Q&A: Sean Dicks

Here’s a quick Q&A with Sean Dicks who came 4th in Men’s Weight Loss, losing 13.6kgs 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 started this journey with the words “Live,Diet, Repeat…” as the opening line in my Winter Challenge statement. In my life, never a truer word has been spoken. I have always been a healthy, heavy-set guy who would sporadically visit the gym in a feeble attempt to lose weight. I have tried SureSlim, Dieticians, Weight Loss with minor results, none of which were eternal.

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

A: I am fortunate enough to be blessed with a partner, Deanna, who follows health trends and knows everything about healthy eating, the latest fitness gadgets and exercising. She has encouraged me to try new things from Banting to Parkrun. It was Deanna that suggested we pay R499 to put exposed photos of us online for a 2-month weight loss challenge. I endorsed the idea, as an encouraging partner, but was silently dying inside with the ludicrousness of this venture. As the days closed in to the start of the challenge, I found myself getting excited. And on the Sunday before the challenge we ate ourselves into a small coma. And then it began…

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

A: Deanna and I were very disciplined in our eating plan. Breakfasts would include one of the following: 40g Plain Instant Jungle Oats, Plain Full Cream Yoghurt, 40g Future Life, Anti-Oxidant Trail Mix (to mix with the Yogurt or Oats), Scrambled eggs with Ham and Feta. Lunch would include one of the following: Plain Salad (lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, feta), chicken/meat with vegetables. Supper would include one of the following: Chicken or pork schnitzel, meat or chicken, curries – but all laden with vegetables with minimal Carbs (or none at all).

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

A: Deanna found a jogging plan for us to follow, to get a person running 10km in 60 minutes within 12 weeks. We extended this program to 24 weeks by duplicating the weeks program. We followed this program religiously and it has helped immensely. This weekend Deanna and I are doing our 50th Parkrun. And our times have improved from the beginning of the year around 44 minutes to 30 minutes for the 5km, and this includes my 10yr daughter. This program, not only helps with fitness but also helps to promote clean eating because you are less likely to deviate after exercise.

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

A: We did not take any supplements, maybe half a health bar before a parkrun for a little extra energy.

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

A: If I was to give out my personal advice for new or returning challengers it would be (1.) Having a partner that supports you, or more importantly, joins you, on new adventures. (2.) Increasing your vegetable intake. Deanna and I sometimes went through 2-3 broccolis a week, Mixed vegetables and experimented successfully with cauliflower. Vegetables fill gaps that carbs can’t. (3.) If you require a cheat meal – make it for Sunday. Friday cheat meals end up in weekend binges. (4.) Join Parkrun – it’s a global sensation with more than 2 Million members. Not only for the 5km – but it gets you out of bed and exercising at 8am. From there you can grab the rest of the weekend by the glutes. (5.) Get rid of all snack/junk food. Someone trying to quit smoking wouldn’t leave cigarettes lying around. (6.) The number one factor for my weight loss, above all, was the Ultimate You Challenge, my name and shame perception of this initiative was washed away with this Sleek Geek culinary cult, this community of similar people sharing stories and supporting each other.

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

A: The most valuable part of this experience was the community. People sharing their bad days as much as their good, even our Captain sharing his kryptonite moments.