Q&A with Jacques Schoeman:

We sat down with Jacques who placed third in the Men’s Transformation category of our Summer Challenge 2023. 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.

After the 2020 pandemic, I was hit very hard not only by the pandemic itself but by my own divorce after a cheating partner. I was drinking, smoking and living off junk food just to cope. With that combination of 3 years, I got in to the worst shape of my life. I didn’t want to change, I NEEDED to change!

What prompted you to join the Sleekgeek Transformation Challenge?

I entered the previous challenge and didn’t even finish it. I was disappointed in myself. I remember looking in the mirror and thinking I’m at the worst shape ever going to my big 40th birthday. Being a musician with Jacques & Liezel always on TV and radio stations looking at the footage urgh, and not being able to keep up with my son’s activities physically. I had to change. I decided to get back up, try again and wait until the next/this challenge to enter. I would forgive myself, and start to believe in myself, with the help of Sleekgeek to get in to the best shape ever for me and my son.

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

Whey protein shake with morning gym/cardio. After gym breakfast (usually scrambled eggs whites on rye bread). Snack @ 10(Nuts, provita or 1 fruit). Lunch (usually tuna/chicken salad, no extra salt or sauce). Snack (if hungry). Dinner before 6 pm (Hake fillets, broccoli, mix veg, extra lean mince with basmati rice or chicken salad). Water fast and prayer once a week for a day usually on Monday (24-hour just water).
Had one cheat day/rest day a week.

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

There are so many programs to choose from on the SG Vault, I decided to mix it up & change programs every 2 weeks so my body wouldn’t adapt. I started running again and doing park-runs every Saturday. Combined HIIT cardio with every gym session. Last 3 weeks I added the basic sit-ups, pushups and plank before showering at night which made a huge difference.

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

1. Believe in yourself and pray. If you believe it, you can conceive it. It might some stupid to some, but let God help you.
2. Focus on progression rather than perfection. Take each day every day to be healthier than the previous day.
3. Put up a picture of a goal of how you want to transform. Look at it every day, remind yourself why you’re doing it.

Why should people enter the challenge?

I am in better shape now hitting my 40, than what I’ve ever been in my 20’ties.
SG doesn’t just change your body; it changes your life.
You WILL become the best version of yourself!!