My journey started on Christmas 2013. My wife bought me 2 pairs of pants for a present. Both of them did not fit me at all. This really bugged me and I started searching for “Something” cause I knew I needed to something. Somehow while searching google I ended up on the SleekGeek website just after new year. I saw the challenge and all the other information, and was very tempted but was hesitant as with all other sites there is must be a catch. So I started looking for everything under the sun to show that there was a catch, finally I got to the facebook page and then saw this was real, not the ‘Buy this’ and I will tell you the secret ! The next morning I woke up and said I am doing the Challenge, this was on the 6 Jan 2014. Challenge started the 13 Jan. That week I organised a gym membership, made a promise that I will fit into the pants my wife bought me and on the 13th I started the challenge, changing my lifestyle and going to gym. I have never looked back since then. The only problem I had was at the first challenge I still did not fit into my pants ass they where to big for me now.

This first challenge prepared me for my second one, the Winter Challenge. I started the challenge this time with my wife and started with the 30 day reboot and following the paleo diet. My basic meal plan is, have a green smoothie for breakfast, have some almonds as mid morning snack, I have may main meal at lunch time veggies and protein, mid afternoon snack, then for supper it is usually something eggs and bacon, can eat this every night and never have the same dish twice in two weeks. During this challenge I followed it religiously with no exceptions. In between the challenges I focus more on maintaining my weight than weight loss. I find it allows my head to catch up with the body. so it starts seeing this weight as normal before I start the next weight loss cycle. I also find it, just lifts the stress of losing weight a bit.

I have now just completed my third challenge, Summer Challenge 2014. I set my goals and went all in. I set myself 3 Goals,

1. To fit into a pair of 38 pants down from a 42, which I had bought prior to the challenge.
2. To complete to obstacle races (10km or higher)
3. To lose 20 kg in 8 weeks

I fitted into the 38 pairs of jeans,

I am doing my 10 km obstacle race on the 22^nd Nov, The other race was postponed to next year unfortunately.

As for the weight loss, did not reach the 20kg, but still lost in excess of 10 kg, cannot reveal the exact loss as the challenge is still on. I am still extremely happy with what I did get to.

Now for the next part of journey till the next challenge in January, I took those 38 pants and returned them for a 36. So my Challenge for myself now is, I am going to fit into those pants come New Years

Attitude, commitment and having fun is key for success. Since i started going to gym (5 – 6 days a week), excluding the two weeks I was out of the country, I have not gone to gym for +/- 14 days since Jan, this was due to attending SleekGeek Dinners, Kids concert, On leave, Work or family Commitment! I never once said I am not going to gym cause I do not feel like it ! If my PT says lets do 40 I try do 50. While I gym I complain like a 2 stroke but I have never quit !

We are all different, what works for me might not work for you ! Each of us are on their own journey, it is all about you no one else ! Take small steps at a time, they add up ! My PT showed me a situp (Normal situp holding medicine ball behind you head), I nearly blew all my gaskets trying to do 1 Rep that night. Every night from then onward, the first thing I tried was this situp when I got to gym ! 2.5 months later, I now do 50 and increased the medicine ball weight from 3kg to 6 kg.

SleekGeek is a helping hand to help you on your way !

As for having fun, my goal at the end of the year is not to pay my PT anymore, my wife will start paying him for body guarding services when I go to gym, because I will be looking so good !

Thanks Elan, the journey so far has been awesome ! What you are doing and sacrificing is always greatly appreciated !

SleekGeek for life !

SUBMIT YOUR STORY AND WIN R500 Wellness Warehouse Voucher

Shaun wins a R500 voucher courtesy of our sponsor for the “YOU CAN live life well” series Wellness Warehouse to be spent on their online store with free delivery nationally.

I believe very strongly that ordinary every day people like you and I derive great inspiration from the achievements of people who seem similar to us. If they can do it.. damn.. so can I! Right?

So through this program we will continue to tell people’s personal stories.

I want to great an archive of hundreds of stories of people who have changed their lives while others believe they cannot.

Submit your story to help@sleekgeek.co.za with the Subject line “You can live life well”

We require:

• Your story in your own words covering at least (How you got to a point of change, how you made the change, tips and advise for others)
• A selection of before and after photos
• As many words as you need to tell your story

In advance, we regret that not all stories may be published. Your story is as important as anyone’s story but we can only publish one a week and the editor will make decision on this.

If your story is published you will receive a R500 voucher to the Wellness Warehouse online store with free national delivery.