Ramadan can seem daunting when you have been trying to make positive lifestyle changes. It is tempting to let go of your goals for a few weeks just because you do not see a way to continue your healthy eating and training regime while you are fasting all day. There are ways that you can make this time a continuation of your lifestyle change. See it as a challenge and focus on what you can do, rather than what seems impossible to sustain.

There is some excitement when you begin fasting and you see that you have lost weight in the first day or two. Unfortunately, that is usually just dehydration and many people find that they end up gaining some weight longer term during Ramadan. This is likely because it is very easy to overeat at night after a long day of fasting. Eating a very large meal – which is seen as quite normal during Ramadan – can cause a sharp rise in blood sugar levels, followed by an insulin spike. Insulin is the hormone our bodies release that allows us to take up the sugar from our blood to use as fuel. If there is an excess of fuel, the insulin helps us to store it as fat.

The best way to avoid this kind of insulin spike is to try and distribute your meals a bit better during the hours when you can eat.

• Wake up and have a decent breakfast that includes plenty of protein and some fat – an omelette for example – and some carbs e.g. from one or two pieces of fruit.
• Also make sure you drink at least 2 or 3 cups of water or caffeine-free herbal tea before sunrise.
• When you break your fast, it is fine to have a small amount of traditional food, e.g. dates. Keep it to no more than a closed handful. Try to drink some fluid then as well.
• Later, have a moderate and balanced dinner. There is no need to cram all your daily allowance of food into one or two meals. Just make sure you are getting enough protein and vegetables and a little of fat and carbs e.g. chicken or fish with a cup of cooked vegetables, some olive oil or avocado and up to 1 cup of sweet potato. Otherwise eat until you are satisfied, not stuffed.
• Sip on 3-4 cups of water or caffeine-free herbal tea during the evening.
• Plan one more snack or mini meal about 2-3 hours after your main meal and before bed e.g. a piece of fruit and a handful of nuts or a smoothie made with some berries and coconut milk.
• Avoid eating desserts and junk foods. These foods are often served in abundance during Ramadan. Allow yourself a treat once or twice a week, but keep focused during the week and eat good, real food as much as possible.

It is not ideal to train when you are dehydrated – your performance and recovery will not be optimal. Instead of training in the afternoon on the day of a fast, try to train in the very early morning before breakfast, or as soon after breakfast as possible, or during the evening when you can eat and drink around that training.

- Kelly Schreuder, Registered Dietician

Wow.. the judges had a REAL TOUGH time this Challenge. There were seriously people even beyond the top 10 who could have been contenders and at least a 100 challengers who will be smiling from ear to ear with their fantastic results… Because why? Because they are winning at life!

The judging process is difficult. Many factors are considered with all the various information submitted and on a given day any of the transformation challengers may have won. But in all competitions someone has to win.. though I believe you are all winners.

Here is a reminder of the Challenge details that everyone signed up for…

But some people have to make off with the loot

Just to remind you of what is up for grabs from our very generous prize sponsors:

• R65,000 cash pot
• R36,000 worth of Acer  laptops
• R20,000 worth of Solal Technologies supplements
• R10,000 worth of Wellness Warehouse vouchers
• R8,000 worth of Evox Supplements
• R4,000 worth of Reebok gear

So a huge thanks to these brands who are supporting our vision of creating healthy lives.

Special thanks to the Sleekgeek partner in Fitness Reebok who have invested in making Sleekgeek a success.

And thanks once again to our judging panel who really had their work cut out for them. It gets harder every challenge but it is a pure labour of love to witness these changes in people’s lives!

Now the moment everyone has been waiting for!

Category: Men’s A-B Transformation

1st Place: Jay Kuhn, Cape Town

2nd Place: Shudley Adams, Cape Town

3rd Place: Douglas Grobbelaar, East London

4th Place: Albert Liebenburg, Johannesburg

5th Place: Morne Jacobs

Mentions:

In the Mens’s A-B Transformation category the following men who did not win,  made it into the top 5 of at least one of the judges so everyone deserves a mention for their achievement:

Graunt Kruger, Leon Theron, Cameron Crawford, Christiaan du Plessis , Frank Muggeridge, Martin Nel, Alex Shiells, Jaco Mouton, Robin Pieterson

Category: Ladies A-B Transformation

1st Place: Elmarie Ackerman, Pretoria

2nd Place: Candice Rodrigues, Cape Town

3rd Place: Siobahn Swart

4th Place: Marile van Eeden

5th Place: Sondra Hope

Mentions:

In the Ladies A-B Transformation category the following women who did not win,  made it into the top 5 of at least one of the judges so everyone deserves a mention for their achievement:

Sophia Strydom. Suzanne Kuhn, Meagan Jackson, Chrystina Jacobson, Bridget Fourie Lynn Ann Fischer, Lindy Bursey

Category: Men’s Weight-loss

1st Place: Dawid Dorfling, Port Shepstone

2nd Place: John van der Berg, Cape Town

3rd Place: Jonathan Holton, Johannesburg

4th Place: Bruce Richards, Johannesburg

5th Place: Paul Kelly, Cape Town

Top 10 ranking , Men’s Weightloss

Category: Ladies Weight-loss

 1st Place: Clare de Beer, Cape Town

2nd Place: Philippa Botha, Cape Town

3rd Place: Angela Botha, Cape Town 

4th Place: Pia de Villiers

5th Place: Roxanne Mower 

Top 10 ranking , Ladies Weightloss

Wellness Warehouse “Buddy Challenge” 

What is the Buddy Challenge? Read all about it here.

Twin sisters Angela and Philippa Botha with 31kgs between them and a 1st and second placing in the ladies weight loss category make off with R10,000 in shopping vouchers at Wellness Warehouse! Lucky ladies! Loyal community members will know the Botha sisters have been with since the start and just continue to win!

Inspired?? Blown away??

Here is how you can get involved best with the Sleekgeek Community:

1.) Join the Facebook group with 1000′s of members talking about health daily (100% Free) [Click to join]

2.) Follow us on Twitter @sleekgeekSA

3.) Start today with the REBOOT 30 day detox.. IT works and has rave reviews (100% Free)

4.) Participate in the next 8 Week Transformation Challenge (Cost R500). We get RESULTS every time! Click here to sign up for an alert for the next Challenge in June 2013.  [Get alert]

5.) Stay up to date with the community by signing up for a newsletter [Sign up]

Become your own success story!

See you there,

Elan

Food was a reward

I wasn’t particularly overweight as a child or later on as a teenager, but I was on the bigger side of average.  My weight yo-yo’d for a long time as an adult starting in high school.  I wasn’t good at ball or endurance sports, which were the focus of the school I was at and I hated almost all forms of exercise.

Things are never as they seem.  When I was 6 years old, I was sent to boarding school.  It wasn’t that bad I suppose, I wasn’t beaten or molested or anything like that so I didn’t have any physical symptoms of pain.  There were lots of other kids there too and they seem to have turned out to be healthy contributing members of society today.  But maybe I was just a sensitive kid, who knows…

We were subjected to constant emotional abuse from the hostel matron. For example; in order to make sure we behaved, one of the things she did was threaten to lock us in the cupboard under the stairs for the whole weekend with only bread and water.  We were petrified of that cupboard and the older children would tell us what was in there.  Ghosts, witches, spiders, bugs and it was pitch dark.

The worst thing about this story is that the actual cupboard wasn’t the scary part, but the fact that we wouldn’t be able to go home for the weekend.  That killed me.  I was 6 years old, so I believed her and I believed the other kids when they told me what was in that cupboard.  One of the nice things about being at the hostel was my tuck box!  It was my happy zone in that horrible, horrible place.  I could forget for a moment what it would be like to stay there for the weekend and not see my mom.  I suppose after that I had relied on food, especially sweet treats, as an emotional crutch ever since.

Added to my boarding school trauma my father unfortunately had terrible demons of his own, which deeply affected my siblings, me and our mother.  He suffers from bi-polar and this disease affected his family.  We were expected to be perfect.  My three sister’s reacted to this by rebelling, while my mother and I on the other hand dealt with the emotional manipulation by trying to be perfect.

When I was older I began trying to help my mom micro-manage all situations in order to avoid an explosion from him.  His favourite weapon of choice was the silent treatment.  A result of this was that I sought his approval for everything and I would do anything to get it.  The most dangerous thing for me was that I then developed the mindset that all people expected perfection from me.  Obviously the goal of perfection is completely unrealistic and I drove myself mad with anxiety trying to achieve the impossible.

Downward spiral

I had finished University and had been working for about 4 years, when my dad left my mom.  My whole world collapsed.  Sub-consciously I thought that my efforts to be perfect were all in vain anyway, I mean look how hard she had tried and he never loved her anyway.   I struggled to cope at work through my parent’s divorce and had panic attacks and extreme anxiety, which then turned into depression.

I received treatment, but it took a long time and a lot of money to work through and I got myself to a point where I at least didn’t want to die anymore.  I was probably about 20 kg overweight at this stage, but being fat protected me from the outside world.  I wasn’t nearly ready to tackle my weight then.

My attitude towards exercise and food caught up with me badly.  In September 2011 my daughter was born and when I got onto the scale at home the first day after coming out of hospital I weighed 106 kg.  I used the pregnancy as an excuse and justified my weight by saying that I had just had a baby.  I was tired, lethargic, moody and depressed.

As a result of my emotional issues I never felt like I was good enough for anyone and I was so scared of rejection, that I developed a ‘defensive’ personality that would scare people away.   This, coping mechanism was ironically a self-fulfilling prophecy and only served to make me more miserable because I couldn’t make any friends.

I was judgmental and jealous and really lonely.  In hind-sight now, I believe my weight problems, and especially comfort eating, were physical manifestations of my emotional turmoil.  Deep down I was very unhappy and this just fed the perpetual cycle of depression and comfort eating.

Turning point

The turning point was when we had family over to our house for supper in December 2011.  They took photos and put the pictures on Facebook.  I was disgusted at what I looked like.  I was extremely embarrassed that everyone could see me like that.

At first I was angry that they had put the pictures there where everyone could see them and in my mind I tried to blame them for making me look bad.  My husband pointed out really nicely, that it wasn’t their fault how I looked.  I realised then that I needed to do something drastic about my weight.

I knew that my sister was on the Weigh Less programme and that she was looking really good.  So I decided to check it out.  I found the details and went to the next meeting that I could.  I remember feeling embarrassed and scared that I wouldn’t be able to do it.  I didn’t even take an official before photo because in my mind I was convinced that I would fail.

This was after all, the umpteenth time that I was embarking on a weight loss programme.  I started at 99.2 kg and was still wearing my size 42 maternity clothes 3 months after my baby was born!  In reality I was probably a size 44 because a normal 42 didn’t fit me.

The major thing was getting over the ‘deprivation’ mind set. I saw food as a reward, which was an indication of my emotional dependence on it.  Luckily there really was a lot of food in my daily allowance, especially because I was breast feeding my baby at the time, so I needed to eat more for that.  This was visible enough proof for me that I wasn’t depriving myself.  I also allowed myself one cup of Nomu sugar free hot chocolate per day, which boosted me psychologically, because I felt like I was getting my ‘deserved’ treat.

At first I didn’t think of the end goal, I just took each day at a time.  As I followed the eating plan, the weight came off and each time I got an award sticker (5kg, 10 kg etc) was a reward in itself.  These ‘mini’ goals really motivated me along the way. Checking in with the group once a week was a huge motivation for me as I was answerable to other people and not just myself.  The healthy eating plan taught me to look at food completely differently.

Ironically I think of food much less now than I used to even though I plan my meals much better than I used to.  I don’t deprive myself of ‘treats’.  If I go to a function, I don’t deny myself a piece of cake or a sweet, I just control the portion size and try to substitute it in my daily allowance.  I now make much healthier choices when eating out as well.

Because I don’t feel like I’m depriving myself I don’t have the cravings.  I don’t rely on food anymore as an emotional crutch.  The stage that I was able to break that connection was when I was able to eat what I want to, based on what my body physically needs.  As a result I don’t have this constant internal struggle with will power because I don’t have to say no to myself anymore because I don’t actually want the bad food in the first place.

Exercise on the menu

In October 2012 I was on a plateau and struggling to lose the last few kilograms before reaching my goal weight (I have subsequently lost 10 kg since then).  I had done a bit of exercise up to that point, but nothing very serious.  I decided to start running.  This was a huge step for me because I still thought that people who run were crazy, I mean why would anybody want to run if nothing is chasing them?

My memories of running went back to junior school, so the emotional association was still there.  I think, sub-consciously I realised that if I could get over my food associations, then I could also get over my exercise associations.  I don’t think I would have been able to do it had I started a really intense diet and exercise programme all in one go.  The secret for me was tackling one aspect at a time.

I joined a beginners running group in my community and went with them on Monday and Wednesday evenings and then I would do a short run on a Saturday.  I really struggled at first.  I was plagued with flu (I got flu then bronchitis six times in six months).  Over December the running group stopped because of the festive season, but I carried on by myself.  On one of the first few runs by myself I really pushed and managed to do my first 5 km without walking.  The feeling I got from achieving this is indescribable.

