QA: Rahldeyah Essack – 2nd in Women’s Weight Loss

Please give us a short history of your journey to health and fitness before the challenge.

I have been obese all my life and have tried all sorts of fad diets, pills and potions only to recently realise that the only way is healthy eating and this does not mean that we have to eat cardboard tasting food or boring food. I am very uncomfortable and limited in movements because of my weight but I am pushing through it. May main focus now is to prove to myself I can succeed in living a healthier, more active, more comfortable lifestyle.

What prompted you to join the Sleekgeek Transformation Challenge?

I have been a Sleekgeek member for about 4 years now. The community and leaders motivate and inspires you to be the best version of yourself. The success stories seen in this community from humble souls made me believe that there is hope for me, I just need to put in the work and I too can succeed.

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

I started the Banting Eating plan as I have come to realise that carbs are my biggest downfall, but more importantly on the low carb lifestyle I lose more weight faster and the food choices are more sustainable to stick with for me.

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

I pushed myself to do some walks, participated in the weekly team activities and overall just moved more when I had the chance. I still need to lose the bulk of my weight first before being able to train hard but I try my best to just keep moving. I also subscribed to a fitness app that I can do workouts at home as I am clueless on how to exercise.

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

1. Believe in yourself and never give up on yourself. It’s never too late, even if you have fallen 1000 times you get up, dust yourself off and keep on trying, because for as long as you are trying you are winning.
2. Be part of a team as the team pushes you on days when you feel like giving up. The support and motivation from a good team is invaluable.
3. Only with hard work, dedication, consistency, good planning and perseverance will you be able to see results.

Why should people enter the challenge?

By joining the challenge firstly, you gain access to a vault of invaluable information to assist you to reach your goals. It also offers different paths that you can take on this journey to suit you best. Secondly, the accountability and team work keeps you on track for the 8-weeks for you to see what you are capable of when you put effort in to achieving your goals.

It is also a great way to start your weight loss journey if you have been sitting on the fence waiting for tomorrow. Tomorrow is now here. Look at all the success stories and ask yourself what could you have accomplished already if you had to start 6 months ago?