She could hardly climb stairs, so she lost 34kg in 14 months: how a Singapore executive’s family holiday became ‘a now or never moment’

Daily walks, an hour’s strength training three times a week and drastic changes to her diet helped Singaporean Jessie Lim go from 85kg to 51kg in barely a year

‘I feel I am the best version of myself, in all the 53 years of my life,’ she says, as she shares her journey, her motivation and inspiration

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Jessie Lim with her husband. The Singaporean executive and mother of two decided she had to lose weight, and shed 34kg in 14 months through dietary changes and exercise, in the process dropping five dress sizes. Photo: Jessie Lim

Published: 1:15pm, 10 Feb 2024

A climb up cathedral steps in Switzerland while on holiday with her family in December 2021 changed Jessie Lim’s life. As she huffed and puffed her way to the top and down, trailing her husband and two children, who were 12 and 15 at the time, Lim decided it was time to act.

She was unfit and overweight, carrying 85 kilograms (187 pounds), plagued by backaches, and had spent 10 years on medication for high cholesterol.

“It felt like a now or never moment,” says Lim, 53, who, after finding the right personal trainer, embarked on a fitness regimen that helped her lose 34kg over a 14-month period – reaching 51kg by November 2023, and dropping five dress sizes.

Lim admires actress Jennifer Aniston, who is a relevant role model now that Lim is “toned and lean without being too muscular” – much like Aniston, who is nearly the same age as her.

Jessie Lim before her fitness journey (left) and afterwards. She had never entered a gym before committing to losing weight. Photo: Jessie Lim/Ultimate Performance

“As a 17-year-old, I had a 23-inch (58cm) waist. Once I started working and after two child births at age 35 and 38, the weight piled on. I was juggling motherhood with my work schedule and never prioritised my health,” the hospitality company executive says.

The coronavirus pandemic added to Lim’s fitness woes: while experimenting in the kitchen with different cuisines, she discovered a “hidden talent” for cooking. The food she cooked was rich with cheese, double cream and sauces – contributing to her weight gain.