That was the turning point for me!  I was no longer running just to lose weight; I was running because it made me feel good! That was when I realised that I am a runner! I ran 5 km every second day and walked 5 km every other day for the whole two weeks that I was on holiday.  By the end of the two weeks I was looking for excuses to go running when in the past I had every excuse for staying put and watching tv instead!  I knew I had to take it slow though or risk possible injury or burn out, so I forced myself to watch tv the rest of the time .

In January I joined Virgin Active and then things really took off for me!  I do pilates three to four times a week, yoga and spinning once a week.  On a Saturday I do a 5 km park run (trail) followed by pilates and on a Wednesday and Sunday I do a 10 km road run.  Friday’s are my rest day.  The first organised event that I participated in was the Iron Girl 9.2 km fun run in January.  I did the Surfer’s Challenge in February, 17 km along beach, rocks and through water.  I never ever thought I would be able to do something like that.  During the event I questioned my sanity many times.  But the feeling on crossing the finish line made the pain worth it!

A shift in character

My road to health and fitness has not only been one of physical transformation, but also an emotional, psychological and social transformation.  I was very insecure in the past and there were quite frankly parts of my personality that I really didn’t like.  I’ve done a complete turnaround.  I’ve made some great friends as a direct result of my increased confidence.  I’m not scared to reach out and make an effort anymore.  One of these friends is my dedicated running partner.  We do all our events together and train together as well.  I have also reconnected with old friends, who I lost contact with many years ago because I isolated myself.  I’m not lonely at all anymore and am very excited about this new chapter in my life.

Enter Sleekgeek

In January this year I came across a Facebook group called SleekGeek.  The stories, sharing and community in this group are phenomenal and so inspiring and motivating.  I love seeing people’s success stories because it makes me so happy to see other people happy.  I also love seeing people’s journeys and it’s awesome feeling like I’m part of their road to happiness just by providing a supportive ‘like’ or comment.

SleekGeek really is about sharing the love.  It is amazing that there are no trolls there, which is very rare online.  The SleekGeek motto is ‘Eat Clean, Train Dirty’, which I have tried very hard to follow and my results seem to indicate success so far!  [Join the Facebook group]

My running goals this year are to improve my speed as well as distance, to compete in a half marathon as well as some trail events.  I love pilates and yoga and I want a long lean body, which is why I’m focusing on these disciplines.  In terms of health goals; when I reached my WL goal weight I still had a body fat percentage of 29%.  I managed to get this down to 25 % through exercise and I want to further reduce this to 22 %, so I am still a work in progress.

Watch this space!

While my story is very personal, I’ve shared it in the hope that it can inspire other people to achieve their dreams and goals as well.

Robyn x

• Robyn Thomson is the director of an environmental company in East London, Eastern Cape

Tell Sleekgeek your story?

Are you proud of a personal health or fitness achievement?

You do not have to have lost a ton of weight. Maybe you were out of shape and you accomplished a fitness goal. Tell me about it and I may publish it on the site to inspire others.

Mail me on help@sleekgeek.co.za

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Through my own transformation, from an unhealthy, starving 48kgs to a lean, strong 62kgs, by changes in diet and training I developed not only a passion for strength training but helping people to change and ultimately improve their lives in a similar way.

My athletic endeavours started rather late in life, at 26.  Then leaving the corporate world and turning to Strength Coaching full time at the age of 30 when I moved back to SA after 7 years in London to open a gym, Progressive Edge,  in Greenpoint Cape Town together with my husband.

I have since obtained PICP Level 1 (Regional)  and Level 2 (National) Strength and Conditioning Certifications through the world renowned Canadian Strength Coach Charles Poliquin and am currently studying for the Precision Nutrition certification in Sports and Exercise Nutrition.

I hold 3 South Africa records in drug free Powerlifting and placed 1^st in two figure shows in 2012. Two very different ends of the scale, but confirmation that strength is the base of all athletic endeavours!

Find Kelly here >

Facebook: www.facebook.com/KellyCrushes

Twitter: @KellyDessington

WordPress: http://girlcancrush.wordpress.com/

My gym: www.progressiveedgeperformance.com

When Elan asked me to share my personal story I said ‘yes!’ without hesitation. Putting that story into words is a bit more of a challenge… where does one even begin?

 Just under 4 years ago, I was weighing in at 86kg+, with a BMI of 34 and wearing a pant size of 40! I was obese and depressed. I was extremely negative, absolutely hating life and myself.  How on earth had I fallen so far into this bottomless pit?

The start of it all

Thinking back, my weight gain was the accumulation of many factors. I was always a big kid and also the heaviest amongst my peers. Being called chubby, big boned, stocky etc. has a way of defining you (in your own mind) as exactly that. I wasn’t terribly unhappy or self-conscious about this until the bullying started. Suddenly finding yourself without a friend in the world at the onset of your teens is a lonely place.

Massive insecurities surfaced, and my confidence disappeared. Not wanting my parents to know (seeing it as a failure) I pretended everything was fine at school when the truth was I was dying inside. And so the start of my secret life began… I turned to food as a source of comfort. When I was full I couldn’t feel my emotions anymore, so eating became my escape and secret hobby.

High school was better and I made new friends but the self-hatred and insecurities never disappeared and neither did my secret hobby. This was compounded by the fact I also never really knew what healthy eating was. I used to eat pasta for breakfast and 4 pies in one sitting! I played so much sport in high school (6 days a week) that I just maintained my chubbier than average size. As one can imagine, going to varsity the sport stopped and the drinking ensued.

My weight skyrocketed. I made various attempts at losing weight – trying to play squash, riding the Argus or joining the gym but the problem was I was too self-conscious and used every excuse in the book for a reason not to go. To be honest I don’t think I ever tried hard enough, it was always easier to resort to food to cure a bad day or simply for pleasure. I blamed genes for the way I was – predisposed to putting on weight.

Then I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome… now I had a further excuse to explain away my size – it was my hormones! I went to see a dietician, learning about better food choices and a balanced diet and managed to lose 12kg in the process, but quickly piled it all back on and more. My efforts never lasted long due to the fact I found them too hard or not as fun as, well, eating. I was always sick with no energy and had become somewhat of a hermit. I realise now I was not prepared to change my lifestyle in pursuit of better health and happiness… one needs to address the underlying cause and not the symptom itself.

