Q&A: Heleen Viljoen

Here’s a quick Q&A with Heleen Viljoen who came 3rd in Women’s Transformation in Sleekgeek’s latest ULTIMATE YOU 8-Week Transformation Challenge (sign up for the new challenge now at www.ultimateyou.co.za)!

QUESTION 1: Give us a short history of your journey to health and fitness before the challenge.

A: I am a mother of four wonderful children. 3 girls (15y, 11y, 10y) and 1 baby boy (22 months). After each daughter’s birth I just gained more and more weight. I got to a point where I didn’t want to buy new clothes as I couldn’t get anything that fit properly. That day in the fitting room I decided it was enough. I went on a starving diet. Lost almost 20kg. Then I had my little boy and gained a lot of weight but never went back to the big size me. My friend told me about this support group. And now I am Sleekgeek for life.

QUESTION 2: What prompted you to join the ULTIMATE YOU Transformation Challenge?

A: By word of mouth I was invited to the Sleekgeek Family. This was my third challenge. My first challenge was last year October with a friend that told me about the Ultimate You Challenge. I joined without planning. Before the challenge I had torn a ligament but only during my first challenge I was told I must not walk so much and only do my physio but I moved but with my cast on. I lost so much weight but gained some of it again. So I did my second challenge I joined a support group. The group did so well that we won entries to the winter challenge with #TeamCarlimeltaway and the support of Carli. This winter challenge me and some Sleek friends started a group of our own. I must say if it wasnt for #TeamFlabuless I would have given up. It as one of the most difficult challenges for me as “life happened”.

QUESTION 3: Give us a quick overview of the nutrition and eating plan that you followed during the challenge.

A: I left out sugars and carbs. I followed the Banting eating plan. I took pictures of all my meals as it was a way of keeping a register of what I had the day. This time I planned most meals or had back up boiled eggs or pre packed ziplock bags with nuts or biltong in my hand bag with a bottle of water. So that I had no excuse to cheat on my healthy choices.

QUESTION 4: Give us a quick overview of the training and exercise plan that you followed during the challenge.

A: I walked everyday at least 8000 steps as it was one of my goals. I did home exercises.

QUESTION 5: Did you use any supplements or do anything else worth mentioning to help you get results?

A: No.

QUESTION 6: If you could give 3 pieces of advice to future challengers, what would they be?

A: (1.) Drink water. (2.) Move more. (3.) Challenge yourself and set goals that you can achieve. I kept positive even if all I wanted to do is eat all the negative emotions away. This challenge I walked the negative emotions away. If I had a bad day I just walked much faster the evening. After my walk I felt better. I substitute my emotional eating with more moving. I had a goal of at least 8000 steps per day. I am very office bound and made sure I got the steps in. Even if it was dark in the evenings. I took the pram and walked with my little baby and my oldest daughter or on my own but got the steps in.

QUESTION 7: What did you find most valuable about your experience?

A: The support in this group is what helped the most. This is the best platform for even shy people to share their emotions and experiences. The flexibility of all the exercise plans made it easy to even gym at home. Again thank you very much. Just know your initiative and Sleekgeek Family is making big changes in a lot of people’s lives.