Tips for well-built bods

Palesa Seete spoke to three fitness fanatics who turned their resolutions into a permanent feature in their lives.

JANUARY is a time when many people make resolutions that mostly vanish with the first pay cheque of the year.

Fitness fanatics share their secrets on how you can also hang onto a dream of chiselling your body into shape.

Mthokozisi “Mablerh ” Cele He’s on a high protein, low-carb diet, resistant and strength training. In January 2014 he weighed 142kg, he’s now sitting on 95kg.

He works out at least four times a week, the most favourite being the leg work.

“I like the pain and it feels like I was doing something, even though I battle to walk the following day. I have skinny legs so I make sure that I build muscle there, I don’t want to be shaped like a lollipop”.

When he craves something he’ll have it. He’s a nonbeliever in people going on diet. “That ’ s why most people fall off the wagon, and can’t come back up again.

“One should go on an eating plan that you can maintain for the rest of your life. If you crave something, have it, you don’t gain weight in one day.” The enemy to his progress used to be bread, he says. “I’d have sandwiches up to four times a day, even though it was a low GI healthy bread. One must be mindful of the amount of carbs consumed during the day. An energy drink in the morning is good for energy, kidneys and keeps you hydrated but the sugar content could be equivalent to three slices of bread.”

Cele drinks at least 1.5 litres of water a day. He also cautions against the mistaken belief of bingeing on freshly squeezed fruit juice due to the high sugar level in fruit. You have to squeeze four or five units of fruit to get a drinkable content. Cheat treat: Wine Avoid too much: Bananas, fruit salad, avocado and salad dressing

Dineo Moeketsi While on her weight-loss pursuit, she started off being vegan and she reckons it was what really turned things around for her.

“I just go to S.W.E.A.T 1000 at least three times a week,” she says.

S.W.E.A.T 1000 is a specialised weight-endurance interval training that aims to burn 1 000 calories in an hour’s workout, focusing on core stability and agility.

Moeketsi says she drinks water, eats lots of fruit and vegetables as part of her meal plan.

“It hasn’t been easy but doing my best to be consistent in eating well and exercising regularly has really helped me,” she says.

It took her nine months to shed off 8kg.

“The biggest misconception is that there’s a quick fix when, in fact, there are dire consequences for the quick fixes of this world. ” Cheat treats: Sushi, ribs and fries.

Kabelo Mabalane Mabalane ’ s battle with the fat is well documented. He has now coined the term “creative persistence ”, saying it is when you try different angles until you get what works for you.

Road running is his base because he runs marathons. He indulges in high-intensity interval training, spinning and leg workout.

“Have a goal to keep you incentivised and motivated, it’s not a one size fits all,” he says, adding that he works out six times a week and rests only on Fridays.

He runs between 60km and 150km a week close to Comrades Marathon as part of his training. He has lost 28kg since 2004 when he made resolutions to live a healthy lifestyle. Cheat treat: None.