Q&A with Kat Darvall – Sleekgeek Community Manager

Today, we are chatting with our newly appointed Sleekgeek Community Manager, Kat Darvall, about her personal health journey.

What do you do? [Job]

Sleekgeek Community Manager and 8-Week Challenge Team Co-ordinator.

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

Garden, paint, art journal, create, run, workout, drink coffee.

How long have you been a member of Sleekgeek?

Since 23 Sept 2018.

How did you find Sleekgeek?

Through a Facebook ad.

What is your favourite part of the Sleekgeek Community?

The support, motivation, and inspiration one receives from everyone – even complete strangers – in the journey towards health.

Describe the “old you” before you made your transformation

I had become overweight and sluggish with my knee dislocating daily and my osteoarthritis aching in most joints. Even climbing stairs was a difficulty.

What ignited your initial motivation to change?

At the beginning of 2019 we moved to Cape Town, into a duplex and I realised that going up and down the stairs was torturous. I became depressed, lonely and felt isolated – missing my friends and work in Durban.

How did the change come about?

I first did a Sleekgeek 30-day Nutrition challenge. I lost some weight and started moving more, then the New Year 8-Week Challenge which connected me virtually and physically to the community and introduced me to running.

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

I’m consistently active – going to the gym at least 3 times a week and running at least 3 times a week. I also manage to moderate my eating and make healthy choices 90% of the time.

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

I need to have goals to work towards else I tend to lose focus which is probably why when I reached goal weight a couple of years ago, I struggled to maintain it and ended up adding some back on. I still had a journey to take to work on my mindset. That’s what this year has been about.

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

Don’t sweat the small stuff and stay mindful – don’t sabotage the whole process over 1 bad meal.

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

Yes – I hit perimenopause in 2021 and struggled with all the symptoms – depression, anxiety, weight gain (from bingeing), body inflammation, and poor sleep. I went on hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and adjusted my diet and exercise regime (started lifting heavy weights along with running and spinning). It’s definitely more under control now and the weight is slowly coming off. 

What is better since you got healthy?

I sleep better, I have less joint and muscle pain, I move easier and I have less anxiety.

What’s your favourite form of exercise? 

Weight training but also running.

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

I started running in 2019 just before I turned 50 and it gave me a new lease on life as my knee stopped dislocating – being introduced to the running community through Sleekgeek and Adidas Runners was life changing. I only started proper strength training a year later as I kept getting injured. This year I’ve upped to heavier weights and seen gains in my running.

How does exercise make you feel?

Exercise helps me sleep better and is a definite stress-reliever as well as providing a great feeling of accomplishment.

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

My partner in all aspects of my life is my husband – we train and run together. It’s a real blessing.

How has exercise/training/sport changed your life?

I am fitter and have more flexibility and energy for even functional movements and I sleep so much better at night.

What’s your nutrition philosophy/approach?

I don’t keep anything that may derail my lifestyle in the house – I try to eat only when hungry and to 80% full. Takeaways are an uncommon treat. I prioritise protein.

Do you have a cheat meal/treat strategy?

I don’t believe in demonising any food so to me there is no such thing as a cheat meal or food – I call it a treat. I work an almost daily treat into my day – yoghurt with berries, nuts and seeds, hot protein chocolate drink, or a cappuccino. This makes my eating plan sustainable.

Most memorable personal best achievement to date?

There have been many over the last 5 years but the most recent would be my 30 km running Personal Best (PB) recently on the extremely hilly and challenging course of John Korasie around Simon’s Town – it shows that everything is going in the right direction for my Cape Town Marathon Training.

Favourite quote?

“The definition of insanity is — doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result.” (Albert Einstein) Here is another way to say the same thing: If you always do what you’ve always done — you will always get what you’ve always got.

What inspires and motivates you?

Results – getting a return on time invested. And other people who work on their own progress.

For what are you most grateful?

A husband who shares my passion for health and fitness and trains and runs with me

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

Don’t wait for Monday to start – or restart.

Don’t copy anyone else’s plan or lifestyle – work out what works for you.

Be honest with yourself – are you really eating less and moving more?

Don’t compare yourself to others but be inspired by them.

Don’t sabotage your progress – deal with setbacks and move on.