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MCI (P) 064/11/2022. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. Copyright © 2023 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.

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This former private banker and breast cancer survivor transformed her life with exercise

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Interviews

This former private banker and breast cancer survivor transformed her life with exercise

Exercising helped transform her life and mindset, says breast cancer survivor and advocate Julianne Danielle Lim.

November 29, 2022
Julianne Danielle Lim Stage Three Breast Cancer
Photo: Julianne Danielle Lim

Julianne Danielle Lim was in her prime when she was diagnosed with stage three triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of cancer. 

The ex-private banker, who was the head of change management at a global private bank then, shares that her “core identity was almost immediately shaken” at the time of her diagnosis in July 2020, when she was 38. “I never thought breast cancer, or any cancer really, would happen to me,” she says. 

“[I had a] ‘perfect’ image – I was ambitious and extremely driven; my hair and make-up was always well-groomed; I wore fitting dresses with a lean figure; and I also had a dynamic and successful career networking with business associates and interest groups, along with back-to-back meetings with friends and serving the community,” she recalls, describing the loss of self-identity when she was diagnosed. “[Without these traits], who am I?”

Related: Putting a freeze on breast cancer

https://www.thepeakmagazine.com.sg/gallery/interviews/breast-cancer-survivor-transform-life-exercise-julianne-danielle-lim/
This former private banker and breast cancer survivor transformed her life with exercise
Coping with cancer
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Prior to her cancer diagnosis, Julianne had a strict daily regimen that she stuck to with a disciplined mindset. She would wake up at 5am every day to exercise, and kept to a clean and healthy diet. Looks were important to her; she spent “three hours every day for the last two decades dolling up and washing down”.

“I loved [doing] my hair, eyelashes and make-up very much, but being diagnosed with breast cancer stripped me bare of every single hair on my head, every precious eyelash on my eyelids, and everywhere else,” she recalls. During her chemotherapy treatments, she also suffered heavily from acne breakouts.

These physical changes started to affect her mentally as well. “[It] triggered many confusing emotions, and on most days, I’d be sobbing at my dining table. I felt like I was losing my mind. I lost everything of what I had envisioned as beauty – my physical identity that I felt so strongly about, and had worked so hard at. All that I held on so tightly to was ripped away from me, and I could not do anything. I fell flat on my face.”

Julianne Danielle Lim
Regaining her strength
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After her chemotherapy treatments concluded, Julianne was determined to turn her life around. Though she lost her physique, muscle, strength and all her confidence, she was determined to reduce the chances of any cancer recurrence.

She joined Ultimate Performance Singapore and worked with her personal trainer, Patricia Saura, to painstakingly regain her strength. Daily walks gradually morphed into a daily goal of 10,000 steps. After gaining more strength post-physiotherapy, she attempted to run for 30 seconds every day for two months.

On the days where she had more strength, Julianne would run the length of her condominium’s car park – the top deck where there were little to no cars – as it had few obstructions and an even pavement that made it easier and daunting.

Progress was incremental, and the remnants of the unpleasant side effects from chemotherapy still stuck with her. The determined cancer survivor did not give up. One lap became two, and two eventually became four. Soon, she was running at the track in Kallang stadium, as well as the park connectors in Singapore. She started with 100m, and eventually pushed herself to run 4km.

“It’s amazing how quickly our bodies can adapt, and how exercise can help overcome everything, such as chemotherapy and a quicker recovery after an operation,” she shares. “The best part? I feel so good about myself, mainly due to the happy hormones – endorphins!”

Related: Life beyond 120: Doctors weigh in on leading healthier, longer lives

Julianne Danielle Lim
How exercising transformed her life
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“Exercising spilled over into every aspect of my life,” recalls Julianne. She found a newfound discipline in resisting temptations and doing only what’s needed – “not under-doing or over-doing it”. For example, there were sessions where she attempted to lift heavier weights but just simply couldn’t, even though she was able to during previous sessions. She had to learn to restrain herself from overexertion then; for even though her will was strong, her body was weak, she says.

“When I exercised, I needed both the physical precision and mental focus with each rep. It was important for me to reorient and train myself to be okay with failing frequently,” she explains.

But while there were failures, there were also successes. Singing, an activity that she enjoys, was a much better experience after she regained her strength. “My vocal coach had always emphasised using my core to sing, but I always struggled to keep the air in and hit the high notes. I now know why – it’s because I didn’t have a strong core and did not know how to engage it properly.”

“Now, I can sing engaging the right muscles, thereby hitting all the high notes to my favourite songs and know that my audience will not run away,” she chuckles. “What a dream come true!

Self-love and being patient were some of the biggest takeaways from exercising, says Julianne. “I was frustrated with not being able to be ‘perfect’ and hitting a ‘high standard’, until I met my coach from Ultimate Performance. She guided me to practise self-love and to say kind words to myself,” she explains. “This has since permeated into the other parts of my life.”

Julianne Danielle Lim
A mindset change
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The fitness enthusiast took a deeper interest in the nuances when it comes to a healthy lifestyle, she says. Before, her perception of exercise was that “it will only be effective if it was challenging”, describing a “no pain, no gain” mindset. Sleep ranked at the bottom of her list of priorities. “If achieving something meant that I slept later or rested less, I would do so. My schedule was back-to-back, with little rest time in-between.”

Noting wryly that she thought that she “was superhuman and didn’t need sleep then”, she highlights that she has a completely 180 perception of sleep now. “Getting seven to eight hours of sleep at a regular time every day is my utmost priority. Sleep (and exercise) is now my anchor, and everything else revolves around it,” she shares.

“Resting in between activities is now a must, to create some space in my calendar. This has shifted my mindset and I am learning to say ‘no’ to many things. As a result, I live better as I’m less ‘busy’. How amazing that the decision to prioritise rest has such a domino effect! Now, with a newfound experience on what a healthy lifestyle is, I fully value how nutrition, sleep, water, non-exercise activity thermogenesis (NEAT), and even the manner in which we process emotions, can have such a lasting effect on my body and mind.”

Julianne Danielle Lim
New paths and beginnings
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The breast cancer survivor is now an advocate for cancer. She founded Strong Bold Grateful, a resource platform that aims to help those diagnosed with cancer find hope through stories, talks and programmes. On her social platforms, she often shares insights about her cancer journey and learnings that she hopes will help others.

Exercising has changed her relationship with herself, for the better, concludes Julianne. “I’m still learning to change old mindsets and renew myself with new healthy ones. Ultimately, while we may lose our physical beauty from time to time, we will never lose the beauty in our hearts.”

This article was originally published in Her World.

Related: Singapore’s top healthcare professionals share health tips

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MCI (P) 064/11/2022. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No. 202120748H. Copyright © 2023 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.