It’s taken me a long time to put my story into words.  I’ve been procrastinating…I’ve been wanting to write my story for months now but just couldn’t get myself to  DO IT!

And as I’m writing this I realize that this is exactly how my story goes …… I’m a procrastinator by habit – I sit on the fence and say all the right things but I just don’t do it!….I have wanted to lose weight for years… saying things like, ‘this Monday is the Monday that I go on diet and change my life forever’…. Then Monday would come and then I would tell myself …next Monday…. and so this went on and on for almost 10 years.

 Self realisation

Until one day I made myself stand in front of the mirror and take a long hard look at what I really looked liked.  I stood there weighing almost 78kg’s (I’m only 155cm’s short  🙂 ).  I pulled at the fat on my tummy, thighs and arms.  I tried to measure every kilo of fat.  I was in tears as the self realisation sank in.  Never had I imagined I would ever look like this!

Growing up I wasn’t fat and was full of energy & life.  My mom had taught us very healthy eating habits.  We basically grew up on turkey, vegetables and fruit.  Never having take-aways or sweets.  So I couldn’t even blame my upbringing.  How did I get here! Why did I do this to myself!  Summer was around the corner – It was the 31^st of October 2012.

I will never forget this moment as it was the moment that made all the difference in my attitude towards myself.  This ‘self realisation’ moment was now in-printed in my mind. My body was a mess, this isn’t what I wanted for myself.  I didn’t like what looked back at me.  I was ashamed that I had let myself go.  I looked like one big white blob.  And I realised that only I can make the change.  No one else can do it for me.  I’m responsible for the way I look and feel.  I remember that moment like it was yesterday.

I woke up on the 1^st of November 2012 and used positive affirmations to motivate myself.  I didn’t want to go through another Summer hiding my body under a sarong.  My greatest love is the beach and I try and spend every moment on the beach in Summer.  I imagined myself being happy with my body and used this image every morning.  I imagined how I would feel wearing clothes that I really wanted to wear and not just wear clothes that would hide all my body fat.

I started going to spinning classes first thing in the morning (2 to 3 times a week), and would imagine myself lying on a beach in a white sexy little bikini.  This positive affirmation every morning is what got me out of bed at 5am to attend a spinning class.  This time I was adamant not to give into my old habits and pushed through.

I went to cardio & weight classes about twice a week and went to yoga classes on a Sunday morning.  A Love for exercise grew within me.  I loved the feeling I got from being there.  I started to feel that I belonged there.  Before I knew it…going to gym had become part of my life.  It was as important to me as eating and drinking.  I made time for gym and stopped using the excuse ‘I don’t have time’.  I also realized that my mind is way stronger than I ever knew.  I started believing in myself again.

I ate healthily and would pack a tuna salad for myself when going to family and friends for dinner.  I cut out alcohol, junk food and breads.  My body thanked me as well as my mood swings :).

I felt stronger and stronger as time went by.  My knee’s stopped making cranking sounds as I walked up stairs, I had energy – lots of energy!

I was happier and healthier than ever before.

After 3 and a half months I had lost almost 16kg’s and was stuck on 62kg’s.  I desperately wanted to get under the 60kg’ mark so I entered the 8-week Sleekgeek challenge mid February 2013.

The Sleekgeek challenge worked and gave me the extra motivation that I needed to reach my goal.  At the end of the challenge I weighed 56kg’s.  Having lost 22kg’s in total (over a 6 month period) since the start of my journey.

My Advice

Our minds are so powerful but we do have the choice of what we tell ourselves.  We have the choice to be positive or negative about ourselves.

The only difference that I made this time in my weight loss quest was that I actually believed that I could get there.  I had a vision that I was working towards.  This vision is what really pushed me.  I kept this vision in my mind.  Every morning and every night I would sit still for a few minutes and see this vision.  I knew that it could only get better from here and the belief within myself grew stronger and stronger.

You are worth it!  And I promise that once you start your journey you will never look back again.

I look forward to reading about your journey!

Chrystina x

• Chrystina lives in Cape Town and works in the recruitment industry

Chrystina is also pictured bottom second from the right at a recent “Sleekgirls” dinner with founder Elan, admin Eric and some of our inspirational ladies in the community.

SUBMIT YOUR STORY AND WIN

Ceejay wins a R500 voucher courtesy of our sponsor for the “YOU CAN live life well” series Wellness Warehouse to be spent on their online store with free delivery nationally.

I believe very strongly that ordinary every day people like you and I derive great inspiration from the achievements of people who seem similar to us. If they can do it.. damn.. so can I! Right?

So through this program we will continue to tell people’s personal stories.

I want to great an archive of hundreds of stories of people who have changed their lives while others believe they cannot.

Submit your story to help@sleekgeek.co.za with the Subject line “You can live life well”

We require:

• Your story in your own words covering at least (How you got to a point of change, how you made the change, tips and advise for others)
• A selection of before and after photos
• As many words as you need to tell your story

In advance, we regret that not all stories may be published. Your story is as important as anyone’s story but we can only publish one a week and the editor will make decision on this.

If your story is published you will receive a R500 voucher to the Wellness Warehouse online store with free national delivery.