3. Tshidi Laka

Age: 37
Home Town: Pretoria
Height: 1.6m
Occupation: Domestic worker
Time Required: 11 months
Then: 128kg
Now: 88kg

THE WAKE-UP

At 128kg, I didn’t like the way I looked. Out of sheer desperation, I started running around my local soccer field alone. Six weeks later, I’d lost seven kilograms, but I still felt like something was missing.

At the time I was working as a helper for a gynaecologist, and she asked me what I wanted for my birthday. When I told her I wanted a set of bathroom scales, to help me lose weight, she recommended I book an appointment with a dietician; which I’d never considered, because I’d always thought dieticians, and the ‘health food’ I imagined they’d recommend, were something I couldn’t afford.

THE SHAKE-UP

My boss kindly organised a free consultation with a dietician, who was a friend of hers. The dietician helped me to transform my eating habits, by becoming mindful of what I was eating and when I was eating it. My new diet includes plenty of fruit and vegetables, fibre and three litres of water a day. I always ask myself, Why am I eating this? Is it because my body actually needs it, or is it because I’m bored, or simply because it’s there?

Each day, after work, I run for 30 to 40 minutes. I refer to this time as my ‘appointment with my body’.

THE REWARD

My first race was in March this year, and so far I’ve achieved six 10-kilometre-race medals. Words can’t describe how wonderful I feel right now: I can definitely say I’m motivated to reach my goal weight of 70kg, and I can walk distances with ease that I couldn’t before. My story has inspired all those who know how much I weighed before I started my journey – so much so that they have joked I should quit my job in favour of motivating others to lose weight!

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