I won’t go into what caused me to put on weight to start with, but I realized in June last year that this situation couldn’t continue and I went to a cognitive behaviour therapist, coincidentally the same guy who Brian Berkman went to.

For about 6 weeks we danced around each other and I dreamed up every excuse in the book why I couldn’t stick to a diet, and he glared at me and tried to squeeze some co-operation out of me.

Then one day someone I follow on Twitter re-tweeted one of SleekGeekSA’s tweets, and the slogan #eatcleantraindirty piqued my interest. I was eating a cheese muffin at the time! I started following you, and then you mentioned the Facebook Group. I joined that and watched what was happening for another month or so. I read everything that was available, and tried not to be intimidated by Celeste’s amazing body and fiery red hair! The one day she posted her before pics and I realized that I was in the right place.

I jumped in with both feet, started with strict REBOOT and joined Run Walk for Life to get a bit of exercise. I also have to say at this point that I have never looked for cheat days, cheat meals, substitutes or treats, because I am trying to break addiction pathways and make a life long, sustainable life style change. I’m an all or nothing kind of girl, and for me, success lies in reducing the opportunities to fail, which means reducing the opportunities to cheat or treat myself. Besides, cheats and treats hadn’t exactly worked well for me up until this point!

By the middle of November I was ready for a new challenge, and decided I wanted in on the weird Cross Fit cult that had all the Sleeks firmly in its grip so I found a trainer and was instantly hooked! Since then I haven’t looked back.

My life has done a complete 180 – I now spend my spare time on a mountain, on a road, in a gym, anywhere I can be active. I have boundless energy, I am healthy, fit and strong, and I can do amazing things like lift really heavy shit! I feel 20 years younger and I look like a different person – mainly because I am! My skin and hair are healthy and glowing due to my clean eating and lots of exercise.

Ironically, losing all this weight got me into serious trouble when I fell on a hike over the Easter weekend. I recognized that this was potentially a serious stumbling block, and could possibly derail me completely, but when I looked back and thought of the investment of time and effort that I had made to date, I couldn’t bear to let it all slide. I think my name is now feared in hospital kitchens and those of rehab centers all over Cape Town as I demanded clean food and fresh vegetables  – mainly spinach and broccoli! – wherever I found myself!  

To date I have lost just over 50kgs, which seems slightly incredible, but here I am…

If you had told me 6 months ago that I would go on to be someone who has lost this enormous amount of weight, I would have laughed and felt sick that I wouldn’t be able to do it.

Without the Sleeks, I’m sure I wouldn’t have got this far. The Sleeks have given me the daily support and accountability I needed to overcome an eating disorder and a sugar addiction, and give me my health back.

My cholesterol dropped within the first three months, as did my blood sugar. My insulin resistance is a thing of the past.

I have also been very reluctant to post my ‘before’ pics, because I am so ashamed of the way I looked, but you and the Sleeks have taught me that the shame was not in where I was, but would have been in staying there. I have several ladies telling me that it was my before pic that got them going, and that makes it all worthwhile.

I am genuinely happy that my humiliation has helped someone else on this path to health, and am happy to chat to anyone who needs any help along their path. Lessons learned are good to share!

Felicity.

SUBMIT YOUR STORY AND WIN R500 Wellness Warehouse Voucher

Felicity 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.