Name: 

Amy Johnson

Age: 

34

Location: 

Mauritius

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

 I’ve lost a total of 73.9kg.

My starting weight was 145.9 kg and my current weight is  72.0 kg.

What do you do? [Job]

I am a consultant.

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

I love to cook and experiment with different foods, going on adventures in the mountains and travelling.

YOU AND SLEEKGEEK

How long have you been a member of Sleekgeek?

Since 2012.

How did you find Sleekgeek?

Elan came to the 24.com office in Cape Town where I worked back then and this is how I was introduced to the community. 

What is your favourite part of the Sleekgeek Community?

It’s a positive, uplifting community and everyone is always willing to help. 

YOUR TRANSFORMATION

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

I’ve tried every single diet you can think of! The old me was focused on rapid, short-term results. Comfort eating was a refuge for me for a very long time. It all started with a chocolate cupcake, then another and another. 

The old me lived to eat because when I was upset, disappointed, happy or struggling, food was always there. There was no control. 

I didn’t have a good relationship with food and I used food to suppress my emotions. 

I exercised regularly, but there were no tangible results because I had a major challenge with letting the comfort foods go.

What ignited your initial motivation to change?

I was on holiday in Plettenberg Bay in December 2020 and I jumped on the scale out of curiosity. Before then, I avoided the scale because I was afraid of what the number would be. I was in shock and I realised then and there that I needed to do something before I end up in the hospital. 

I was a prisoner in my own body and my world was limited to what my body can do. I wanted to do more and the only way was to do something about my weight. 

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

I sit with and confront uncomfortable emotions.

I push through the discomfort of a tough workout instead of trying to talk myself out of it because it’s so hard.

I no longer look for a parking space close to the entrance of the mall.

I am no longer using medication to keep my blood pressure under control. 

I’m a lot more disciplined and focused when it comes to my food choices and I don’t eat something unless I know what’s in it.

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

The biggest struggle is probably to not give in to cravings. Sometimes it’s hard to stick to “the plan”, especially when I am tired or simply don’t feel like it. 

Psychologically I also haven’t quite grasped that my body is much smaller now, so sometimes I default to the old behaviour, like walking around something when space is big enough for me to pass through.

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

Don’t overthink it and don’t negotiate with yourself to get out of it. Just do it. 

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

At the start of this journey, I slid backwards almost every week. I was disillusioned to think that this journey was about the number on the scale. This fluctuates all the time and I have to remind myself time and time again that this is not the most accurate measure of my progress. Every day is not the same and I had to learn to take the wins with the losses. 

I’m about 5 kgs away from my goal weight and I hit a plateau a couple of months ago. This was extremely demotivating. I stopped exercising for a few weeks, but I saddled up again, realigned my focus and my eating plan and now I just keep going.

What is better since you got healthy?

My overall quality of life improved. I’m no longer sweating buckets when I do simple things, I am moving a lot easier, and I’m not using any medication for any health-related illnesses. 

Travelling is also a lot easier and more comfortable, especially during the long walks at the airport. 

Before I used to be put off walking completely, but now I can say I’m going for a 10km walk and actually do it. 

TRAINING

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

Walking, Functional Training, Pilates.

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

On and off for about 10 years. I’ve been training consistently for the past two years. 

I started out by taking walks, gradually increasing the distance, and then I joined the gym and attended group classes. Now I do home-based workouts, coupled with 5-10km walks.

What does your typical workout look like?

I don’t really have a “typical” workout. I do online workouts with a group, so the trainer gets to decide the workout of the day. I’m happy with this because it maintains an element of “surprise” and I know I won’t get bored.

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

Plank hip dips.

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

Lunges.

How does exercise make you feel? 

I feel powerful and energised. Powerful because sometimes I really have to dig deep to do things that I struggle with or just don’t like to do. And once I master these things, I feel unstoppable. This is also relevant to my day-to-day life. When something is hard, I don’t quit. I go back, try again and again and I always bring my A game. 

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

I prefer training with others because there’s a sense of community and I don’t feel like I have to struggle on my own. On days that it is extremely difficult to show up, being part of a group gets me to and through that workout.

Most embarrassing training moment?

Wow, one that vividly comes to mind was when my boob popped out while I was doing a group workout in the gym. There was no exposure, but it looked like I was having a major emergency in the chest area.  

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

• Headphones
• Hair ties and a brush
• Face wipes

Your next training goal?

Run a 5K.

Top 5 songs on your training playlist?

• Lose Yourself, Eminem
• Confident, Demi Lovato
• High Hopes, Panic at the Disco
• Work from Home, Fifth Harmony 
• Unstoppable, Sia

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

Exercise improved so many aspects of my life that I can’t really imagine not doing it. My energy levels are much higher, I am able to do so many things that I couldn’t do before.

Training has made me more resilient and this also spilled over to other aspects of my life. I’ve adopted the mantra of trying one more time when I want to quit. 

My health has improved to the point where I am no longer using any medication to keep my blood pressure under control. This was really one of the biggest wins for me.

I can walk up the stairs without feeling out of breath or heaving after the first flight.

My world is bigger because my body is smaller. Before I was limited to things my body was able to do, now I do so many things without even thinking how uncomfortable I am going to be.

I no longer have to ask for a seatbelt extension on a plane and my stomach no longer touches the steering wheel.

NUTRITION

What’s your favourite meal?

Spaghetti bolognese 

OK, now what’s your favourite healthy meal?

I love a good frittata.

Favourite protein?

Chicken breast and lentils.

Favourite fat?

Avocado.

Favourite carbohydrate?

Sweet potatoes.

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

N/A

How many meals a day do you eat?

5

Do you have a cheat meal / treat strategy?

No.

MINDSET

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

Losing over 70kg. If someone told me this 3 years ago, I would’ve laughed. I never thought it was possible. I had goal-setting sessions regularly and even my initial goal weight of 85kg sounded like a stretch when I vocalised it for the first time. Even after I lost the first 20kg I felt like it was a major achievement, but never in my wildest dreams did I think this was possible.

Favorite quote?

When you’re nervous about stepping out of your comfort zone, remind yourself: “It feels scary because it’s unfamiliar, not because I’m incapable.”

Favourite book? 

The gifts of imperfection by Brené Brown.

What inspires and motivates you?

I am motivated by the fact that I get to be better every single day.

Every new day is an opportunity to try something new, learn something new and move a little further from the “old” me. I also have a supportive partner who helps me make my dreams or goals a reality. If I want to try something new, he is the first person to either facilitate or participate. This is a major driving force for me because I feel like I can do anything I put my mind and my heart to.

For what are you most grateful?

A supportive partner who really goes above and beyond to help me achieve my goals. Whether it’s a fitness goal or professional goal, he is just always there with a word of encouragement and ready for an adventure.

I’m also extremely grateful for a second chance. A second chance at getting healthy. Some people never get to this point and have serious health complications, so I am grateful that I got a second chance to live a healthy life.

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

You can probably think of 20 reasons why you can’t start today, but once you take the first step, everything else will follow. Will you make mistakes? Yes, you will. Will it be hard? For some it will probably be the hardest thing if you’ve ever done, but it’s so, so worth it.

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

• Don’t overthink it, just start. You’ll thank yourself in a year.
• Find your “why” and remind yourself regularly, especially on the hard days.
• Join a group. You don’t have to do this on your own.
• Be willing to make sacrifices to show up for yourself. This can be in the form of saying no to an unhealthy snack or simply choosing to do a 30-minute workout instead of scrolling on Instagram.
• Be kind to yourself. Always. Pay attention to how you “speak” to yourself. If you won’t say this to a friend, don’t say it to yourself.