The turning point

This brings me back to my turning point 4 years ago. I had an amazing boyfriend of 5.5 years at the time, but placing all your self-worth and happiness in one person is a recipe for disaster. The relationship ended and so too, I thought, my life. I was distraught, having no sense of value or who I was and felt completely out of control.

There was a beast staring back at me in the mirror and the reality of how I had let myself go hit. Even food was no longer a comfort as I was so sick with grief I could not eat.  I absolutely hated myself and my life and blamed the failed relationship on what I had become. I desperately needed an escape from my reality or simply a means to cope.

All it took was a pair of shoes

Would you believe that all it took was a pair of shoes? Desperate to clear my head, I literally laced up a pair of squash shoes and decided to get out of the house (and my comfort zone), and just like that I started running. I must have run less than 100 metres to start, walking when my lungs and legs couldn’t take it anymore.

The strangest mental shift happened when I realised running was the only thing that ceased the negative thoughts – it actually made me feel capable again.  I wasn’t thinking about anything else but how I am going to make the next few steps ahead. Soon the determination to prove something of myself took over. It started with plotting a 4km route from my house.

I would run until I couldn’t anymore (which was not very far) and then I would walk. I made sure I covered the distance every day no matter how long it took me or how much I struggled. With no queues or time restrictions suddenly I had no excuses not to run… all I needed to do was step out of my front door.

I was slow and beyond unfit, but with each outing I would run just that little bit further and the added bonus was the kilograms were beginning to shed. I also stumbled onto the infamous ‘runners high,’ a very welcome sense of happiness started to return.

With this new found focus I decided to enter the 10km Gun Run (exactly a month after my very first run). On race day I didn’t walk once – sure I was slow, clocking around 75 mins, but crossing that finish line and absolutely balling my eyes out as I did, I knew I had reached a turning point in my life.

The Impossible just takes longer…

8 months later and 21kg lighter, I completed the Two Oceans and my very first half marathon (the furthest I had run before being 11km) all with only the sheer determination that I would do it! Two Oceans or any running for that matter was something I always deemed personally IMPOSSIBLE! Yes I was sporty at school but never athletic or one for endurance. I never saw the point of people doing events – who wouldn’t want to sleep-in instead?

My new-found passion for running is true testament to the mental shift that had taken place within me, slowly I began to realise how important it is to achieve goals for yourself and nobody else and that positive action leads to positive change. I started entering any event I could, from 5km fun runs, 15km mountain bike rides, 106km Amashova cycle races, Impi Challenge, 10km trail runs to half marathons.

Running and events in general equipped me with the skills to handle other challenges life would throw at me because it teaches you patience and perseverance.  With every new achievement I would prove to myself I was capable of more and I was stronger than I thought. It gives you focus to achieve your personal best – I knew now not to give up on myself so easily, that if I just put my head down and persevered I would get through whatever it was I was dealing with. Eating was no longer my go to source for comfort.

With my new fitness I joined Villagers Squash Club and reignited my passion for squash – playing twice a week in the Men’s and Ladies leagues. Sport had now become very much a part of my daily life and it is fun! Suddenly my confidence was at an all time high, people noticed the positive change in my attitude socially and in the workplace, they could literally see my happiness exuding. All of which was achieved without stepping foot into a gym or any extremes of a strict diet. This change in lifestyle did not involve anything extreme for that matter. I simply:

a) Started doing something I enjoyed which added value to my day.
b) Made healthier food choices in general such as coke light instead of coke or fruit juice, limited carb intake according to what I had learned at the dietician, and healthier snacks such as smoothies or low fat yoghurt.

I still went out to dinner and partied with friends, but in far more balance than I had ever done before.

 
Not all plain sailing

That said, it has not all been plain sailing since. I have fallen off the wagon more times than I can count due to various life events such as failed relationships, family deaths, illness, stressful times in the office, bouts of depression and demotivation etc… Each of these times I would turn to my die hard old habit of binge eating for a while, until I would realise the error of my ways. Such is life.

 There will always be ups and downs and I know there are more to come. What matters is that I have never gone back to the extreme of my old self. With each falling off the wagon and subsequent dusting off, a new lesson has been learnt, some of them being:

a)     Do not seek validation from anyone else but yourself.

b)     Only you have the power to change your reality.

c)     Change only happens when you truly make a long-term commitment to yourself.

d)     There are no short-cuts in life, success is achieved through balance in all areas.

e)     The goal is health and mental well-being, the aesthetics are the cherry on top.

f)      True happiness is within the journey, not the destination.

g)     Surround yourself with groups and people of similar interests – SleekGeek and Red Sock Friday are awesome! [Join Sleekgeek Group] 

 A new challenge… The 8-Week Sleekgeek Comeback Kid Challenge

Towards the end of last year I was so stressed out at work I had lost my passion for life. I struggled getting out of bed in the mornings. Even exercise would not help lift the perpetual black cloud; I was simply going through the motions of merely existing from one day to the next. I found I had become bored with my routines and had entered the Argus and Two Oceans out of habit and not actual drive to complete them. I had tried to start fitness routines and eating well only to have a bad day and eat myself into oblivion. I felt the old habits returning. I was desperate.

Oddly on the 5^th of March I stumbled upon Seone Maskell’s personal story [Read it here ] and saw it had been posted in ‘SleekGeek.’

At first I honestly thought SleekGeek was some new exercise/diet gimmick group, but was intrigued as I found Seone’s story inspiring. I then went onto the website and found a few more testaments and read a bit more on what SleekGeek is about.

I followed on Twitter [Follow @sleekgeekSA] and the following tweet came through ‘Last night to enter the Comeback Kid Challenge, deadline has been extended!’ Not one to shy away from a challenge and really needing a push, I had to find out what this was about.

At first I was sceptical, especially when I saw you had to pay R500 to enter, and I was literally on my last dime, but decided ‘what the hell, I need SOMETHING to get me out of this rut’ and entered.

I started with the Sleegeek REBOOT 30 day Detox [Read about the REBOOT here] after never having gone a day without sugar. Suddenly I was on a 30 day detox that cut out carbs, sugar, dairy and booz! It forced me to think of food as fuel rather than pleasure. Once the cravings subsided, I realised I was more in tune with my body and my energy levels and moods were better. That was 9 weeks ago.

At first the challenge was tough on many levels, but over the weeks the nutrition, weight training and early morning classes at the gym became very much a part of my lifestyle. I also completed my 5^th Argus Cycle Tour with a personal best of 4:13 and ran my 4^th Two Oceans during the challenge. I completed the challenge fitter, lighter and more toned than ever before!

