Name:
Jacqueline Kruger
Age:
38
Location:
Northwold, Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.
How much weight have you lost on your journey so far?
27 kgs.
What do you do? [Job]
I’m in a junior accounts position so I sit most of the day.
What else do you do? [Hobbies, non-work stuff, etc]
I go dancing every Friday and gym almost daily. I love spending time with my family. I enjoy walking. I used to read but with four children, I don’t have much time for that anymore. I try to study health and nutrition courses as much as possible. I have a couple of certifications already.
YOU AND SLEEKGEEK
How long have you been a member of Sleekgeek?
I just joined on the 26th of January 2022.
How did you find Sleekgeek?
My wonderful friend, Cherize Grobler absolutely raved about Sleekgeek and I simply had to jump aboard because I love a challenge.
What is your favourite part of the Sleekgeek Community?
The management team is so helpful and encouraging. I love the fact that everyone cheers everyone on. There are no ugly comments, mocking, or putting someone down like some other groups.
YOUR TRANSFORMATION
Describe the “old you” before you made your transformation. How did you get there and what were you like?
I picked up a heck of a lot of weight with my fourth child, who is now almost three. I was extremely unhappy, self-conscious, lazy, and moody. I pretty much blamed everyone and everything for my own doing.
What ignited your initial motivation to change?
I saw a photo of myself that my daughter took and felt sick to my stomach and knew I had to make a change. I also hated getting dressed in the mornings because everything was tight and bulging and I had more rolls than a bakery.
What are some of the things that the new you does differently now?
Now that I know the science of weight loss, I try to eat clean and move as much as possible. Take the stairs where I can and walk everywhere.
What are some of the things that the new you still struggles with?
I tend to struggle with food. I am gluten intolerant but everything I love has gluten in, so it’s a big struggle for me. I also have a sweet tooth, so the struggle to try to control or curb the urge is real.
If you could give yourself 1 piece of advice to help with that struggle, what would it be?
Remind myself what I came from and that I don’t want to go back.
Did you plateau, get stuck, or get disillusioned, or even slide backwards a bit on your journey?
Absolutely! I successfully managed to achieve all of the above and I’m working hard to get back and stay on track. I’m extremely excited to join the Sleekgeek 8-Week Challenge so that I can be held accountable.
What is better since you got healthy?
I can wear clothes that I actually like and stores have my size and my body doesn’t ache as much as it did. I also have a lot more energy.
TRAINING
What’s your favourite form of exercise? [Running, yoga, weightlifting, etc]
I love rowing, doing plank, cycling, swimming, rebounding, and using the elliptical machine.
How long have you been training and how did you get started?
I started during the hard lockdown. My eldest daughter and I just decided to do something positive with our time. So basically we started with eating cleaner and then eased into home workouts.
What does your typical workout look like?
I get to the gym before it opens and there are stairs next to the gym, so I walk up and down the stairs for fifteen minutes, so by the time the gym opens I have already done my warm-up. I then start with the elliptical machine for ten to twenty minutes, then I row for ten to fifteen minutes, then I do battle ropes for five minutes, then I leg press for five minutes, and end with cycling for ten to twenty minutes.
Favorite exercise? [Distance / pose / movement / etc]
Definitely Friday night dancing. I do shuffling and we’re out for about six hours and mostly spend our time dancing, so it’s a lot of cardio, roughly thirty thousand steps or more for the evening according to my Fitbit.
Least favorite exercise? [Distance / pose / movement / etc]
I absolutely hate lunges because my knees are stuffed and it’s extremely sore, so I try to avoid it as much as possible.
How does exercise make you feel?
It’s difficult to get up early and get out of bed and started, but after five minutes of beginning my session, I really enjoy it. I find that starting at 4:30 in the morning gives me energy for the day and I also feel more motivated to eat cleaner that day.
Do you prefer to train alone or with others? Why?
I like to train with others but I don’t like to chat. I have my headphones on and pump my music full blast to zone out. I just feel that having people I know gyming with me holds me accountable because I feel too embarrassed to leave before them.
Most embarrassing training moment?
I went to the gym water fountain to refill my water bottle and I sprayed water all over myself and the floor. The gym happened to be packed with people and of course, everyone stared and most people laughed.
Top 3 things you must have at the gym or in your gym bag?
Water bottle, headphones, and cellphone for music obviously.
Your next training goal?
I’d really love to push myself to try to train at home after work as well as gyming in the morning. Training at home in the evenings might keep my mind off overeating because I will be too tired to eat too much.
Top 5 songs on your training playlist?
- Maroon 5 – Payphone (Dance version)
- Paramore – Still into you
- Berg Skazi – Breeze
- Wanchiz – Never want to lose you again
- Beachbag – We are young
How has exercise/training/Sport changed your life? [Made it better, etc – please be specific]
I have really enjoyed feeling myself get stronger and firmer. I noticed that when I stopped gyming for a while walking up stairs, things were jiggling again. So that is also a motivation to keep going.
NUTRITION
What’s your favourite meal?
Absolutely anything from Ocean Basket!
OK, now what’s your favourite healthy meal?
Smoked chicken wraps.
Favourite protein?
Rump steak on the braai made by my husband. (Best braai chef ever)!
Favourite fat?
Avo without a doubt.
Favourite carbohydrate?
Bread, although I shouldn’t eat it because I’m gluten intolerant and get bad cramps and bloat instantly.
What’s your nutrition philosophy / approach? [If you have one]
Mix it up so that you never get bored which leads to you turning to junk food.
How many meals a day do you eat?
With OMAD, I have one meal a day…most days. If I eat in the morning, I tend to over eat.
Do you have a cheat meal / treat strategy?
I try my best not to cheat, although weekends are extremely difficult because once I start, I can’t seem to stop myself.
MINDSET
Most memorable personal best achievement to date. Something you maybe never imagined you could do?
I managed to exercise every day, twice a day for almost three months straight.
Favorite quote?
My favourite quote is “Oh my soul!” It pretty much describes and sums up everything in life.
Favourite book?
I have life by Marianne Thamm. I absolutely admire the tremendous strength that Alison has to overcome what she endured by monsters. She is such an inspiration.
What inspires and motivates you?
Not that I will ever wear it, but I stuck a bikini on my fridge with sellotape so that I can think of where I want to be. When I go to the fridge for snacking, I see it and drink fridge water instead.
For what are you most grateful?
Family and friends.
What do you want to say to other community members who might be nervous or hesitant to make a start?
Just start! Start small like taking stairs instead of elevators or escalators. Walk as much as possible, window shopping keeps your mind off the workout you are getting. Pace yourself and you will feel yourself get stronger and you will be able to go longer.
What are your top 5 tips for anyone starting on a healthy journey?
- Take a piece of paper, draw blocks with a kg in each block from your current weight to your goal weight. Then you cross off the blocks as you lose weight so that you can visualize your weight loss for motivation.
- Find a menu that best suits your favourite meal choices and budget.
- Slow and easy wins the race.
- Find someone to either join you or hold you accountable.
- Plan and prep.
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