Name:

Jabulile Motaung

Age:

40yrs old 

Location:

West Rand, Gauteng

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

21kg

What do you do? [Job]

I’m a food safety specialist, consultant, and auditor.

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

I go to aerobics competitions if that counts for anything, lol. I spend my free time with my son because I travel a lot.

YOU AND SLEEKGEEK

How long have you been a member of Sleekgeek?

Since February 2021.

How did you find Sleekgeek?

I was literarily stalking Chantel Menziwa on Instagram, looking for inspiration, and came across her.

I read about her life and immediately felt connected to her because she had a never say never attitude with the almost impossible mountain that she was climbing, plus she was a mom and a wife so surely her plate was full if not overflowing with responsibilities.

I said to myself,” who else would have been best to help me balance my own life”?

I have been tugging on her skirt ever since learning so much from her, drawing so much strength and wisdom from her.

What is your favourite part of the Sleekgeek Community?

I love how you are catered for as a walker, an avid runner, or deep into ultra-marathons. It’s a loving family for all and you are free to be yourself, especially during challenges. The giveaways are so great as well.

YOUR TRANSFORMATION 

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

I was an angry and very depressed overweight ticking timebomb.

Bad relationships also added to my misery, an unhappy pregnancy, and ultimately leaving to raise my son alone really did a number on me.

What ignited your initial motivation to change?

In a conversation I had with my son, he told me straight that I was really overweight and needed to change. I also ate my feelings so much that at some point I looked in the mirror and didn’t like what I saw. 

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

I’m very sensitive to my emotional triggers, instead of eating my feelings away, I journal. I watch loads of coaching on youtube because it’s a lifetime job of healing because you learn new things every single day. I’m no longer shy to decline unhealthy foods or drinks.

I do everything with compassion because I know what’s it like to carry a load silently and be mistreated while dealing with such.

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

I still see a fat girl in the mirror even when I’ve lost a lot and am still on the way to wellness. I struggle accepting compliments.

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

It’s ok to be in a better state physically, mentally, spiritually, and otherwise, I actually deserve it! If not me, who else? I say this because I have worked for it, not with arrogance.

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

I just wouldn’t work out or eat right, I had so many excuses about how I’m a single mom or traveling and this and that. I was basically throwing a one-woman pity party.

Another challenge I lost my momentum smack in the middle when I found out that one of my parents had Cancer, and at some point, I gave up everything and I went right back to my old ways for about a month until sense prevailed and I’ve never looked back since.

What is better since you got healthy? 

• I can tie my shoelaces.
• I can run up a flight of stairs.
• I can play with my son until he is tired.
• I can tuck in a shirt.
• I can wear dresses.
• I’m no longer the coworker who was the subject of choice during tea time and lunch breaks, I was a constant laughing stock and at some point, one co-worker told me in my face that I’m fat and need to loose weight.
• I have a zest for life.
• I really have peace of mind which stems from a lot of emotional coaching and exercise.

TRAINING 

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

Aerobics called Kick, I live for it. My family knows that my Saturdays are off-limits. 

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

I started Dec 2017 at a parkrun not knowing what to do because I was very frustrated with my state of unhealthiness. I got very serious in 2019 and went through a couple of personal trainers with no good results, the problem was with me and not them, I was not ready mentally. Then covid hit… I continued on and off until I contacted Chantel Menziwa, that was the game changer in 2021.

What does your typical workout look like?

Warm up and then body exercises then with weights if it’s online.

But when it’s aerobics, it can be a good 2hrs of kick…lots of punching, and kicking to a beat.

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

Bicep curls.

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

Burpees, ouch 

How does exercise make you feel? 

I feel like I can conquer anything after a great session. For me, it’s an antidepressant in a true sense of the word.

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

With others, it’s a lot of fun to interact with people. 

Most embarrassing training moment?

On the first day at Kick, I didn’t know my left to right and walked out 15 minutes into class because I was annoyed with myself for not getting it right.

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

1. Bluetooth earphones 
2. Personal hygiene items because I don’t want to smell even if I’m sweating because of a workout
3. Pepperspray for safety when walking out of the gym

Your next training goal?

Muscles, muscles, and more defined muscles although I despise functional training, I actually have to do it and leave aerobics alone….sigh

Top 5 songs on your training playlist?

1. Michael W Smith – Surrounded (fight my battles)
2. Travis Greene – You Waited 
3. Chandler Moore – Purified
4. I love all kinds of music so I don’t have a definite genre because at some point I wanted to be a DJ and a music producer.
5. Podcasts (Dr.Eric Thomas, The Bare Performance, Joe Rogan, GaryVee, VastlySage, Lewis Howes, Apoc Ministry, etc. )

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

I’m so confident in who I am, I am a better mom because my relationship with my son has drastically improved, he constantly reminds me of how unpleasant I used to be. I’m sharp at work, I don’t miss a thing and I can control my hunger.

Auditors have a mean nature, I’m not sure why, so I audit with compassion because I always remind myself that people are going through their worst and need to be understood as much as possible, and treated with dignity and respect.

NUTRITION

What’s your favourite meal?

Spur ribs and chips with that pink sauce of theirs.

OK, now what’s your favourite healthy meal?

Loaded Caesar salad.

Favourite protein?

I’m a Zulu girl, I eat all kinds of red meat. But for the Sleekgeek 8–Week Challenge, I have had to eat chicken breast or chicken mince made out of the chicken breast.

Favourite fat?

Avocado

Favourite carbohydrate?

Chickpeas 

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

There is no 100% clean eating plan. If I fall off the wagon during lunch, the same day dinner we pull in the reigns, and I never ever beat myself up.

How many meals a day do you eat?

3 meals and 2 snacks.

Do you have a cheat meal / treat strategy?

I failed way too much so now I eat it when I want it but not more than once in a space of 2 weeks. My weakness is a Mugg & Bean carrot cake.

MINDSET

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

Working out more than 3 times a week consistently at 5 am.

Favorite quote?

At the end of your feelings is nothing but behind every principle is a promise 

Dr.Eric Thomas.

Favourite book? 

The Bible (Exodus and Joshua)

I keep learning – Unathi

The subtle Art of not giving a f…- Mark Manson

What inspires and motivates you?

I could have died but God spared me and my son. I have a lot of women to help me go through what I faced and come out a winner on the other side.

For what are you most grateful? 

Presence of mind (being able to be yourself and not affected by any kind of mental illness) and peace of mind.

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

Involve God on this journey, as soon as I did that everything changed for the better. 

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

1. Be gentle with yourself, especially emotionally, every master was first a student
2. You didn’t gain the weight overnight so why do you want to loose it overnight?
3. Don’t compare your day 1 to someone’s else day 798…
4. The people at the gym will more likely help you than laugh, so don’t be shy to ask
5. Guard your focus by surrounding yourself with like-minded people