In total I lost 5.3kg and just over 37cm as well as standing 2cm taller! Despite the prizes on offer, first prize is how I feel within myself. The challenge and supportive SleekGeek community put me back onto the road to where I want to be, a place I never dared to dream possible. I have now registered to run the New York Marathon in November… watch this space!

The Lesson

To this day I have lost 27kg from my turning point 4 years ago. I’ve gone from a size 40 to 32; from a negative, depressed individual to someone who is positive and has passion and energy for life. I am grateful for my path… it has taught me humility, and has equipped me to chase my dreams. I have landed a job as Creative Director in Bermuda…  yes I am going to work on a tropical island doing what I love! I am leaving the country at the end of the month to begin a totally new adventure. If it wasn’t for the path that lies behind me I would never be where I am now.

What we forget is that it takes a lifetime to pile on the weight and all the surrounding negativity that comes with it, but we expect instant results and gratification in trying to lose it. A lasting change is not found through shortcuts or any magic pill.

What is true, however, is that anything is attainable with the right attitude, guts and determination.

If I can do it, believe me, so can you.

Meagan x

• Meagan Jackson is a creative director living in Cape Town, soon to be Bermuda.

Tell Sleekgeek your story?

Are you proud of a personal health or fitness achievement?

You do not have to have lost a ton of weight. Maybe you were out of shape and you accomplished a fitness goal. Tell me about it and I may publish it on the site to inspire others.

Mail me on help@sleekgeek.co.za

Share the love

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When I discovered the Sleekgeek community group on on Facebook I was a Personal Trainer (PT) in training, having discontinued a grueling BSc degree half way through.  I did not leave because I was incapable, but because I was miserable and being a PT, helping people aspire to a better, stronger version of themselves had always been my dream.

Not only that but I wanted to build a stronger me, to transfer the fire in my heart into a physical, tangible strength and image.  I had had enough of being used, walked all over and unappreciated.  I wanted to take my life back and prove to myself that dreams can indeed come true.  I was not initially supported by my parents in my venture.

I liked Sleek Geek because it showed me that I was not alone, crazy, obsessed or weird.  Things I, as well as many of you I’m sure, have been called many a time in the last few years!  I struggled through a major eating disorder through my matric year and came close to losing a kidney, it was my coping mechanism for a very troubled home setting.

I fought it alone, put myself into a clinic and won.  I swore as I left that facility that never again would I subject my body and soul to such torture and disrespect.  Through participating in group discussions, posts, tweets and the like I eventually encountered conversations with our lovely Elan (Lohmann) , the founder of Sleekgeek

Elan, you welcomed my ideas, thoughts and timid attempts at achieving my goals.  You are always so encouraging and supportive of anyone trying to make it to the bench marks they have outlined for themselves.  I cannot describe how much all of that, as well as positive feedback from other Sleekgeek group members, has inspired me or the courage it has nourished.

Already in the beginning phases of training with my amazing trainer, Andrew Whittaker, at Body Excel.  I was making headway and slowly gaining strength but with no specific goal or direction.  There was merely a wish to improve functionality, strength, fitness and, of course, aesthetics.  This was until January this year when Elan contacted me in the middle of the night urgently looking for a replacement team member for the Sleekgeek “Fittest in Cape Town” (FiCT!) tournament team.

Now, if having no knowledge AT ALL about CrossFit  and training with group of people I had never met wasn’t enough, the competition was 3 weeks away… I was so very close to declining the offer.  Heart pounding and a feeling of recklessness surging through me, I bit the bullet.  It was game on!

I think this was the best decision I have ever made.

Arriving to that first training session at Evo Fitness gym where the group was going to be trained by Jarrod Firmani, a freelance trainer there, I thought I was going to faint! haha*

Big scary men with tattoos and iron everywhere.  I knew there would be skepticism because of my size but everyone was so FRIENDLY!! It was a blast.  Crossfit made training more of a sport, a cause and gave workouts real purpose!

Not only did amazing friends come out of this (Jono, Rossaan, Os, Elan and Shana you will never know how much you guys have affected my life), but I was lucky enough to train at Evo, an amazing fitness facility with a dedicated team and a fearless leader .

We learnt so much from Jarrod Firmani’s coaching and went in to compete a whole lot stronger than I think anyone expected.  Jarrod is largely to thank for this.

Through this experience Evo and Sleekgeek enabled me to get in touch with Kelly Dessington, an amazing training and nutrition coach who has put me on the right path to achieving my body building, strength and aesthetic goals. [Like Kelly's Facebook page here]

I started out this time last year at 46kgs (38kg lean mass) , i.e. no real muscle to speak of, 19% body fat and absolutely minute.  Yesterday I was informed I’ve moved to just under 50kg, 44.4kg lean mass, 10.4% BF and stronger than I have ever been.  That’s one year.

My message is plain and simple Sleekgeeks, although we all come from different places, we all have a journey to pursue here.  It is not about being perfect, a star at every exercise, stronger than the next person or ‘winning’.

It’s about achieving YOUR goals, bettering YOURSELF, supporting EACH OTHER and building the best version of YOU that you possibly can.  There is a long way to go yet, I am nowhere near the end goal, but one has to keep at it every day!

#EatCleanTrainDirty

As Michelangelo once said. “I saw an angel in the marble and carved until I set him free”

There is so much more to come.  More muscle, strength, SWEAT and hopefully a few more health related qualifications.  Never stop learning about or nurturing your passions.

Yes it’s tough.  No, not every day is a good day.  So many of you have believed in me, I too, believe in you.

Thank you for reading

Tenille Leigh Watkins x

Personal trainer, Cape Town

Tell Sleekgeek your story?

Are you proud of a personal health or fitness achievement?

You do not have to have lost a ton of weight. Maybe you were out of shape and you accomplished a fitness goal. Tell me about it and I may publish it on the site to inspire others.

Mail me on Elan@sleekgeek.co.za

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If you could not get there here is a wrap up for you > 

Reebok and the CrossFit Community celebrate the successful inaugural Pretoria event, The Pretoria Throwdown, which partnered with the Reebok recognised ‘CrossFit PBM’ gym. The event, which took place on 20 and 21 April at Menlyn Park Events Arena, saw 260 fitness enthusiasts battle it out in a male or female doubles team challenge for the championship title and R20, 000.00 winner-takes-all prize money for both teams. The event also raised over R 50, 000.00 for the J9 Foundation.

“The  team registration sold out 10 days prior to the closing date and, over the two days, there was not a single spectator seat left empty – the organisers estimate over 10 000 people attended the event. In addition to this, the Pretoria Throwdown hash tag (#PTAThrowdown) trended number one in South Africa on Twitter, being the most tweeted topic in the country amid a news frenzy week which also marked tragedy in Boston,” explains Steve Young, Reebok Marketing Manager.

