Name:
Adele Sherriff
Age:
42
Location:
Wilgeheuwel, Johannesburg
How much weight have you lost on your journey so far?
I weighed 117kg when I started my journey at the end of April 2019. I am now 82. I have lost 35kg with 2kg more to go.
What do you do?
I am a Personal Assistant at a Law firm.
What else do you do?
I love watching reality TV with my husband, going out for breakfast, shopping (these days), and just spending time with him and our two cats.
YOU AND SLEEKGEEK
How long have you been a member of Sleekgeek?
Since 1 December 2017
How did you find Sleekgeek?
I cannot really remember to be honest but I think it was either Facebook friends speaking about the group or I read about Sleekgeek somewhere online.
What is your favourite part of the Sleekgeek Community?
I think the fact that the Community encourages and motivates one another. That there is also no nastiness on the group, is so refreshing.
YOUR TRANSFORMATION
Describe the “old you” before you made your transformation. How did you get there and what were you like?
I have had weight issues all my life. My first encounter with a weight-loss group, was when I was 13 years old and as the years went on, it was a constant struggle with my weight, fluctuating from goal weight to heavily overweight back to goal and right back to where I ended up weighing the heaviest that I never thought I would be at.
The overweight me was never really happy, now that I look back. Even though I am quite an extrovert and forever joking. Deep down. I never felt pretty or just good enough.
I was never such a big food eater but a huge snacker, smashing a packet of Oreos, Lays, a bar of chocolate, and some more was nothing out of the ordinary for me. You would never see me eat in front of other people like that, but mostly at home, where I felt safe.
What ignited your initial motivation to change?
I just could not handle the size that I was getting. I went shopping with my husband for work pants and I refused to buy a bigger size (being size 22). That resulted in me, once again, bursting out in tears in Woolworths with it just being another week of having to leave the shops empty-handed. Overall I was just tired of always having to go to the plus-size sections and not being able to wear shorts or short-sleeved shirts in summer or pretty clothes. You would only find me in jeans, even in high-summer. I also started feeling the impact that my weight had on my knees and heels. I just had enough.
What are some of the things that the new you does differently now?
I definitely plan better when it comes to meals. I also enjoy making healthy meals by experimenting. I now have a much better understanding of calories and calorie deficit, so I know which portion sizes to choose and I ensure that there is a good balance.
What are some of the things that the new you still struggles with?
I still struggle to not feel like I am still the biggest girl in the room. I still view myself as quite big.
If you could give yourself 1 piece of advice to help with that struggle, what would it be?
Stop breaking yourself down. You are good enough.
Did you plateau, get stuck, or get disillusioned, or even slide backwards a bit on your journey?
Yes, I started plateauing about 4 months ago, but what got me through was Jordan Syatt and his view on weight-loss and his videos on YouTube talking about how you cannot mess this up, to just be consistent and that finally, you will see the drop. I did just did that, week after week and it paid off after like 3 weeks. I just pushed through.
What is better since you got healthy?
A lot, firstly my knees and my heels are much better. I can feel the difference in not carrying the extra weight. My lower back also aches less. My breathing has improved with just doing simple house tasks. I must admit, I got very lazy when I was at my biggest. Now I easily jump up to go do something. So yes, more energy.
TRAINING
What’s your favourite form of exercise? [Running, yoga, weightlifting, etc]
I am a “work in progress” but my favourite exercise I would say is spinning but haven’t done that in ages and then I also like boxing a lot as well as weight training.
How long have you been training and how did you get started?
I have only started working out around middle May 2020 (after losing 29kgs), with Youtube workouts in my living room (mainly weights). I have recently added some cardio to the mix seeing as I got the urge to start jogging, which I am afraid might not last long but if not, why not. It might just.
What does your typical workout look like?
I search for 30 – 45 minutes weight workout exercises on Youtube and just follow those.
Favorite exercise? [Distance / pose / movement / etc]
Weight training
Least favorite exercise? [Distance / pose / movement / etc]
Planks and Burpees (which I refuse to do). Life is too short to do a burpee.
How does exercise make you feel?
I feel accomplished, refreshed, and energized.
Do you prefer to train alone or with others? Why?
I prefer to train alone except if my husband is with me but I must admit, I also enjoyed the Boxing which I did as a group exercise.
Most embarrassing training moment?
Nothing really except for bursting out in tears cause I could not do the sit-ups in the class but the coach was so amazing with me.
Top 3 things you must have at the gym or in your gym bag?
Water bottle, training gloves and my phone with my music else I can’t exercise.
Your next training goal?
To run 5km’s comfortably.
Top 5 songs on your training playlist?
- You shook me all night long – ACDC
- Out of Touch – Radio Mix – Uniting Nations
- Roses (Imanbek Remix) – Saint Jhn
- Sexy Bitch (feat Akon) – David Guetta and Akon
- Danza Kuduro (feat Lucenzo) – Don Omar and Lucenzo
How has exercise/training/Sport Changed your life? [Made it better, etc – please be specific]
I’ve not exercised for 12 out of the 14 months of my weight-loss journey, but I recently started at home with YouTube weights workouts in my house. I must say with the lockdown and working from home, it made it easier for me to spend time on that now.
NUTRITION
What’s your favourite meal?
A Whopper from Burger King with chips with lots and lots of mayo.
OK, now what’s your favourite healthy meal?
Salmon with baby pak choi and sweet potato fries or potato wedges.
Favourite protein?
Rump steak.
Favourite fat?
Peanut butter.
Favourite carbohydrate?
Potatoes, because potatoes don’t ask questions, do they?
What’s your nutrition philosophy / approach? [If you have one]
Consistency together with one day at a time and calorie deficit.
How many meals a day do you eat?
3 meals. I snacked in the beginning but as I went along, I felt that I did not always want my snack, so I started moving the snack over to after-dinner treats.
Do you have a cheat meal / treat strategy?
No strategy anymore unless you want to use calorie counting as a strategy. I also do not cut out any food group and incorporate my treat meals into my day or weekend with MyFitnessPal.
MINDSET
Most memorable personal best achievement to date. Something you maybe never imagined you could do?
To fit comfortably into a size 14 pants and I never thought I would weigh less than I did at my wedding, 15 years ago. I also never thought I would be sitting here writing down my story which I hope inspires one person.
Favorite quote?
“Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.” ― Paulo Coelho, The Alchemist
Favourite book?
The subtle of not giving a F@ck – Mark Manson
What inspires and motivates you?
What inspires me, is knowing that I have made a better change for myself health-wise. What motivates me is to continue with this health journey, not just for what the weight on the scale shows, but for the impact it has had on my overall health and how it makes me feel.
For what are you most grateful?
Being able to get up every day with absolutely no health issues.
What do you want to say to other community members who might be nervous or hesitant to make a start?
I would encourage them to take it day by day. As much as we have all heard that before, it is the truth. To also plan properly otherwise you will fail. Take before pictures and tell yourself whenever you want to give up, to just try one more day. Do not focus on the end goal because it can get very overwhelming. You are human and you will stumble, but what matters, is that you get up and you try again tomorrow, and then lastly, but most importantly, I would say is to be consistent. Consistency will pay off.
What are your top 5 tips for anyone starting on a healthy journey?
- Be kind to yourself, it’s not always an easy journey and you will feel alone a lot of the time, but remember the reason why you wanted to do this in the first place.
- The scale will fluctuate for many different reasons. Do not let that discourage you. Just be consistent.
- Do not deprive yourself. This is a lifelong health journey
- Planning really helps a lot.
- Drink water
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