Name:

Nadene Scherman

Age:

55 years

Location:

Malmesbury, Western Cape

How much weight have you lost on your journey so far?

Started at 104kg, at this stage 96,5kg. Picked up 3kg after my hip replacement in Nov 2021.

What do you do? [Job]

Doctor in forensics.

What else do you do? [Hobbies, non-work stuff, etc]

Cycling and Netball coach.

YOU AND SLEEKGEEK

How long have you been a member of Sleekgeek?

Joined in Feb 2021 as part of the Head over Meals team in the Sleekgeek 8 Week Challenge.

How did you find Sleekgeek?

Saw it on Facebook in December 2020.

What is your favourite part of the Sleekgeek Community?

Support from everybody, teamwork.

Focus is on the positives, no matter how small.

YOUR TRANSFORMATION

Describe the “old you” before you made your transformation. How did you get there and what were you like?

The old me was eating way too much of the wrong foods. Hardly any exercise. Always tired and severe heartburn. Miserable.

What ignited your initial motivation to change?

The way I feel about myself. My son’s friend’s moms were all a lot less overweight than I was. My health was taking strain.

What are some of the things, that the new you does differently now?

I plan my meals for the day. I am very busy with my netball duties as coach and administrator. I try to take my own meals to meetings etc, just to stay on track. Before I would eat anything that was available. I commit to my exercise.

What are some of the things, that the new you still struggles with?

Sometimes still poor food choices.

If you could give yourself 1 piece of advice to help with that struggle, what would it be?

Have better restrain when choosing something.

Did you plateau, get stuck, or get disillusioned, or even slide backwards a bit on your journey?

No, I did not, my hip replacement and its rehab put a small bump in the road. But I am now 14 weeks post-op and almost fully back to normal.

What is better since you got healthy?

No more heartburn and shortness of breath.

TRAINING

What’s your favourite form of exercise? [Running, yoga, weightlifting, etc]

Crossfit. I do it 5-6 times a week. On a weekend, I will try and get a long cycle in, 60-110km as I want to do the Argus Cycle Tour and the W2W later in the year.

How long have you been training and how did you get started?

I always did a little cycling during winter. In summer I trained for the Argus but did not train a lot. I started Crossfit in June 2021. After the challenge I knew I had to get to do some form of structured exercise otherwise I will just fall back.

What does your typical workout look like?

Warm-up, then Team of 2 or AMRAP, that will include wall balls, burpees, weights and bars.

Favourite exercise? [Distance / pose / movement / etc]

Crossfit, the cardiac capacity. Running with cardio type exercise usually burpees and situps/pushups.

Least favourite exercise? [Distance / pose / movement / etc]

Toes 2 bars, just because I cannot do it yet.

How does exercise make you feel?

Happy, focused and healthy.

Do you prefer to train alone or with others? Why?

I like group training. We support each other and the vibe in the gym is great.

Most embarrassing training moment?

Doing the classes that require quick changes in movement. Takes me the whole class to figure it out.

Top 3 things you must have at the gym or in your gym bag?

Towel, Energy drink/water and “Vasbyt”.

Your next training goal?

Would love to do the Ironman, but for now just to get fit and strong.

Top 5 songs on your training playlist?

• The Business -Tiesto
• Wit skoene – Jayms and Loufi
• Thunderstruck – AC/DC
• Roxanne – Police

How has exercise/training/Sport Changed your life? [Made it better, etc – please be specific]

My self-confidence has improved. I now wear dresses for the first time in 20 years. I even get into the swimming pool with other people around.

NUTRITION

What’s your favourite meal?

Pizza

OK, now what’s your favourite healthy meal?

Anything with either chickpeas, quinoa or bulgur wheat.

Favourite protein?

Chicken

Favourite fat?

Avo

Favourite carbohydrate?

Chickpeas

What’s your nutrition philosophy / approach? [If you have one]

I try to eat as healthy as possible. No sugar in coffee, no fizzy drinks and no bread as far as possible.

How many meals a day do you eat?

3 meals

Do you have a cheat meal / treat strategy?

I will have a carb friendly bar from Woolworths, the nutty ones. Might have some pizza once a month, if possible try for the cauliflower base.

MINDSET

Most memorable personal best achievement to date. Something you maybe never imagined you could do?

Completing the Joberg2C with minimal practice and a lot of excess weight.

Favourite quote?

Make stepping stones out of stumbling blocks.

Favourite book?

Anything by James Paterson

What inspires and motivates you?

People who overcome adversity. How far I have come in this last year.

For what are you most grateful?

For my health and family.

What do you want to say to other community members who might be nervous or hesitant to make a start?

Take the step and make the change. Small changes can have big results.

What are your top 5 tips for anyone starting on a healthy journey?

1. Make small changes – less sugar and up your step count.
2. If you fail, do not procrastinate about the failure, get up and carry on.
3. Start exercising, join a gym or if you are part of a team do the roadblocks even if you only do 10 a day.
4. Do not try to follow other people’s goals, set your own goals.
5. Believe in yourself and what you can achieve.