Here we take a closer look at the “Cantopop Queen”’s fitness and wellness regime – with some details that might surprise you.

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Say no to strict diets, but yes to sweet potatoes

Cheng has recently embraced a more flexible approach to food, straying away from strict dieting practices. On her Instagram page, the chanteuse often shares her favourite cuisines, ranging from savoury beef noodles and crisps – just like any of us.

During last year’s Dragon Boat Festival, she shared her of dumplings, saying that she rarely turns down her favourite treats so long as she exercises daily, per The Straits Times.

Back in 2020, she also shared a surprising weight loss tip: eating refrigerated cooked purple sweet potatoes. She claimed that refrigerating them overnight and reheating them before consumption results in resistant starch, making for lower calorie absorption. She encouraged her followers to give it a try.

“Simply speaking, the calorie absorption is less. In fact, you can do this with white rice as well. If you like to eat and want to eat more, you can use this method,” she wrote, per Today Online.

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Embracing aging gracefully

“I really like this super mild and natural make-up. There’s no need to force yourself to live as if you’re 18 or 20 at the age of 50. However, what you can do, is to live well as yourself,” she wrote. Her post was accompanied by a photo of herself wearing a subtle make-up look.

The pop star also acknowledged that, as she grew older, she attained a deeper understanding of and healthier perspective on ageing. “When I was younger, I didn’t understand the meaning of your age, but I know it now. It means growth. It’s an experience. It’s becoming older. Something inevitable and natural,” she wrote. “Gradually becoming older, it’s something that both you and I will experience. There’s no need for fear. What’s important is that age will not prevent you from becoming the best that you can be at any stage in life.”

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She goes for 8km runs

Whether or not the talented “8km” songstress started the trend among Hong Kong’s celebrities, inspiring others to share their post-workout, bare-faced and sweaty selfies, she remains dedicated to running as her favourite form of exercise.

She took to Instagram in April, posting a selfie from her car after completing an 8km run. The callback to her renowned song is not lost on us!

Cheng has also bravely opened up about her poor diet and fitness choices in the past and even apologised for being a bad role model, per Yahoo! News. In 2019, the superstar shared a compelling comparison photo on Instagram, showcasing her current toned physique in stark contrast to her previous skinny frame. She wrote, “Matchstick Mi (Sammi) versus fit Mi. Which do you prefer?”

She revealed that she used to cut her food intake and was constantly hungry due to the pressure of having a “stick-thin” figure in the past. “I went from skinny bones to being more muscular. It wasn’t easy, but it’s worth it,” she wrote.

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Her battle with depression and how she manages it

During an interview about her film Blind Detective (2013), Cheng candidly addressed the rumours that had emerged in 2005 about her struggle with depression. She revealed how the disorder led her to isolate herself and confront unresolved internal issues. She also took a break from acting to get better.

Cheng recounted how well-intentioned friends would advise her to “stay positive” and “let things go”. However, she shed light on the profound complexity of depression, explaining that it involved deep-seated internal conflicts and persistent negative emotions that couldn’t simply be brushed aside.

“My experience is this: we must all properly manage our emotions at every stage of our lives. Don’t let negative feelings build up,” she said, per Asia One.

Cheng also revealed how she learned to manage her emotions: “I was pretty bad at it in the past. I always kept the negative feelings inside, or expressed them in a worse way, such as throwing a fit. Having depression really changed me. I now have a more optimistic perspective. Before, I would always feel powerless against every small upset. Now, I feel like I will make it no matter how bad things may seem.”

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She is a big fan of gua sha treatment

According to 8 Days, Cheng has cited gua sha as her go-to treatment for gruelling fatigue in the past. Despite acknowledging that the process can appear intimidating, she reassured readers that, within a week, the fatigue indeed dissipates. Do you dare to try it?