Q & A : Martin van der Merwe – 2nd in Men’s Transformation

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

Before the challenge, I wasn’t 100% committed to my eating and exercise plans. It was an on and of kind of thing.

What prompted you to join the Sleekgeek Transformation Challenge?

Both my wife and I have done the challenge before and we didn’t do very well. I decided to enter the challenge and use it as a sort of accountability mechanism to help me stay on my eating and exercise plans. I also enjoy a challenge it keeps me motivated.

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

I ate all the food groups. Keeping a balanced healthy eating plan and 2 -4 L of water per day. Reducing calories to under maintenance allowed to shake off the extra body fat and lean out but also maintain muscle mass. Prepping food in advance was the kingpin for me to stay on track.

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

I basically did weight training 5 days a week between 60-90 min a day. I got some excellent advice from a friend of mine who is a coach on how and what to train. All muscle groups are covered in a week’s weight training and nothing is left out. I did not do any cardio but I am very busy at work and do a lot of walking through the day.

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

1. Commit to your goal, not for someone else but for your self.
2. Ask for help when you are stuck and not seeing results. This is where a lot of people get demotivated including myself.
3. Remember its a lifestyle not a quick fix. The sooner you realise that it is a long term investment in your own life the better the dividends over time.

Why should people enter the challenge?

It will help you achieve a sense of accomplishment when you finish the challenge. It also serves as a very good motivator to keep you on track. And remember you are not alone in the challenge there are hundreds of other people in the challenge with you. If they can do it…..you can do it.