Confident, composed and committed, Antonia Li tells us about her fitness routine, what wellness means to her and why it’s important to always show up for yourself
Antonia Li is an avid boxer, but for her, it’s about more than just getting fit—it’s what she takes out of the ring that counts. “Focus and clarity are key when it comes to boxing, and that discipline helps you maintain clarity in the toughest times, whether that’s in boxing or in life,” she says. If her weekly workout routine is anything to go by, it’s clear that discipline is something she doesn’t lack; Antonia does weight training twice, boxing twice, runs five to seven kilometres three times and does intermittent fasting on four days—all in a week.
She also takes a level-headed approach to dieting—“People need to start changing their relationship with food,” she says. “It’s not about not eating, but making healthier choices. Instead of white rice, choose wild rice, and instead of Doritos, go for baked kale chips. You just have to experiment and see what works for your body.” She also keeps a close eye on statistics like her BMI (body mass index), body fat mass and total body water by doing a body composition analysis every two to three months, citing this as a “good indication to know if you’ve been doing something right or wrong”.
wellness is a lifestyle and a mindset. It’s your actions, and what and who you choose to surround yourself with
“When I’m disciplined, I feel like I can trust myself. You can have all the motivation in the world from your peers and your trainers, but there are always going to be days where you wake up and don’t want to go to the gym,” she says. “You can’t always feel motivated, so in the end it comes down to discipline. There are no shortcuts when it comes to exercise.”
Never one to shy away from a challenge, in May 2019 Antonia took part in a 100-kilometre trek through South Africa’s spectacular Drakensberg mountains hosted by Hong Kong-based company Just Challenge, which curates life-changing adventures with a focus on social impact.
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