By Zinhlezonke Zikalala
“You don’t realise how much weight you put on over time – until your favourite jeans don’t fit,” says Clarissa. But if you’re reading this, it’s not too late.
Need a little motivation to keep you on track with your own weight-loss transformation? Meet Clarissa Swarts… she lost an incredible nine kilos in three months. How? She spills her secrets below…
Clarissa Swarts
Occupation: Manager
Age: 34
Height: 1.7 m
Weight before: 85 kg
Weight after: 76 kg
Time taken to lose weight: 3 months
Secret weapon: Diet Change
The Gain
Clarissa never exercised; and counted walking as her cardio. What made it worse was the fact that she came from an overweight family. “Being in an overweight family pushes you to make individual choices about your health and well-being. You need to be able to influence others, instead of others influencing you,” she says. To her, this was difficult, and part of the reason her diet had everything but healthy food. “I loved take-away’s, Coke and cakes,” she confesses.
Read More: 5 Physical Signs Your Eating Habits Need to Change.
The Change
In April 2016, Clarissa came home from a holiday and didn’t like how she felt or looked. “I lacked energy and didn’t like what I saw in the mirror. My clothes didn’t fit and I had to start buying bigger clothes,” she says. This meant that not only did her health take strain, her wallet did too. Drastic changes needed to be made. “I changed my diet, and needed to have enough discipline to say ‘No, thank you’ to junk food,” she says. But that wasn’t all – exercise was incorporated into her weekly routine. “I joined the gym and decided to go between three to five times a week, for no less then an hour,” says Clarissa.
Read More: Look Beautiful On A Budget.
The Lifestyle
Clarissa knew that if she wanted results, she’d need to work harder. “I cut out white rice, white bread and subbed it with brown rice and whole-wheat bread. I reduced my portion sizes and cut out sugar,” she says. Then she committed herself to exercising. “Initially I ran for 15 minutes on the treadmill, walked for 15 minutes and did the bicycle for 18 minutes,”she says. Gradually, she found she wasn’t losing her breath any longer, and could power through longer sessions. She started walking and running for 30 minutes and cycled for 20. “It was easy once I was 100% committed and didn’t cheat or compromise for my gains,” she says.
The Reward
“A lot of people were asking what I was doing because I looked great,” says Clarissa who has since dropped a dress size. “I feel better about myself, I move easier, walk a better pace. My wardrobe is upgraded and my confidence has increased,” she says. “I rock my skinny jeans and sexy high heels with no shame,” she adds. Atta girl!
Her Top Tips
1. You are not alone.
“Many other women have gone through the same and came out victorious.”
2. Losing weight is doable.
“It is not something that is unachievable. You can do it.”
3. Losing weight is about having a long, enjoyable life and living to the fullest.
“No room for regrets.”
Looking for more real-life weight-loss inspo? Check out how Notukela ditched the fad diets and lost 15Kgs and how Sithembiso, a self-confessed ‘sweat-phobe’ dropped her baby-weight.