Better Lives with AIA Vitality: Meet Manmohan; 23 kilograms lighter and a whole new lifestyle

In his early twenties, Manmohan’s approach to his wellbeing was cavalier. He never gave thought to the kinds of food he was eating, or whether he was doing enough physical activity. “It was quite unhealthy,” says Manmohan.

Manmohan’s uncle, Kevin, had begun to worry about his nephew’s health. “The young boy was just starting a life,” says Kevin, who was concerned about the long-term effects of Manmohan’s lifestyle. 

Kevin had recently become a member of AIA Vitality and he encouraged his nephew to look into the programme. “I realised the cost of joining was a small fraction compared to the benefits [he] would get from the programme,” says Kevin. 

Manmohan also reached a point where he knew something needed to change. His BMI, plus other factors, meant that his insurance premium had attracted a 50 per cent loading fee.

Upon joining the AIA Vitality programme (which includes rewards and benefits) Manmohan was surprised to discover his AIA Vitality Age was four years older than his birth age. “[That] was quite a shocker for me,” says Manmohan. “I was like, ‘I seriously need to do something about this.’"

At first, Manmohan decided to focus on making small changes. “I began monitoring my diet,” he recalls. “I started eating more clean food and complementing it [with] protein.”

Manmohan also used calorie counting to ensure his nutritional intake was balanced with what he was expending through exercise, and started to pay attention to the composition of macronutrients he was consuming.

Manmohan slowly developed a strong sense of self-discipline, hitting the gym five to six times a week. “In the beginning, the changes weren’t actually noticeable,” he says. Then one day, he was trying some of his old clothes on, and “they suddenly felt loose.” 

Over eight months, Manmohan had shed 23 kilograms and reached AIA Vitality Silver Status – reducing both his BMI and his insurance loading ­– and he was feeling much better for it.

While Manmohan has achieved a lot over a relatively short period, he acknowledges that his journey towards better health is a marathon, not a sprint. “You have to sustain this for a lifetime,” he says.

Earning his weekly Active reward through the AIA Vitality app is still a bonus, but Manmohan’s biggest incentive has been the lasting impact on his health and wellbeing. “AIA Vitality gives you the platform,” says Manmohan. “[But] the whole journey of undertaking a lifestyle change always has to come from within. You can go on all the diets you want, you can work out countless hours in the gym, but if you're not motivated from within, nothing can help you.”

For Kevin, seeing his nephew’s journey towards better health has been its own reward. “By getting him on AIA Vitality [and] getting him to prove himself and show people what he can do… That’s the added benefit for me.”