“The torrential downpour on the first day forced an ‘underground’ start to the event, creating an intoxicating atmosphere in true grassroots CrossFit style. Once the rain stopped the heats erupted into a world class open-air gladiator style competition. It was truly amazing, and something that Reebok is extremely proud of,” Says Wilna Appel from CrossFit PBM

The competition was tough, delivering two days of constantly varied, high intensity heats which challenged the fittest of the fit. The second day ended with a nail-biting men’s final between two teams representing the host club, CrossFit PBM, and resulted in Gerhard van der Merwe and Frederik Engelbrecht being crowned the men’s Pretoria Throwdown Champions. The women’s title went to Mary Jamieson and Susan Claassen, also taking a prize of R20, 000.00.

Another highlight for the weekend was the celebrity challenge, which included an invitational team consisting of some of South Africa’s top celebrities such as Flip van der Merwe, Stacey Holland, Bobby van Jaarsveld, Lisa Raleigh, Robbie Kruse and Miss SA Marilyn Ramos to name a few. “The celebrity team competed in a grueling workout raising funds and awareness for the J9 Foundation, formed by rugby legend Joost van der Westhuizen,” explains Young.

Steve and Wilna added that, “Reebok and CrossFit PBM are proud to have added value to the J9 Foundation. The celebrities showed great determination and spirit, doing an outstanding job to raise more than R50, 000.00 for J9’s noble cause.  We hope that this contribution, together with all the proceeds from The Pretoria Throwdown will go a long way to aid those suffering from the same form of fatal illness that Joost was diagnosed with in early 2011, Motor Neuron Disease.”

The next event on Reebok’s calendar is The Reebok CrossFit Regional Games, which will take place from 24-26 May at the Standard Bank Arena in Johannesburg. This is Africa’s qualifier for the ‘Fittest On Earth’ event, called ‘The Reebok CrossFit Games’, which will take place in July in Los Angeles and in which over $1 million (USD) will go to the winners and can be seen on ESPN.

“As a brand on a crusade to inspire people to be fit for life, the success of the event helps drive us one step closer to our goal,” ends Young.

The team of participating Celebrities including Miss SA; Reebok ambassador Lisa Raleigh & Robbie Kruse to name a few, all raising funds for the J9 Foundation formed by Joost van der Westhuizen seen in the pic wearing his Reebok TrainFlex DC footwear.

Point break

Pushing the scale on a 165kgs at the age of 28 was no joke. I was eating myself to a early death. Breakfast had no meaning. Lunch and supper consisted of takeaways 7 days a week.

Burgers, fries, pies, always upsize or extra large and a lot of beer and coke. I ate everything that was bad for me.

By may 2012 sharp chest pains and constant headaches forced me to go to the doctor. He did tests and was shocked that I was still standing, because my blood pressure was to high for someone my age!

I had to much salt in my blood and the fat I was carrying around put a lot of strain on my heart. The 20 cigarettes a day was not helping with the heart at all. I was a heart attack waiting to happen. At that moment my mindset changed completely.

 My first long term goal – 50kgs fat loss

I did some research on good nutrition and forced myself to start eating healthier the next day. I cut take-away, beer, sodas and bad carbs completely.

The main foods I focused on was chicken, eggs, fish, veggies, fruit, oatmeal and brown rice and lots of water. I built my meals around those main foods.

The first 4 weeks was tough, but the results were priceless. 3 months into my diet, I lost 15kgs and I quit smoking after month four. I convinced myself I don’t need it.

Month 6 I’d lost just over 30kgs weighed in at 134kgs. Losing weight became harder and it was important for me to stay focused. I stuck famous and motivational quotes all over my room against the walls and ceiling to keep me motivated through the day.

January 2013 I joined Sportcon strength and conditioning in Krugersdorp. You can check out the website at www.sportcon.co.za

At Sportcon I’m on a metabolic resistance training programme that consists of strength (weight) and conditioning (fitness) based training with sufficient rest periods. The programme also includes balance, mobility and coordinated bodyweight movements in a group environment.

With the training programme and my new improved eating plan with the help of Stian Weideman (owner of Sportcon) I’ve lost another 15.6 kgs in the last 3 months Just 2.4kgs away from my original goal of 50kgs fat loss.

The most important thing for me in my weight-loss journey is to surround myself with people who motivate and support me when I’m at my highest or my lowest.

I’ve had many days where I felt like giving up, some days I gave up for a few hours, got over it and kept going.

I now train 30 to 45 minutes at Sportcon 5 days a week. I walk at least a minimum of 4km a day every day. My blood pressure is normal and I’m off the heart medication. I feel like a new person, and I have a lot more energy through the day and I sleep much better at night with 8 hours of sleep.

My personal tips: 

• Eat at least 6 times a day

• Drink at least 2L of water a day to keep hydrated.

• Have a cheat meal once a week

• Stretch before and after your workouts

• Set yourself a long-term goal, then break it up in smaller goals .it will make it easier to reach your long term goal.

• No matter how hard it gets, no matter how much it hurts, just keep going, remind yourself constantly why you are doing this.

• Don’t look at how far you have to go but rather at how far you’ve come.

• Keep a food journal, write everything down you put in your mouth, this will help you to improvise your eating plan as you go along.

• Always remember there’s no such thing as a quick diet. You gained weight over a period of time and it is going to take time to lose it again. Dedication and persistence will get you there.

Most importantly ! EAT TO LIVE, DON’T LIVE TO EAT.

In the 11 months of clean eating and training. I’ve learned that both is equally important in a healthy lifestyle.

I’m motivated to pursue a course in exercise science to help people take on a healthier lifestyle. I hope my transformation inspires more people to start living healthier.

Down from 165kgs to 117.4 kgs in 11 months and nothing is going to stop me.

Goodluck and thank you Sleekgeek for sharing my story.

Etienne.

Tell Sleekgeek your story?

Are you proud of a personal health or fitness achievement?

You do not have to have lost a ton of weight. Maybe you were out of shape and you accomplished a fitness goal. Tell me about it and I may publish it on the site to inspire others.

Mail me on Elan@sleekgeek.co.za

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Mr SleekGeek (Elan) asked me to write you guys a love-letter about how to do it in my personal opinion *grin*…

Round 2

This is the 2^nd time I’ve attempted this baby mammoth task. The last time was years ago, and my working hours allowed me to go and swim 1km twice a day. Did I imagine that collective gasp? Well, I’m no champion swimmer. I started by spluttering my way through the 20m pool at the gym at a point where I couldn’t swim 5 lengths without resting (or simply going home…). So, I did ALL that training, lost a load of weight, and then the gym closed down and I stopped swimming. Back to square one.

