For years now I had struggled with the usual on and off latest diet fads, starvation periods and bouts of extreme exercise, all in an effort to lose the weight that I had seemed to collect over the last few years.
What programme?
I had heard through the grapevine about UFIT’s Clean and Lean programme and thought of giving it a try. I toyed with the choice of programme dates for 2017 thinking I can’t do this one and can’t do that one, and in the end, I thought no time is ever a good time and before I knew it, I was jumping straight in and enrolling to start the following day. If I didn’t do it then I thought, I never will.
Apprehensive, I embarked on my journey with my initial weigh in at UFIT’s brand new gym just off Orchard Road before having my last latte in the nearby Starbucks and then joining my 270 comrades for my first Saturday morning seminar. The place was packed and there was an amazing atmosphere with everyone being supercharged for the upcoming challenge.
The nitty gritty
The UFIT Clean and Lean programme is about resetting your body and teaching you to have a cleaner, healthier and sustainable lifestyle and maintaining it after the programme ends. For four weeks, you embark on a journey of a mainly green diet which eliminates processed foods and sugars. It’s incredibly easy to follow as it just involves cutting out the highly-processed sugars and eating healthier. There are no set recipes as such, but you do have the ideas from the cookbook that is supplied in a link at the start of the programme. Some foods will be slowly reintroduced during the four week period normally after the weekly seminar which explains different topics along with the reasoning behind what’s being added.
There is also access to a Clean and Lean Facebook community page site for all participants to share tips, ideas, recipes, or just to have a general vent if needed. There are also four bootcamp sessions are also given as part of the package which can be booked via a handy app for which all participants are given access. With over 80 classes a week, it’s easy to find a time and day that suits. There is an amazing support network of nutritionists and fitness experts, some of whom are also doing the programme too for support.
It is an actual challenge, and the winning male and female who lose the most body fat win an exclusive health and wellness package from UFIT and their partners. For me, it was more about resetting my eating habits and losing a few kgs.
The big reveal
The four weeks passed quickly, and I was actually sad it was ending as it was so amazing having the support of so many people who were also participating. I was amazed at the results of my weigh in last week. 5kgs down on my weight, just over 5% body fat lost, and a good 5cms went from both my hips and waist. I was a very happy bunny! This four weeks has given me some great insight into changes that I made in my diet that I will have no problems sticking to. I’m not saying I won’t ever eat a carb again or never drink a glass of wine (or five), but I’m definitely more in tune with balancing things out now. I’m even thinking of joining the next one in March now.
The deets
$159 + GST includes…
- 4 x nutrition seminars
- A weigh in at the start, and weigh out at the end of the 4 weeks
- 4 x 30 minute Clean & Lean special bootcamp sessions to use at your leisure which can be booked via a handy app
- Access to the ‘Clean and Lean’ cookbook with tasty recipes
- Access to the Facebook site to support, share tips, stories and recipes
By Jacqui Young
The 2017 Clean & Lean sessions are happening on March 11 – April 8 (4 weeks), May 20 – June 17 (4 weeks), September 2 – 30 (4 weeks), November 4 – 25 (4 weeks). You can sign up at https://www.ufit.com.sg/clean-
UFIT is Singapore’s largest independent fitness community that offers a 360 approach to health and fitness island wide. For more information, visit ufit.com.sg for more info.