As told to Zizipho Mqingwana
“When I was overweight, I was bothered by two things — I didn’t look my age and struggled to find clothes that fit properly. I also had a constant fear regarding health issues in my family – I have relatives who are cardiacs, some with high blood pressure and others have diabetes. Knowing that I might be next was a much-needed wake-up call.
So, I really had to begin making healthier choices, or I was going to die young. After that self-realisation, the year 2015 marked the beginning of a new, healthier chapter in my life. That’s when I got a personal trainer. I also consulted with a dietician because I was not losing as much weight as I wanted to. I worked with the dietician for six months and then carried on by myself.
My constant worry when I started exercising was whether I’d ever lose the weight. I remember the first time I went to the gym – I left the place in tears. I managed to stay on the treadmill for only 15 minutes. If I carried on, I thought I would surely die. On days when I felt lazy, my personal trainer would step in to push me. I cannot stress enough the importance of a good and committed trainer, on top of having supportive family and friends.
Another crucial step was me always reminding myself that nutrition made up 80 percent of my wellness journey. I had to watch what I ate, and still do. Weight cannot be lost at a snap of a finger – you must work hard. People are now taking notice of my weight loss, which is motivating. I didn’t have that many followers on Instagram and Facebook before but now I get so many invites and DMs from people who are motivated and inspired by me. Most of them want to know how I did it so they, too, can join me.
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My days begin at 4.30 when I prepare for the gym. I have a pre-workout smoothie to boost my immune system. At the gym, I run, skip and do cardio exercises. I also do steps. My gym sessions last an hour, and then I head home to make another smoothie. I only use one fruit and lots of veggies because fruits are too sweet on their own.\
My lunch consists of leafy greens, lean proteins and good fats. For supper I dine on something light, such as almond nuts. I always tell people to forget about the scale. The moment you get on it, you become demotivated because it doesn’t budge, meanwhile you’re actually losing centimetres around your body. Use the scale at the beginning of your health and fitness journey so you can know what you’re working with and only return to it after two months.
Wellness tips: Have an evolving goal weight. If you reach one, then change it so you’re constantly challenging yourself. Eat clean food and drink lots of water. Losing weight is not easy, but keep at it because, in the end, you’ll be very happy.
Cebisile Juliet Mabandla before her wellness journey
