For many Malaysians, trying to lose weight can feel like saying goodbye to mamak sessions, fried noodles and sweet drinks.
But Jordan Chia proved that improving your health does not always mean giving up the food and places you love.
After once weighing 130kg, the Malaysian managed to lose 34kg while still eating at mamak restaurants.
Instead of avoiding them completely, he learned to make better choices and return to his routine whenever life disrupted his plans.
Speaking to WeirdKaya exclusively, Jordan said his journey was not driven by a dislike of food.
I love food a lot, but I also want to take care of my health as much as possible,” he said.
A simple task became his wake up call
Jordan recalled being on duty one day when a pan fell onto the floor.
He bent down to pick it up, but found himself struggling to breathe properly.
That moment made him realise how much his weight was affecting his daily life.
Instead of waiting for things to get worse, Jordan decided to take action.
However, he did not want to follow an extreme routine that he could not maintain.
He wanted to build habits that could fit into his actual lifestyle, which naturally included eating at mamak restaurants.
He changed his orders, not his entire life
Jordan admitted that he once believed mamak restaurants only served food that was high in calories.
He suspected that many other Malaysians shared the same impression.
But Jordan eventually realised that the restaurant itself was not necessarily the problem. The choices he made there mattered more.
As WeirdKaya previously reported, he began choosing options such as tosai with dhal, tandoori chicken, Teh O ais kosong and dishes prepared with less oil.
These changes allowed him to continue eating at familiar places without abandoning his health goals.
Jordan later shared his experience online because he wanted others to know that eating at a mamak does not automatically ruin a weight loss journey.
“My stereotype of mamak restaurants was that they came with a lot of high calorie food,” he said.
I felt many people might have the same thought as me. That was why I chose to upload the video and share my experience.”
The hardest part was getting back on track
While his food choices gained attention online, Jordan said the biggest challenge was learning how to react when things did not go according to plan.
Gatherings with friends and family were especially difficult as it was easy to eat more than he intended.
However, Jordan learned that one heavy meal did not erase all his previous effort.
“The biggest challenge is how quickly you can adapt when things do not go as planned,” he said.
“When you have gatherings with friends or family, you might eat a lot. What matters is how quickly you can get back on track.”
For Jordan, consistency did not mean following his routine perfectly every day.
It meant refusing to let one meal or difficult period become a reason to give up.
Instead of punishing himself, he simply returned to his usual habits afterwards.
That mindset became one of the most important parts of his transformation.
He became more confident
Losing 34kg brought Jordan more than a change on the weighing scale.
He said he became more confident around the people in his life.
I believe the biggest change in myself is that I have become more confident around everyone,” he said.
There was also another everyday change that meant a lot to him.
He could now buy outfits he genuinely liked with greater ease.
“I can also easily buy my favourite outfits now,” he added.
His story is not about discovering one perfect mamak order or following a flawless diet.
It is about making choices that are realistic enough to continue.
He still loves food, attends gatherings and eats at restaurants.
The difference is that he now pays closer attention to what he orders and refuses to give up after an unplanned meal.
His journey shows that progress does not require perfection.
Sometimes, the real victory is simply choosing to begin again at the next meal.
Watch the full video here:
READ ALSO:
