Surf’s up as ‘veteran’ takes to the waves
Lamontville pensioner overcomes fear of sea
AYEAR ago, Lamontville pensioner Sibongile Gwala, 62, was terrified of the sea and the mere thought of swimming. But a few weeks ago she entered her first surfing competition and placed 4th in the veterans group.
Her journey into the waves started when weighing at 117kg, she faced the prospect of developing diabetes.
“I was eating too much fried food, I had a history of thyroid problems and every time I was admitted to hospital, I visited the theatre, whether it was gallstones or my appendix.
“My mother died from diabetes before she was 60 and both my sisters are diabetic. The doctors told me I was carrying too much weight.
“By 2015, I could see I was going downhill. I had to cut out all the junk food, sugar and fizzy drinks. It was do this or die,” said Gwala this week.
After joining a health group, Mabliza Lifestyle, Gwala started eating healthily, drinking loads of water and began exercising.
“I started with walking and that progressed to running.
“I was terrified of water but decided I had to overcome all things that made me afraid. It was part of my wellness journey.
“I had always believed that if I got into the sea, I would be too heavy, I would sink and the water would swallow me. It was my worst fear so I never swam.
“When I started to learn how to swim, I would close my eyes and the coach said I must face the waves and conquer my fear. So water became therapy for my fears.
“Then last October, I started learning to surf. Now I am enjoying myself and enjoying the water,” she said.
At the beginning of March, Gwala entered the Shaya Igagasi surf competition on Durban’s beachfront and won fourth place in the veterans category.
“I felt so fantastic, my family came to watch me. They know how terrified I was and some of my family cannot believe I can get into the sea. I felt like a young girl again.”
Gwala has an exercise regimen that could be a brag factor for most 20-somethings. She is up by 4am from Monday to Saturday when she either walks or runs 7km. That is followed by a morning surf during the week. On Monday to Thursday she goes to a free aerobic class on the beachfront in the evening.
She also enters a fun walk or run once a month in summer and a bootcamp once a month in winter.
“I don’t have a contract at a fancy gym. Even if I just walk or jog around my neighbourhood, I know I have to do my 7km,” she said.
Every Monday she detoxes by concentrating on fluids.
“I drink a lot of water, but also juice and rooibos tea. For lunch, I will have some home-made soup and then another cup of soup in the evening. On Tuesday, it’s back to normal eating,” she said.
This includes lots of vegetables and fruit, and a bowl of oatmeal soaked overnight in yoghurt with a dash of raw honey and a sprinkle of flaxseed for breakfast.
“It’s all about losing weight naturally and doing exercise. I drink a lot of water and have cut down on starch and sugars.”
Still a part of her health group, Gwala said the members shared Facebook page help to keep her going. She now weighs 82kg.
“I have made so many new friends. We also have talks by doctors, dieticians or nutritionists on a Wednesday evening.
“I used to have such low self-esteem. If I walked past a window in the shopping centre and caught sight of myself, I felt ugly.
“When I was so heavy, I felt everyone was looking at me, but now I feel confident. I feel like a new person inside and out and I have a lot more energy. I wake up always looking forward to the new day.”
And Gwala is passing on her health rewards by encouraging boys in her community to take up surfing.
“I like bringing boys from my area to come and try out surfing. It keeps them away from whoonga and trouble,” she said.