Dirk Tolken – My story

Name:  Dirk Tolken, Digital Strategy, Online Marketing, Development at https://www.semantica.co.za (Cape Town)  

Competitor: Sleekgeek 6-week Beach Body Challenge (25 October – 5 December 2011)

This is sort of a public statement, that followed on from the Sleek Geek Beachbody Challenge created by Elan Lohmann that a bunch of us recently undertook. I was amazed at the results I got in just 6 weeks, but realise that it’s going to be a lifestyle change.

I was living pretty unhealthy in terms of my diet, not caring what I put in my mouth. But small tweaks to your existing diet will already bring you amazing results, if you exercise. I have subsequently changed back to 3 times a day, but my body is complaining, so I think I might just continue my eating plan and find some more healthy options. We’re going in to silly season and it’s important to just keep a clear mind on what you eat. I’m also not really able to eat junk anymore.

I did try… This for me was like when I stopped smoking. I used will power, it’s difficult, but I’m a better off person and once you’re into the habit of being healthy it’s so much easier. It’s also not something you should be anal about in terms of eating out and going about telling people how restricted your diet has to be. I found that most restaurants have healthy options.

I also took protein shakes, which I believe makes a big difference, and the high protein diet I followed still allowed me to eat well, just more intelligently. I also ate 6 times a day. A proper eating plan is truly 70-80% of your weight-loss regime.

Living healthy is not a sentence, it’s a blessing, and you get to see much more of the beautiful outdoors. You don’t need to tread the hamster wheel in the gym, but it would help your cause if you’re looking to loose weight fast.

Hopefully some of my pudgy friends read this and get their asses of the couch and shape up! This is my challenge to you my friends, time to shape up or ship out!

Dirk.

•  Dirk originally posted this on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/notes/dirk-tolken/my-sleek-geek-challenge/10150423136430924 on December 13 2011