Let’s be honest. In Malaysia, trying to lose weight while still going to the mamak feels almost impossible.
You tell yourself you’re only there to teman your friends, but suddenly there’s maggi goreng on the table, roti telur calling your name, and a Milo ais kaw-kaw staring right at you.
But one Malaysian man is showing that weight loss doesn’t mean you have to stop going mamak forever.
After once weighing 130kg, he managed to lose 34kg by making smarter choices whenever he ordered food there.
Once weighed 130kg
In a video shared on YouTube by @jordanchiafit, the man opened up about his weight loss journey and how he went from 130kg to a much healthier body.
According to him, many Malaysians tend to blame mamak restaurants for weight gain, when the real issue may actually be what they choose to order.
“If you’re Malaysian and you think eating at mamak makes you fat, you’ve been doing it wrong. It’s not the mamak that makes you fat, it’s what you order,” he said.
He then recalled what his usual mamak meal used to look like when he was at his heaviest.
Back then, his go-to order was almost always the same: double-sized maggi goreng ayam, roti telur on the side, and a cup of extra kaw Milo ais to wash everything down.
“That was my basically daily routine. And I wonder why the scale keeps going up?,” he shared.
The turning point came one night when he suddenly woke up from sleep feeling like he was struggling to breathe.
That moment made him realise that something had to change.
So, what did he change at the mamak?
Instead of completely cutting out mamak food, he continued going to the same place.
The difference was that he became more mindful with his orders and started making small swaps that worked better for his weight loss journey.
Here are some of the changes he made:
1. Picked tosai instead of fried options
These days, one of his top choices is tosai with dhal.
He explained that tosai has more protein, uses much less oil compared to roti canai, and can help keep him full for longer.
Whenever he orders, he also makes sure to ask for it to be prepared with less oil.
2. Added protein with tandoori chicken
When he wants to add more protein to his meal, he usually orders tandoori chicken, especially the chicken breast portion.
According to him, chicken breast is filling, lower in fat, high in protein, and can keep him satisfied for a few hours.
This is a big difference from his old habit of going for heavier fried dishes every time he visited a mamak.
3. Chose Teh O ais kosong instead of sweet drinks
Besides food, he also reminded Malaysians that many people unknowingly struggle with weight loss because of their drink choices.
Drinks like teh tarik, Milo ais, sweet coffee, and creamy beverages may seem harmless, but they can contain a lot of calories in just one serving.
Because of that, he now goes for Teh O ais kosong whenever he eats at mamak.
4. Asked for less oil
One small habit he now practises is asking the mamak worker to prepare his food with less oil.
Jokingly, he said it helps when the worker already recognises you.
“When the abang mamak knows you, everything becomes easier (to ask them to prepare the food the way you want),” he said.
His main message is simple: you do not need to completely stop eating at mamak to lose weight.
Instead, what you may need to give up are the old orders that have become a habit.
You don’t have to give up mamak. You just have to give up the old order.”
For Malaysians who are trying to eat healthier but still love their mamak sessions, his advice is proof that small changes can still go a long way.
So the next time you’re at a mamak, maybe try swapping the maggi goreng and Milo ais for tosai, dhal, tandoori chicken, and Teh O ais kosong instead.
Watch the video here:
