CHANGING MY SHAPE… HUNGRIER FOR GOD

by Nick Chung

I guess my “reappearance” in BFEC in September 2019 and, then, January 2020 after being in the field for most of last year caused a “stir” to many who have known me for a long time. The three most common comments I received were, “Nick! Are you unwell?!”; “You are half the man you used to be!” and “Did Pauline [my wife] mistreat you?!”

Yes, I have lost weight, almost 30kg to be exact, and it was intentional.

It started on my 41st birthday in March 2019. At a personal retreat to reflect on my 40 years of existence, I asked the Lord what resolutions and direction I should set for the year ahead. I thought I heard the Lord say specifically, “lose weight”. Come to think of it, He may have implied it metaphorically rather than literally, and I decided, “why not?”

I had just undergone a medical checkup and almost all markers were in the red - obesity, high cholesterol, pre-diabetic symptoms - and my father had suffered a second minor stroke a few months back as well. Given all these triggers, I decided to embark on my weight loss journey. I honestly thought it would be a long and tedious process. Having been overweight most of my life, I gave myself three years to reach my healthy BMI level. God somehow helped me muster enough courage, faith and conviction to be whole-hearted about my weight-loss. Hence, I changed my lifestyle and diet, not drastically but entirely, by eating healthily and exercising more regularly.

Nick in 2013

Nick and Pauline, CNY 2020