girl who hid under frumpy clothes. She was full of confidence, fit and energetic. As we lived in the same area and are both fanatics of K-Drama, we started hanging out together.

She keeps teasing me about my dream to look like a K-Drama starlet. She says, “Hana, don’t just dream. Take action.”

Before I knew it, she dragged me to a Bootcamp trial. I felt like a lump of dough and was so unfit that I threw up halfway through. When it finally ended, I vow never to do it again.

Then the Covid-19 pandemic hits. The Movement Restriction Order and various SOPs disrupted my routine. I started working from home and no longer attending training, gyms, or exercise classes. To fill up time, I started bingeing on K-Drama while snacking continuously. My daily step count drop from 12,000 steps to a mere 1,000 steps.

Ultimately, I gained more than 8kg and was flabby all over. I no longer fit into my old clothes.

When my colleagues contacted me about returning to work in office soon, I became horrified. I was embarrassed to show them all the weights I have gained.

I cried for help and again Fara comes to my rescue. She motivated me to get back active. She simply says, “Get active, girl.”

Her first tip was “K-Drama treadmill marathon”.

She says “Instead of bingeing on the couch. Binge on the treadmill. I tried it and it was fun. As I get absorbed into the plot, I didn’t realize I could run from the start till the end of each episodes.

Her second tip was “Protein for a leaner and stronger body.”

She explained during MCO period, she has increased her protein intake. She made protein her main source of energy replacing carbohydrates to maintain her fitness levels and body shape. Her favorite brand is Nature’s Way Instant Natural Protein because it is high in protein without the additives regularly found most market brands. Those additives will make your body look bulky and muscular and we don’t want that. Instead, Nature’s Way Instant Natural Protein fortifies our diet with quality plant-based protein to promote a leaner, strong and agile body. It also helps to lower unhealthy health markers such as high cholesterol, high blood sugars and high blood pressure.

She explains protein is an important part of every cell in our body. A high protein diet can boost metabolism and gives energy to sustain a long workout. Protein is also needed to repair my muscles after workout and to firm up my flabby body. Protein will also help me feel full longer to prevent cravings between meals that leads to weight gain.

Exercise during K-Drama is not just fun, it is addictive. When its melodrama, I walk. When its thriller, I run. I felt like I am a part of the drama itself.

Next, protein really did transform my body. By taking more protein, it keeps me feel fuller longer and it did make me resist the temptation of snacking. Nature’s Way Instant Natural Protein has the highest percentage of plant protein compared to other plant-based proteins in the market. Each serving contains 74% protein and is equal to 100g of chicken breast, four eggs or 100g of salmon. Yet it is cholesterol-free, and low in sugar, fat, and carbohydrates.

Thanks to the combination of exercise and high protein intake, my body returned to its pre-Covid 19 pandemic form. I am sure my colleagues will not realize how I turned into a flab when we were all working from home.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental.

This fictional stories are meant to inspire and inform you of options, methods and solutions towards healthy living.