I was tired of who I was. I needed change.
Winston Chen (11) returned from winter break with a new figure, built from consistency and sweat. During the break, he had lost 20 kilograms. His transformation—which would have been impossible without determination—inspired many of his peers.
This drastic change was not the first for Winston. He underwent a diet during his elementary school years as well.
“This is my second time losing weight,” Winston said. “Ever since my dad brought Nutella home when I was very young, I started to get my iconic appearance. In fifth grade, the doctor yelled at me for eating too much Nutella. I was genuinely scared that I might get obesity and diabetes. So in fifth grade, I lost 10 kilograms, but I started eating again and hit a record of 97 kilograms during my second semester of sophomore year.”
This quickly changed when Winston became a junior in high school. Winston experienced his first heartbreak, which kick-started his weight loss journey. After two months of gruesome cardio at the gym, he was able to lose close to 20 kilograms.
“During winter break, I went to the gym almost every day,” Winston said. “My minimum goal was burning at least 1,000 calories each day. Honestly, I ate whatever food I wanted, but I burned the same amount of calories. For example, if I eat 2,000 calories, I have to burn 3,000 calories that day.”
His main equipment was the StairMaster, sometimes known as the “stairs to heaven” for its rigorous intensity.
“Stairmasters are my biggest enemy yet my savior,” Winston said. “When I first started, I only did 30 minutes, then I increased it by 10 minutes after I felt comfortable. Now, my standard is one hour.”
Of course, his hours of effort at the gym did not go unnoticed by his peers. Many were met with shock after winter break due to his transformation, praising Winston for his commitment to his weight loss journey.
“The enormous amount of effort Winston put in throughout winter break—which he continues now, too—was easily noticeable,” Seowoo Choi (11), a close friend of Winston, said. “In effect of his inspiring weight loss journey, I couldn’t help but notice a change in Winston’s personality, as he grew into a more confident, bold, and mature person. I deeply admire Winston’s continuous drive as he continues—to this day—to invest in self-development, in the aspiration of becoming a more mature, healthy man.”
This change was also observed by his family.
“As brothers, we inspire each other,” Justin Chen (9), Winston’s brother, said. “It is good to see him being healthy again. In general, I think Winston looks happier. He definitely gained a lot of confidence. As his younger brother, I am very proud of him.”
Winston’s glow-up helped him not only physically but also mentally. Of course, losing a large amount of weight in a short period is extremely difficult. On top of his dedication, this was possible due to the endless support he received from his friends and family. For Winston, losing weight was not about achieving the “perfect figure” —as there is no such thing as “perfect” — but about becoming a confident and healthy individual.
“I feel confident,” Winston said. “I believe everyone can have a big transformation as long as they experience their epiphany. It was all worth it.”
