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💪 8-Week Body Transformation Challenge! 🥗

Q&A – Elmarie Spangenburg

Here’s a quick Q&A with Elmarie Spangenburg, our 3rd place winner in the women’s transformation category of the latest 8-week Ultimate You Challenge.

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

I have been struggling with my weight my entire life. When I was in high school, I did lose a lot of weight, but not by leading a balanced lifestyle. When I went to university, I gained approximately 30kgs over a span of 3 years! This gave me a huge knock in my self confidence. I tried quick fixes but then I would just gain the weight I lost again plus a few kilos extra. 

  • What prompted you to join the ULTIMATE YOU Transformation Challenge?

When I heard about Sleekgeek and their mission from a friend who was already taking part in one of the heats, I decided this was the perfect opportunity (Thanks Hanna Smit!).

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

I started watching my calorie intake and, via an app on my phone, made sure it stayed between 1000 and 1500 calories per day. I stayed away from carbs, but did have the occasional slice of low GI bread or butternut. 

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

My exercise regime was really tough. I exercised 5 or 6 times a week, keeping a good balance between cardio and resistance training. I was always under the impression that cardio makes you lose weight faster, but the results I obtained with the resistance training was amazing. I was constantly challenging myself to do more. 

  • If you could give 3 pieces of advice to future challengers, what would they be?
My advice to future competitors: firstly, get your head in the game. You need to WANT to lose weight. You need to WANT to get fit and be healthy. If you achieved that state of mind, I believe you are already halfway there. 
 
Secondly, don’t starve yourself or punish yourself by not eating good food. Start by making small substitutions, like eating cauliflower mash instead of the usual potato mash. Or substituting some of your mayonnaise with cottage cheese. I believe this contributes a lot to the sustainability of your new healthy lifestyle.
 
Lastly, and personally my most important tip, get a support structure. By joining a team or the Facebook group, you are reminded that you are not alone in this. Even my friends joined in and committed to healthier lifestyles.
 
  • What did you find most valuable about your experience? 
By far the most valuable accessory to my weight-loss journey, was my partner. We entered the couples challenge together. He dragged me to the gym and motivated me to resist cheating on my diet. In the end the challenge truly changed my life. I even ran my first trail run! I am now more motivated than ever to keep on leading a healthy lifestyle and to become the ultimate me. I will be first in line to enter the next challenge!
 

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