X
theAsianparent Logo
theAsianparent Logo
Product GuideSign in
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023
  • Pregnancy
    • Due date calculator
    • I'm pregnant
    • Trying To Conceive
    • Labour
    • After birth
    • Baby loss
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Child
    • Newborn
    • Baby
    • Toddler
    • Pre-Schooler
    • Kid
    • Pre-Teen & Teen
  • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diseases-Injuries
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Meal Planner
    • Health
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Pre-School
    • Primary School
    • Secondary School
    • Primary School Directory
  • Lifestyle
    • Money
    • Travel & Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Home
    • Fitness
    • Contests & promotions
  • News
    • International
    • Health
    • Celebrity
    • Singapore
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Press Releases
  • Project Sidekicks
  • Community
  • Advertise With Us
  • Contact Us
  • Become A Contributor
  • VIP

‘I Struggled With My Self-Esteem’: Woman Shares Her Pull-Up Journey, Inspiring Others to Stay on the Grind

3 min read
‘I Struggled With My Self-Esteem’: Woman Shares Her Pull-Up Journey, Inspiring Others to Stay on the Grind

Clarissa Koh fell in love with working out after joining Nanyang Polytechnic Sprint Kayak Team (NYPSKT). Clarissa Koh

Thinking about working out can be a mental workout in itself.

But back in January 2021, Clarissa Koh “didn’t like the way [she] looked” so she set herself a goal of getting stronger.

She joined Nanyang Polytechnic Sprint Kayak Team (NYPSKT) and from there, Clarissa fell in love with working out. 

On October 25, she posted a 56-second clip on TikTok of her fitness progress and at the time of writing, it has amassed over 34,000 views.

One would think that finding a new hobby would turn out to be a fully positive experience but that was not how it panned out for the 21-year-old.

Early on, she “struggled with [her] self-esteem and confidence“, the nursing student says.

“Countless times, I’ve gotten so frustrated that I can’t hit the heavy weights I want to do or I just feel so drained,” she adds.

Thankfully, Clarissa’s seniors, and her boyfriend at that time, were reassuring and supportive when it came to helping her achieve her workout goals.

In the video, she could be seen at the fitness corner of Yio Chu Kang stadium performing pull-ups with a resistance band.

Over time, Clarissa was able to pull herself up the pull-up bar completely unassisted.

“I would say it took about four to five months for my first unassisted pull-up.”

That first unassisted pull-up happened at her ex-boyfriend’s place.

Clarissa recalls how he laughed at her as she had such a big smile on her face after she came down from the bar.

“I could tell from his laughter that he was so proud. I can never ask for a better memory or person to share my first pull-up with,” she reminisces.

These days, she can consistently perform three pull-ups with good form. On her “good days”, Clarissa says she can manage up to five. 

There’s no denying that her fitness progression left a mark on netizens, and many filled her comments section with encouraging comments. 

alt

alt

I Struggled With My Self-Esteem: Woman Shares Her Pull-Up Journey, Inspiring Others to Stay on the Grind
PHOTOS: Screengrabs/TikTok/Hawoitspotatoo

Apart from “seeing the small improvements every day”, reading such positive comments fuels the fire for Clarissa to stay on the grind.

On top of NYPSKT water training on the weekend, she does a weekly 5km run and heads to the gym at least twice a week.

Due to her nursing attachment, she admits that it’s rather “messy” right now. But being able to meet her “gym bros” keeps her motivated to stay on her workout routine.

While she provides a disclaimer that she isn’t “qualified or strong enough” to give tips for those looking to start their own fitness journey, she mentions that the path to getting fit will be a painful one.

“There will always be people better than you. 

Partner Stories
Great ideas for gifts for Chinese New Year 2023!
Great ideas for gifts for Chinese New Year 2023!
Learn Tech and Media Skills, Gain Industry Exposure and Build a Portfolio. Here’s How Your Child Can Benefit from an Infocomm or Media CCA!
Learn Tech and Media Skills, Gain Industry Exposure and Build a Portfolio. Here’s How Your Child Can Benefit from an Infocomm or Media CCA!
Korean Stars Take Center Stage at Disney Content Showcase in Singapore
Korean Stars Take Center Stage at Disney Content Showcase in Singapore
Health is Your Greatest Wealth. Learn How Your CPF Savings Can Safeguard Your Healthcare Needs and Provide Peace of Mind
Health is Your Greatest Wealth. Learn How Your CPF Savings Can Safeguard Your Healthcare Needs and Provide Peace of Mind

“But in this journey, I’ve learnt to understand that the only person you should be comparing yourself to is who you were yesterday.”

This article was first published on AsiaOne and republished on theAsianparent with permission.

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

asiaone

  • Home
  • /
  • Lifestyle
  • /
  • ‘I Struggled With My Self-Esteem’: Woman Shares Her Pull-Up Journey, Inspiring Others to Stay on the Grind
Share:
  • ‘Who Goes Ang Moh Country Eat ‘Cai Fan’?’ Singaporean Schooled for Paying $20 for Economy Rice in Australia

    ‘Who Goes Ang Moh Country Eat ‘Cai Fan’?’ Singaporean Schooled for Paying $20 for Economy Rice in Australia

  • Attending a Baby Shower? Here's Some Faux Pas You Should Avoid

    Attending a Baby Shower? Here's Some Faux Pas You Should Avoid

  • Here’s Why New Zealand is the Perfect Getaway for Families with Young Kids

    Here’s Why New Zealand is the Perfect Getaway for Families with Young Kids

  • ‘Who Goes Ang Moh Country Eat ‘Cai Fan’?’ Singaporean Schooled for Paying $20 for Economy Rice in Australia

    ‘Who Goes Ang Moh Country Eat ‘Cai Fan’?’ Singaporean Schooled for Paying $20 for Economy Rice in Australia

  • Attending a Baby Shower? Here's Some Faux Pas You Should Avoid

    Attending a Baby Shower? Here's Some Faux Pas You Should Avoid

  • Here’s Why New Zealand is the Perfect Getaway for Families with Young Kids

    Here’s Why New Zealand is the Perfect Getaway for Families with Young Kids

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Education
    • Events
    • Allergies & Conditions
  • Family Occasions
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Child Safety
    • Health
    • Diseases-Injuries
  • Lifestyle
    • Home
    • Money
    • Feeding & Nutrition
    • Diet & Weightloss
  • Normal Delivery
    • Cesarean Delivery
    • Behaviour
    • Secondary School
    • Formula Feeding
  • Ages & Stages
    • Latching & Concerns
    • Festivals & Holidays
    • Education
    • Pre-teen & Teen
  • More
    • TAP Community
    • Advertise With Us
    • Contact Us
    • Become a Contributor


  • Singapore flag Singapore
  • Thailand flag Thailand
  • Indonesia flag Indonesia
  • Philippines flag Philippines
  • Malaysia flag Malaysia
  • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
  • India flag India
  • Vietnam flag Vietnam
  • Australia flag Australia
  • Japan flag Japan
  • Nigeria flag Nigeria
  • Kenya flag Kenya
© Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
  • Tools
  • Articles
  • Feed
  • Poll

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

theAsianparent heart icon
We’d like to send you notifications for the latest news and lifestyle updates.