This is the point: Whatever your goal – you just have to GET STARTED. Then KEEP GOING – even if it’s slow, even if it’s not very far. Just keep going! One does not always realise how far you’ve let yourself go, but you don’t suddenly have to run 10km a day and eat only lettuce. Don’t try to make all the changes at once.

Let’s work on balance in everything.

For me, the easiest way to kick-start a healthier life is to walk out your gate. No monthly fees required, and depending on where you live, you’ll see some trees and get some sun and air. What a life!  If you don’t live in a safe enough neighbourhood, try joining a running club, they’ll have grounds you can use. Running club fees are not constant, but you can work on under R1k for the year. This then generally includes a club vest and your license fee for the year. You can then run road races of 10km+ (once you’re ready!) without having to pay for a temporary license every time.

Avoid some of the pain I have endured along the way; please take some advice from me:

FEET:

My funky feet and I had to start at the podiatrist. I was sent there by the physiotherapist who I’d been seeing because the inflammation-related pain in my knees (due to the rubbish shoes I’d used, that were too small and didn’t suit my feet!) was not subsiding. If you need to, I’d recommend Philip Bower (Northcliff). For the consultation and the insoles it was under R1k. This is likely so save you many a shin splint, knee, hip (any joint, really!) pain/ injury.

SHOES:

SPECIALIST stores (in my opinion, this does not include the likes of Totalsports and Sportsmans Warehouse, unfortunately) – tend to have people there who ACTUALLY know about running, shoes and avoiding injuries. In my case, I took the podiatrist’s advice and went to the Randburg Runner. I bought a pair of Saucony Jazz15 – neutral, cushioned, size 8.5 for my rather troubled feet. The man who sold them to me (months ago) asked me on my last visit (yesterday) how the shoes are treating me. You won’t get that sort of care from a chain/ franchise store. Once again, got these awesome shoes at under R1k. Get some decent socks while you’re at it.

START SMALL:

After you have the right shoes, you can get going. But let’s not go overboard! Go for a walk. Walking is AMAZING. I gained a good deal of fitness by simply walking. Easier on the joints (and sometimes more enjoyable). If you can commit to going for a 30-minute walk, 3 times a week, that’s already a big change.

Track your distances and times – use an app for your phone or buy a Garmin watch if you have some money lying around. A few of the medical aids also now give you pedometers. Tracking your progress can be a major motivation factor. Share your updates onto your social networking sites. Tell people about it. You’ll be surprised the amount of encouragement you’ll get from your friends!

Eventually, you could try swimming, especially if your joints give you problems.

GYM:

You either need to do some serious research on exercise, or you need to train with someone who knows what they are doing. I have the luxury of training with my friend, Dalena Nel, who used to be a personal trainer and an SA cyclist. She keeps me on track and motivated.

There are so many ways you can injure yourself if you go about exercise uninformed. Please get professional advice and be careful. The Start small idea mentioned above applies throughout your lifestyle change.

Further, I’d like to add some general tips that I found worked for me…

WATER:

It really is your friend. By simply going for a few walks a week and increasing your water intake to at least 2l daily, you’ll achieve some great results. Whenever you feel hungry, have some water. When you wake up, instead of reaching for that first cup of coffee (which dehydrates you and actually only makes you more tired later on!), have a glass of water instead. Your body loses quite a bit of water during sleep. South Africa’s water quality is world-class – drink up! Get yourself a nice travel ‘canister’ (not plastic) and take it with you wherever you go.

SUGAR:

This evil little monster hides in all sorts of unexpected places. For me it’s easier to ‘train’ myself to dislike something. I also have a few medical conditions that make it necessary to cut out the likes of soft drinks altogether rather than attempting moderation.

The main culprits that I have found really mess me up are fruit juice, carbonated drinks, liquor (more than 2 units at a time, more than 2x a week) and bread (and related – croissants, scones etc.). Also, if, like me, you don’t like tea/ coffee without sugar, it’s often easier to cut out the tea/ coffee altogether.

I try to cut out starch after 4pm. (this means no bread/ pizza/ pasta/ potatoes/ rice etc.). You may find it easier to achieve this if you make lunch your main meal.

PORTIONING:

Cutting down on the bad stuff can have amazing results. So – instead of creating a feeling that you’re torturing yourself because you can never again enjoy your favourite pasta, apply some logic and decide e.g. OK, I’ll have pasta. But I’ll have it at lunchtime, no more than once a week, and even better if you’re going to be training that evening.

TIME:

Getting into a healthy habit takes some time, but once you’re there, you’ll never look back. I am lucky enough to have a world-class canteen facility available at my workplace. This, however, can be a blessing and a curse. Often it’s difficult to walk past the pizza counter and have a wrap and salad instead. It’s ok though! We all have those days.  For me, the key is that you can allow yourself to fall off the wagon once in a while – as long as it’s ONCE, and the while is a week or longer. Don’t let your binge day turn into a binge month.

ALCOHOL:

Giving your body a break from alcohol has unimaginable results. Try a week, then a month. We do not realise the amount of sugar that we take in… just try it! You’ll also be surprised at the amount of money you save.

MEASUREMENTS:

Often looking at a scale or even the special machines some gyms have available can be demotivating. I stopped using the one in my gym because it sent me an email every time telling me I’m a walking, talking health risk! J It’s more about how you feel and about how your clothes fit. Remember, the ultimate aim here is health and happiness!

SHOPPING:

What you do not purchase, you will not consume. Those evil cravings for your favourite poison often come at night. If you’re desperate enough to get in your car and go and buy it, then you deserve it. 95% of the time, you will be too lazy to do that (like me!). Simply stop buying soft drinks, crisps, etc. It’s the simplest solution. And when you do buy a chocolate, buy a unit – not a slab. Trust me, it has a big impact!

MEDICAL:

Add Vitamin C to your life. Go see a medical practitioner and get your blood tested. You may have deficiencies that detract from your quality of life. I’ve had my share of fun and games with GPs so I am now under the care of a really amazing homeopath – Dr Vernisha Moodley. She has sorted out some unresolved problems I have been struggling with for years, within weeks!

STRETCHING:

Other than rest, this is one of the most important things you need start doing. Sure, nobody expects you to be part of the winning gymnastics team in the next Olympics, but improving your flexibility has long-lasting benefits. You need to do short stretches before, and long stretches after your workout. Shortening of your muscles occurs in the long term if you do not stretch properly. You can find more information and stretches to try online.

