Learn How CrossFit Helped Singapore Actress Pamelyn Chee Keep In Good Shape

Local star and fitness enthusiast Pamelyn Chee finds the adrenaline rush of CrossFit workouts very calming

Learn to embrace pain – that’s what Trever Love reminds his clients like actress Pamelyn Chee. A Level 1 personal trainer at CrossFit Hub (Singapore), he is also a stuntman at Action Horizons Stunt Department. It was on the set of HBO Asia’s Serangoon Road that the duo met and Trever introduced the sport to Pamelyn. “CrossFit involves constantly varied, functional movements at high intensity. It’s always different and incorporates elements of weightlifting, gymnastics and metabolic conditioning,” he shares.

The fact that no two CrossFit sessions are the same is added appeal for Pamelyn, whose workout regime includes Bikram yoga and running. “I never thought CrossFit would be this rough. It requires skilled movements like muscle ups, snatches and skip rope, which can be very challenging. Some days my legs wobble so bad I barely make it down the stairs. But I find the adrenaline rush very calming,” she shares.

READ MORE: Here’s How You Can Workout For Free In Singapore

Think Positive

It helps to have undivided attention and positive reinforcement from a personal trainer: “The day’s workout can be gruelling and agonising so I’m always telling Pamelyn that she can do it. I’ll encourage her to push harder, faster, or to finish one last rep. I’ll give her little pointers to her form and technique like ‘chest up’, ‘knees out’.”

Have Patience

“Don’t expect immediate results,” says Trever. “You need to put in at least three weekly sessions to get the desired effect. If you want to get into a good shape fast, consider metabolic conditioning. I recommend the ‘Helen’, which is a triplet of 400 m run, 21 kettlebell swings and 12 push-ups. Do this at least three times a week for quick results.”

READ MORE: Here’s How To Finally Get Rid Of Body Aches

Eat Real

“Stick with unprocessed meat, vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds and keep starch to a minimum,” recommends Trever. Pamelyn also lets on: “I cook only with animal fat and coconut oil. Did you know, when vegetable oils like olive and canola come into contact with high heat, toxic chemicals are released and food gets loaded with free radicals? But animal fat and coconut oil remain stable even when cooked under high heat. I also prefer butter over margarine – butter is natural and tastes better while margarine is a processed food.”

Steal These Moves

“Trever makes me want to work harder. I believe that he couldn’t have pulled off all these stunts if he isn’t in this great shape,” marvels Pamelyn, who trains about three times a week. But when filming gets hectic, she goes for a 4 km run. Her tip to staying active: “Make exercise fun. You don’t have to go to the gym. Play easy social sports like badminton with your friends or Frisbee with your dog. Can you go shopping too? Yes, this counts!”

To tone your butt, legs and core, do these movement at home at least three times a week:
Full squats: Squat all the way to your heels, squeezing your core during the whole movement and pushing your knees out to tone the whole area.
Squats with load: If you are squatting with a load (a light dumbbell or medicine ball), lower your hip crease to below your knee and stand back up. Repeat.

READ MORE: Here Are The Classes That Celebrities Do In Singapore

Text: Sylvia Ong/The Singapore Women’s Weekly