Cover Photography: Daniel Murray

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

- Antonia Li -

“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.

See also: How Asaya At Rosewood Hong Kong Is Redefining Urbanites' Approach To Wellness

Tatler Asia
Above Photography: Daniel Murray
Tatler Asia
Above Photography: Daniel Murray

“It’s an empowering experience, and you come back feeling like you can conquer so much more than you realise. When you’re stuck in a tough situation, when you’re forced out of your comfort zone, it all comes down to attitude and adaptability. The thing with adaptability is that after a while, you get used to [the discomfort], and there’s real freedom in that. That patience has the power to transform you. You just have to trust the process and stay positive.”

It was a gruelling four-day adventure but for a worthwhile cause, as all money raised went towards Laureus Sport For Good, a foundation that funds more than 150 programmes that use sport to create social change for adolescents in more than 40 countries around the world.

“I think it’s important to encourage people to be active when they’re younger. Just having that support makes so much difference,” says Antonia, who adds that she learned this first hand. Staying active is in Antonia’s family—her father has run marathons and taken part in iron man challenges, while her mother was a track star in high school, and she says it was this foundation that has helped shape her approach to wellness today.

“To me, wellness is a lifestyle and a mindset. It’s your actions, and what and who you choose to surround yourself with, and staying away from negativity. Other than physical wellness and your diet, it’s also about surrounding yourself with people who genuinely care about your wellbeing.”

See also: How to Get More Beauty Sleep


Antonia's Fit Picks

Kim Iu, MiU Training Club
“He is very particular about good form when doing strength training. He always pushes me to improve and challenge myself, whether it is to run faster or steeper roads or to do more pull-ups.”

Jimmy Leung, The Fighters Club
“He explains boxing techniques really well. I can see and feel the improvement after training with him progressively. He also pushes my limits by making me do intensive strength and cardio exercises such as battle ropes training or practising with the sandbag.”

Abs focus with Janice Ng, TopFit
“I love this class as you really feel the burn in your abs after each session. A Pilates-inspired workout, this is an awesome body sculpting class that focuses on your core.”

Asaya at Rosewood, Hong Kong
“They have the newest gym equipment and innovative technology that can display your heart rate and performance on the gym wall’s screen when doing HIIT sessions. I love Asaya kitchen for a healthy and delicious lunch or dinner, followed by some R&R at the spa.”

Chic Athleisure
“For workout gear, some of my favourite brands are Lululemon, Sweaty Betty, Twenty Montreal, Reebok x Victoria Beckham, Adidas by Stella McCartney and North Face Urban Exploration.”

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