REST: Getting enough good quality sleep is one of the key ingredients of a healthy life. Make sure your room is dark enough, you have quiet and you allow your body enough time to recuperate between training sessions. If your sleep is often disturbed (by you coughing, snoring, and such), it is worthwhile to see a medical practitioner about that. If you’re ill or injured, DO NOT TRAIN. Just take that time and allow your body to mend.

WEEKENDS:

The weekends are where you can get a little lazy, energetic, or creative. It depends on you. I slack off on the super-healthy eating a little. I go dancing once in a while – this is the most fun way to exercise without even realising it. Just be sure not to skyrocket your alcohol intake at the same time. I attempt to attend the local parkrun on a Saturday. I’d recommend you do the same, if there’s one close enough to you. On Sundays I don’t train – I recommend at least one day of full rest each week. You’ll be grateful in the long run!

Well, there it is, I think that’s it! Hope this will help you in achieving your healthier life.

Trust me, it’s possible! You can do it!

Annalinde Louw xx

Twitter: @aLfriendo

Blog: http://glipho.com/alfriendo

Tell Sleekgeek your story?

Are you proud of a personal health or fitness achievement?

You do not have to have lost a ton of weight. Maybe you were out of shape and you accomplished a fitness goal. Tell me about it and I may publish it on the site to inspire others.

Mail me on Elan@sleekgeek.co.za

Share the love

Did this story inspire you? If it did then please be so kind as to share it so that you may inspire others. 

You can click the “Like” button below or make a comment and it will appear in your Facebook feed or use another of the other share buttons for Twitter etc.

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Over to Lindsay …..

Beware the Ides of March!

On the 15^th of March 2008 I had a heart attack. It was six days after my son Sam was born. It would have been fatal had my husband Martin not been at home with me.

I was in a coma on life support until I could breathe on my own. They put stents into my left ventricle artery.

For two years after that I was scared. I wouldn’t really tell anyone that. I acted so brave and stoic. But to tell the truth, I was petrified it would happen again.

So I did what I had done my whole life. I ate the feelings away. One excuse after another.  I gained about 20 kgs post pregnancy, post HA (heart attack)

I’m not even sure what happened or how it shifted. I actually never really felt all that big. I was in total denial. Always making fat jokes at my own expense, making excuses for my “love” of food.

The intervention

My mom sat me down one afternoon on the 15^th July 2010. She cried and begged and pleaded with me. She said I had to get my health under control because she and the rest of my “team” could not go through that again.

I felt so sorry for her. So I went to see a dietician. I still was in denial.

Of course I started to lose some weight but I had done this a million times before. I went to see a bio and she followed me around from treadmill to bike with a blood pressure monitor and took my pulse rate all the time. I HATED it. I hated me; I hated being seen as weak.

Sweat 1000

Come in SWEAT 1000 and Steve Uria. I used to watch my friends doing sweat and absolutely loving it. Everyone around me was getting into this new fitness program and I also wanted to. BUT everyone including my cardiologist said I was mad and it was too hectic. I used to look through the window at all these crazy people like a Garfield car window doll sucked onto the window.

Eventually I did my first SWEAT class. I was like a little girl going bungee jumping. I was so scared. Steve just pushed me over the edge and I have not looked back.  He is my mentor. He just gets me and helps me to keep motivated. He is the reason I love being fit so much.

My teenage years were filled with diets and binge eating. I was obsessed with my weight and like all teenage girls obsessed with myself and of what my friends thought of me. Yoyo is a total understatement. Physically and emotionally.

In fact up until 3 years ago it was pretty much the same story.

Blessing in disguise

Having the HA changed my life in so many ways. In hindsight it’s the best thing that ever happened. I don’t walk around everyday thinking “shew my life is cool, I’m so lucky, what a beautiful day, I love life” In fact quite the opposite.

I have almost become a little arrogant. I dodged death. I am invincible. I can do anything.  (Obviously not quite but I’d like to think so)

After a few weeks of doing SWEAT I felt so much stronger. I could actually run. I could actually lift a weight and nothing would happen to me. It made me so determined to get strong again. I started feeling confident again.

This is when it all shifted from wanting to be thin to being healthy, strong and fit. I loved the feeling. It was totally addictive. Pushing myself just that much further every time. I began to challenge my heart. How hard could I push etc.

I made myself a chart with goals on it. I would tick off every day. Each day I would assess how I was feeling. I started to treat myself as a recovering addict.

I had that chart up in my PJ’s cupboard for a year. I took the better part of 2010/11 to lose the majority of my weight. I started to feel like I was an athlete (you see arrogant)

I ate carefully. I dropped my portion size. I ate at home more. I increased my protein. I prepared my food for the day. I dropped all the white food and sugar. Most importantly I drank water all the time. That is a big factor is shifting your weight.

Finding the balance

It was so hard. In fact each day since I started my journey is still hard. I am like an alcoholic. If I just have a little sip I fall off the wagon. This was hard because I needed to have a balance and not feel like I had thrown it all away every time I ate something unhealthy.

So now when I go on holiday which is about every three months or so I totally let myself go. I rest. I don’t train. I eat as much as I want. Yes I put on weight. Yes I get lazy. But it allows me to enjoy certain foods that I love. Most of all it reminds me how Yuk I feel when I don’t “eat clean”. It reminds me how my body needs healthy food to function and be strong.

I have lost 28 kgs since I started.

It’s all been from changing my outlook from being thin to being healthy and strong. Maybe I just grew up!

I have also learnt to set big goals all the time to keep motivated. I.e. Ride the Argus (haven’t ridden a bike since I was 14), run a 10km race and register ahead of time.

So my next BIG goal is to complete the half iron man as my 40^th birthday present to myself.  (Hold thumbs)

Think big. If I can do it anyone can.

Lindsay XX

• Lindsay Dibowitz lives in Cape Town and owns Thula Baby Centre (Click here to like her page)

Tell us your story?

Are you proud of a personal health or fitness achievement?

You do not have to have lost a ton of weight. Maybe you were out of shape and you accomplished a fitness goal. Tell me about it and I may publish it on the site to inspire others.

Mail me on Elan@sleekgeek.co.za

Share the love

Did this story inspire you? If it did then please be so kind as to share it so that you may inspire others. 

You can click the “Like” button below or make a comment and it will appear in your Facebook feed or use another of the other share buttons for Twitter etc.

Spread the word and inspire others. It is a gift. It takes one spark to change a person’s life.

[ Click here to join our community. It is 100% Free ]