We chatted to Bongi Ncube, who has been seeing registered dietitian Monique Piederit, to find out more about her health and fitness journey:
Why did you decide to see a dietitian? (The before story)
In January 2017 I started on the fitness journey – due to work pressure and the amount of stress I endured, I needed an outlet to release the pressure; gym became that outlet. The initial intent was to keep fit, but I soon realised that I was not happy with how I looked and thus wanted to lose weight.
I procured the services of a personal trainer who later recommended that I consider consulting with a dietitian as diet plays a key role in weight loss.
Tell us about your journey with the dietitian?
The first consultation was an eye-opener! I realised that approximately 50% of my weight comprised body fat – the task at hand was to work on reducing the body fat %.
The first week was very tough as the portions I had to eat were far smaller than what I used to eat, but with time I got used to the eating plan.
What I appreciated the most is that the eating plan that was recommended for me was easy to follow – no food types were cut out, instead the portions were reduced.
My dietitian was been very supportive and encouraged me on this weight-loss journey and the eating plan complemented the training schedule I had with my personal trainer.
Tell us about your results / successes?
I have successfully managed to loose 17.5kg (from 88.6kg in July 2017 to 71.1kg in September 2018). This has been a consistent gradual reduction of my weight over the months.
What was the hardest part of the journey?
Taking the first step to consult with a dietitian was certainly not easy. I was not sure of what to expect and was very nervous at my first consultation.
Getting used to the smaller portions was not easy. It took me at least 1.5weeks to get used to the eating plan. Over the period October 2017 to January 2018, my weight remained stagnant at 81.6kg – this was very difficult to accept as I was doing everything that was recommended and still there was no change. It took a lot of courage to press on through this period.
What are the top three tips you can share?
- You need to have a good relationship with food – do not be scared to eat, but eat right.
- Don’t view the eating plan as a diet, view it as an eating plan (a guide to follow to ensure that you consume the right amount of micronutrients).
- Be dedicated and committed to your journey; it pays off. It does not matter how long it takes, as long as the weight keeps coming down.
I never thought that I would ever be able to reach my 2012 pre-baby body weight, but through the help of both my dietitian and personal trainer, I have been able to achieve this goal. My family’s support has been a huge contributor and enabler to my weight loss.
My fitness level have reached new heights – over and above the 10kms runs, I have managed to run 7 X 21.1kms with PB of 2:46. I am now working on toning my body and maintaining the weight.
What the dietitian says
Bongi is the perfect example of how you can do anything you put your mind to. She started seeing another dietitian, Kezia Kent, after a wellness challenge at work inspired the start of her journey, starting at 88kg and moving down to 81kg. When Kezia immigrated, I continued working with Bongi who in total has lost over 20kg. Apart from making daily and sustained changes to her diet, Bongi’s new found love of running has supported her weight loss even further where she regularly challenges herself to 21km half marathons.
NutritionConfidence Blog 