Please give us a short history of your journey to health and fitness before the challenge.
I have been quite focused on healthy eating and training. The training has never been an issue but the nutrition has always been tough for me. I know what to do and what to eat, but it is extremely difficult to pass up the treats for me. I was sick of not looking like I train as hard as I do and I know that I always do better when I am accountable to someone. I saw the challenge as a great way to keep my focus and although I have signed up to a challenge before, I did not complete it. I had just gone for surgery when the challenge started and I could not do my normal training so I knew that in order to not lose my way, I had to watch my nutrition and also make it fun in the process. The best thing I did was sign up to a group. It was so motivating to see how hard people were working and I didn’t want to let them down.
What prompted you to join the Sleekgeek Transformation Challenge?
I had just had surgery and did not want to let my lack of gym training get the better of me. I needed focus and accountability and the challenge was so perfectly timed, it gave me the push I needed.
Give us a quick overview of the nutrition and eating plan that you followed during the challenge.
I ensured that I had correctly calculated my calorie intake. I made a point of tracking everything I ate and drank. Most meals were whole, unprocessed foods and I limited alcohol intake to a glass or two of white wine spritzers on the weekend. When I felt that I needed a break, I had a cheat meal but ensured that I got back on track the next meal. I also added in intermittent fasting which helped me limit calorie intake. I had a goal of what water I had to drink and I would make sure I got it all down before bed.
Give us a quick overview of the training and exercise plan that you followed during the challenge.
I am not new to training but as I had just had surgery I had to adjust my training. I am lucky enough to have a treadmill and some equipment at home so I walked 5 kms every morning and did some lower body workouts. Towards the 4 week mark I was able to add some upper body movements so I used resistance bands to do some arm, back and shoulder workouts. At 6 weeks I was able to go back to gym and I kept up the 5km walk in the morning but added crossfit and personal training in as well.
If you could give 3 pieces of advice to future challengers, what would they be?
- Don’t get discouraged after one bad meal.
- The basic calorie in vs calorie out is crucial but it needs to be sustainable in the long run. Do not cut too low or else you will land up binging and not feel good and fill up on wholesome foods that fuel your body properly.
- Training is not an absolutely necessary tool but it helps with fat loss, toning and overall health. Find something you enjoy and stick to it.
Why should people enter the challenge?
Weight loss, maintenance and overall health is not easy for most people. The challenge gives you a mechanism to get your focus on the right things and also keeps your focus till the end. At the end of 8 weeks you will have learned, or refreshed your routine that works for your overall health and happiness. Being ‘thin’ is not a great goal for me, but being healthy is. I love how the challenge focuses on health and consistency over a quick fix and losing weight. In the challenge, the tools that I have learnt over the years are given to you up front, and the daily posts, tasks, challenges etc keeps you on track. I recommend for everyone, newbies, pros and anybody that needs a little push!
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