By Zinhlezonke Zikalala
Weight gain doesn’t happen overnight, but neither does weight loss…
“Losing weight is hard work and a lengthy process — it requires willpower and determination,” says Michelle. Here, she tells the inspirational story of how she lost 30kg in nine months. Steal her simple weight-loss hacks!
Michelle Janse van Rensburg
Occupation: Pensioner
Age: 53
Height: 1.71m
Weight before: 106.2kg
Weight after: 77.3kg
Time taken to lose weight: 9 months
Secret weapon: Diet and exercise
The Gain
“My weight has always been a problem,” confesses Michelle. Takeaways, starches and Coca-Cola were her staple food, and the only exercise she got involved climbing the stairs at work and running around the office — that was it. So the weight packed on. But because her siblings were also overweight, it just seemed normal. “You just let yourself go until one day you’re realise: this isn’t cool,” she adds.
READ MORE: How To Order Fast Food Without Wrecking Your Diet
The Change
“I got to a point where getting off the couch was difficult,” she admits. This called for change — a big one. That change started with her deciding to incorporate exercising into her routine, “I joined Shapes in Amanzimtoti, where I got tools to lead a healthier lifestyle,” she says. Along side that; she cut out sugar, starch and junk food. “I completely cleaned up my diet — fruits and vegetables are more my vibes now,” says Michelle. Those are winning vibes.
READ MORE: 40 Foods That’ll Help You Upgrade Your Diet
The Lifestyle
As difficult as it was to keep up with the exercising — Michelle didn’t give up, she kept at it. “I started off with a 30 minuet workout everyday at the gym, for five days a week, I still do the same time but now its more intense workouts,” she says. Since the change, she’s been keeping a close eye on what she puts into her mouth and ensures that it’s nothing that will deter her from her weight loss journey.
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The Reward
“It took a bit of time for my body to kick in and lose the weight, but when it did — it did. By the end of the year I had lost 103 cm’s already,” she says. Dropping her jean sizes from an 18 to a 12. “I’m healthier, full of energy, confident and I feel so good in my clothes now… and extremely proud of my achievements,” she says. Slay you PYT!
Michelle’s Tips
Make a choice and get started with.
Get your mind in your right place.
Rise above the excuses.
Just go on and exercise.
Take responsibility for your actions.
You will be rewarded.
Looking for more inspirational weight-loss stories? Check out how Zamazindela lost 23 kilos, and how Belinda transformed her life and became a personal trainer?
