Name:
Portia Hashe
Age:
48
Location:
Goes, the Netherlands
How much weight have you lost on your journey so far?
25 kgs
What do you do? [Job]
Old age nursing
What else do you do? [Hobbies, non-work stuff, etc.]
Travelling, listening to music, dancing & cooking.
YOU AND SLEEKGEEK
How long have you been a member of Sleekgeek?
Since 2016.
How did you find Sleekgeek?
From listening to Umhlobo Wenene radio station. They were interviewing Carol Alakhe Gajana, the Sleekgeek Xhosa community leader, on how she lost so much weight without letting herself get hungry.
What is your favourite part of the Sleekgeek Community?
Being guided to live a healthy lifestyle.
YOUR TRANSFORMATION
Describe the “old you” before you made your transformation. How did you get there and what were you like?
Coming from a family where we were known as “big boned” they said there was nothing we could do to change that. From the age of 13, I was already overweight and I spent my time trying different pills and mixtures to lose weight.
What ignited your initial motivation to change?
A year after giving birth to my twins at the age of 39, I weighed 92kg. My mother passed away (she weighed 135kg) from heart disease. I thought to myself that I don’t want to die like that, something needs to be done.
What are some of the things that the new you do differently now?
Wearing tight dresses, and walking confidently in my bikini. I am able to buy clothes that I like.
What are some of the things that the new you still struggles with?
Consistency in workouts.
If you could give yourself one piece of advice to help with that struggle, what would it be?
Don’t give up, keep trying.
Did you plateau, get stuck, or get disillusioned, or even slide backwards a bit on your journey?
Yes, when I consumed a lot of alcohol. But after I completely stopped, I was okay again.
What is better since you got healthy?
My physical and mental well-being. At Sleekgeek you learn how to eat, sleep, and walk better. I am living a healthy lifestyle without having to work hard. I enjoy my meals, I eat what I love, I’m not dieting!
TRAINING
What’s your favourite form of exercise? [Running, yoga, weightlifting, etc]
I love running! And recently I have begun to start to enjoy weightlifting.
How long have you been training and how did you get started?
I started just after I joined Sleekgeek Asijiki because of the rules of 80% food and 20% exercise. I remember when I told the gym instructor that my aim is to lose 20 kg and he said: “Wow that’s a lot!”.
What does your typical workout look like?
30 minutes cardio, 15 minutes upper body weightlifting, 15 minutes lower body and another 15 minutes cardio.
Favourite Exercise?
Movement.
Least favourite exercise? [Distance / pose / movement / etc]
Cycling.
How does exercise make you feel?
Exercise makes me active, which enables me to do other chores and I sleep very well.
Do you prefer to train alone or with others? Why?
I prefer to train alone using my own tempo, but I do miss group exercises like Zumba (I love dancing, so I’ll be doing what I love meanwhile burning some calories). Unfortunately, they don’t have that anymore at my gym.
Most embarrassing training moment?
Using weights in an incorrect manner.
Top 3 things you must have at the gym or in your gym bag?
- Water.
- Towel.
- Ear-phones.
Your next training goal?
I want to jog at longer distances 4/5 times a week. I wish to have a firmer body.
Top 5 songs on your training playlist?
- Gibela ( Xowla,dj Tira)
- Aye Kuwa (CK the Dj King Monada, CK the Dj)
- Laphulaphula (Dj Aplex)
- Hambha wena (Deep London)
- Lakhali Gqom (Cario CPT)
NUTRITION
What’s your favourite meal?
Beef stew with broccoli and carrots and fried chips.
OK, now what’s your favourite healthy meal?
Beef stew (Beef with its fat, if there’s no fat, I add coconut oil) with Himalaya salt and or USisi spices, (they are clean spices with no sugar in them, but tasty) onions and tomatoes!
Favourite protein?
Eggs and meats.
Favourite fat?
Coconut oil, avocado and extra virgin oil.
Favourite carbohydrate?
Brown rice and bread, I eat them in moderation on days when I have not exercised.
How many meals a day do you eat?
4-5 meals a day.
What’s your nutrition philosophy / approach? [If you have one]:
Sugar is our biggest enemy for our health. The only sugar I take is mostly in fruit and only during the day.
Do you have a cheat meal / treat strategy?
I cheat with fries and soft drinks and the following day I would make a smoothie (raw spinach, avocado and a banana) for detoxification.
Most memorable personal achievement to date. Something you maybe could never have imagined.
To be able to coach/ advise people, friends and family on how to eat healthily and see them losing weight because of me.
MINDSET
Favourite quote?
Vallen en opstaan. (We fall like children, wipe our knees and walk again.)
Favourite book?
Zeeuwse Geluk bij Carolijn Visser.
What inspires and motivates you?
Reading successful people’s stories. I got inspired seeing other people with beautiful, muscled bodies. It shows it’s never too late to start.
For what are you most grateful?
That I’m alive and healthy.
What do you want to say to other community members who might be nervous or hesitant to make a start?
Start now, there is no all-or-nothing approach. Do something, even if it’s a little change, you will eventually get there. If you fail, try again. Do not be hard on yourself. Ask/share your concerns with the Sleekgeek Community! We are like a family.
What are your top 5 tips for anyone starting on a healthy journey?
- Share your meals in the community!
- Have only healthy groceries at home. Get rid of unhealthy food so that when you are hungry you can only have what you see in front of you.
- Chew your meal slowly, enjoy… and when you are full, stop.
- Sleep well. Getting enough sleep is important for your progress.
- Join the Sleekgeek 8-Week Challenge, you will be guided/learn a more useful healthy lifestyle!
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