Losing 40kg in 5 months for a 42.195km race

A bout of long Covid in mid-2022 turned out to be a blessing in disguise, as it jolted Joseph Soh into changing to an active lifestyle that saw him shed about 40kg in five months.

- Melvyn Teoh

Unlike most people who recovered quickly, the 36-year-old's symptoms persisted as he endured fever and breathing difficulties long after the initial Covid-19 infection.

Suspecting it might be due to his sedentary lifestyle, Soh, who was then working in the Ministry of Health, said: "We were dealing with Covid (at the ministry) in 2022, and I realised, I'm supposed to be promoting health but I was obese.

"So, with my family's support, I signed up for the Singapore Marathon and told myself that I'd train for it.

"I made a decision that I needed to change my diet, sleep early and be healthy. I needed to train so that during the race, I could survive."

Before he embarked on his journey, he admitted he had a "poor awareness of fitness", often working late, drinking alcohol and eating out with his family on weekends.