‘MY WEIGHT KEPT ME FROM ENJOYING LIFE’
FELICIA STEENKAMP ALWAYS WANTED TO LIVE A FUN-FILLED LIFE. BUT AT 100KG, MUCH OF HER TIME WAS SPENT AT HOME, DOING VERY LITTLE. HER WEIGHT WAS HOLDING HER BACK, SO SHE NEEDED TO MAKE A CHANGE THAT WOULD LAST.
Felicia Steenkamp is 20kg lighter and living the life she always dreamed of
The motivation and method that Felicia needed to drop the kilos for good had eluded her for years. ‘Every day I’d think, “Okay, I need to do something!” Then I’d just fall off the wagon.’ The 30-year-old graphic designer from Tzaneen, Limpopo says all the miracle pills and various workout fads she tried never seemed to stick. ‘I just wanted to be able to buy clothes – it really was a mission to get clothes in my size – and to do things with my partner’s young niece and nephew: run around, play and not always be tired.’
Her weight was even affecting her work. ‘I was constantly hungry and I couldn’t concentrate. My body felt beaten down; I was always tired and my creative juices were blocked.’ Eventually, her weight started taking a serious emotional toll. That’s when Felicia’s partner, Gwen, knew it was time to step in. ‘My confidence was at an all-time low,’ Felicia says. ‘I’d fade into the background, too shy to
draw any kind of attention to myself. While my body seemed content with just adding weight, my mind would have none of it. I wanted more out of life.’
At the beginning of 2018, Felicia and Gwen took their biggest step towards a healthier life by seeking out a qualified Banting Buddies coach. Ilze Czubora became Felicia’s ‘saving grace’, and it was after seeing the dramatic change that an LCHF diet had brought to Ilze’s family that Felicia decided to commit to a new way of eating. ‘I’d been struggling with my diet and weight for 10 years and had tried almost everything. After a while I’d find it wasn’t working and stop, then just gain whatever weight I’d lost. With Banting it’s completely different. It’s a lifestyle change; not just a diet.’
But as exciting as the discovery of the LCHF lifestyle was, it wasn’t easy for Felicia. ‘I’m not going to sugar-coat it – the first month was a long struggle. During the first consultation I felt nervous, uncomfortable and a little angry as Ilze started ruling out all my comfort foods.’ Felicia recalls having to purge almost everything from her fridge and pantry because most items contained sugar. ‘The first three trips to the shops were excruciating; it felt like we were back at school: reading label after label…’
Her system wasn’t enjoying adapting to the sudden change either. ‘My body hated the fact that it wasn’t getting any sugar, starch or processed foods. It was craving all kinds of messy things.’
Ultimately, her journey was a success. ‘After seven months of eating delicious, freshly prepared food, I’m 20kg lighter!’ she exclaims. ‘I’m healthier and I have more energy. I exercise twice a day, and don’t have joint pain any longer; nor do I have difficulty breathing. My emotional struggle ceased to exist. I always used to want to go out but never had the energy – now I actually get up and do it, and the energy is there. I feel like a brand-new person!’
Felicia is finally living the life she’d always dreamed of: full of fun, adventure and confidence. She enjoys the outdoors, going on regular hikes with Gwen, whose unwavering support, she says, she couldn’t have done without. The LCHF lifestyle is definitely here to stay for her. ‘I’ve reached my goals, but I’m not going to go back to how I was. I will be eating this way forever. We no longer buy anything that’s boxed or bottled – fresh is the way to go!’
What does she love most about LCHF? ‘You eat when you’re hungry.’ Her favourite go-to snacks include salads and biltong dipped in cream cheese, which, she points out, is an old guilty pleasure that’s totally allowed with LCHF!
It was never about looking like a cover girl for her, says Felicia – it was about how she felt inside. She feels the transition from the inside out and loves the confidence boost that came with the weight loss. ‘Beauty is so much more than the outer shell we show the world. Your worth is measured by your acceptance of yourself. I made the change to improve myself – for myself. The greatest part of this journey is finally feeling good about myself and enjoying life to the full with the ones I love!’
‘The greatest part OF THIS JOURNEY IS fiNALLY FEELING GOOD ABOUT MYSELF!’