Q&A: Willem Lubbe – 3rd Men’s Transformation

We sat down with Willem Lubbe who placed third in the men’s Transformation category of our Summer 2022 Sleekgeek 8-Week Challenge. We wanted to find out the secret to his success and he was happy to share it with us.

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

My 40th birthday was coming in the near future before I entered SG. Someone once said, “The body you have at 40 is the body you will have for the rest of your life.” Maybe not really true, but there is something in it. So, I was in a slump after Covid, picked up weight, couldn’t start with a fitness program, etc. My wife said: “Let’s enter this Sleekgeek challenge. We could win this”. I was keen for a change and for a transformation. I was up for a kickstart. It worked beautifully. Now I have momentum. I have new aspirations again.

The eating plans were the most difficult for me. In the first few weeks I was hungry but motivated. I tried the “be perfect” route. That is not great. But I usually go big. Lost motivation for 5 days but stuck to the bare minimum. Then got right back in it for the last two weeks.

What prompted you to join the Sleekgeek Transformation Challenge?

Best body at 40… I made it. My wife said: “Let’s do this. We could win this”. I was in top condition to win a transformation challenge…haha.

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

So, this was one of the best things I went through. I wish I can copy my email conversation with Elan and the team… I was negative before the start because I thought we will get a full eating plan with recipes and shopping lists. Elan answered me so professionally. And what I heard was “Grow up and take responsibility.” I needed that.

We got our personal nutrition plan. And we started eating only things on the green list. Only the portions suggested. I started with the 21-day mental challenge as well. It helped. Our eating wasn’t fancy, but within the green parameters.

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

I wanted to get fit during this kickstart phase. So, I had a running grogram. Also cycling. (I did not cycle).
But I ran a lot for me. Also, I had two core strength apps on my phone which I wanted to complete. But as they progressed, I could not find the time every day to do them and the roadtrip challenges. I forced myself with the roadblocks because of my team. I would not let them down, but the roadblocks to me put me off my personal course. Luckily it was fine, I built in a lot of extra and it worked.

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

1. Plan your meals.
2. Plan your exercise program with the roadblocks in mind.
3. Do the mental challenge to get your head in the game.

Why should people enter the challenge?

I wanted to win… and I was in a condition to perform in transforming.

The side benefit was getting fit.

But what I learned was worth much more than anything else.

Everyone should do this because you will grow much more than you think. You will evolve as a person. You will learn what motivation people need and learn respect for different peoples struggles. You will transform as a person in ways you can’t imagine.