TK 50KG LIGHTER IN ALMOST 2 YEARS

MBABANE – Your body is the only place you will ever live in. Make the most of it.

The year 2020 has been like a rollercoster in a horror movie for a lot of people. Over 1.3 million people have so far lost their lives to the COVID-19 pandemic that has literally wreaked havoc in the world. People lost their loved ones, businesses were shut down, families submerged into poverty and children missed out on their academics, posing a threat to their future, following the closure of schools. After all has been said and done, the reality of the matter is that all the material things we may have lost can be regained with time but not entirely so.

Imagine losing yourself, your identity, not because of unfortunate coincidences but due to negligence and recklessness in terms of taking care of the only vessel that holds your being, your body? Often times, people gain weight, not because they don’t know how to best take care of themselves but because they chose to ignore the consequences of their actions in the long run. 

Our inspiration for this week is 48-year-old Thoko Dube from Zakhele in Manzini. This fitness guru has a different story to tell and one that will become a lesson for people that sometimes feel like ditching their fit lifestyle and give into the temptations of careless diets accompanied by laxity. Dube had been a sports person for over half of her life but for some reason she decided to stop exercising and went to town with food. Consequently, her weight piled up to 109 kilogrammes but managed to make a turnaround and returned to the gym in February 2019. 

In exactly 20 months, she has lost 50 kilogrammes in body weight, became one of the strongest athletes of Zithande Athletics Club and named the first female captain of the club. She rediscovered herself, her identity and self-esteem because she made that one choice to take care of her body. This could be the inspiration you need to turn your life around. This is what she had to say...

Name:  Thoko Dube is known as TK (48 years of age) and stays at Zakhele.

When did you start training and what was the motivation behind? 

I started training because I have always been an athletic person but over the years I let myself go. I really did not care much about my training to a point where I gained so much weight. I then decided to get back into training last year in February and joined Zithande Athletics Club this year around June.

What was your heaviest weight?

I weighed 109 kilogrammes and I am now down to 59 kilogrammes. 

What challenges did you encounter when transitioning to the new lifestyle?

I just could not stay focused during my workout sessions. I love baked delicacies and junk food so I found myself eating cakes and junk food at all times after my sessions to console myself after a hard workout. I was not really disciplined. I lacked motivation and going to the gym was always a struggle.  I then had to sit down and have a conversation with myself.  I asked myself what I really wanted out of this. I asked myself what I was gaining from not being focused and not disciplined. I then came to a conclusion that I was merely setting myself up for failure and I wasn’t giving myself the chance I deserved.  From there I decided to change my eating habits plus I became more focused and disciplined. So the long and short of it is that I had to motivate myself because I knew I was capable of so much more. My coach Nsizwa Tfwala from the Zithande family also played a huge role in motivating me. His detox weeks really helped me a lot.

How often do you exercise?

On Mondays, it is boot camp training at Zakhele volleyball court. On Tuesdays we do one and a half hour runs. Wednesdays are for cross-fit training. On Thursdays we do two hours run then on Fridays we have hard body training at Mavuso gym. Saturdays we do long distance running then rest on Sundays.

What are your fitness and weight goals given a specific time frame?

My weight goal is 55 kilogrammes. My fitness goal is to run the Comrades Marathon.

What nutritional changes have you made so far?

I have cut out carbs from my diet. I drink three litres of water daily without fail.  I only eat fruits and vegetables so I basically became a vegetarian overnight. 

How do you manage to stay inspired and focused?

Mind over matter, which basically means I tell myself on a daily basis that I can do it. It is a decision I wake up to every day and every day I better myself. 

What advice can you share with people who want to lose weight and build muscles but lack the motivation?

Start. That’s all I can say. Just start. Start walking. Start running. Just start. Don’t pressure yourself when you see all these weight loss products they sell. Put in the work and you will definitely see the change. Eating healthy plays a huge role in weight loss. Yes, it does not happen overnight but teach yourself discipline. It will be hard but the rewards will be fulfilling.

How has your life changed now that you are living a fit and healthy lifestyle?

I am more confident now. When I joined Zithande, I could not even do a single exercise without hyperventilating but now I’m one of the top runners.  I mean I ran from Zakhele to Wendy’s Lodge and I’m more than prepared to run from Zakhele to Lomahasha. A few months ago I never thought I would even walk to the shop let alone run such long distances.  When I was obese I struggled to find the kind of clothes I wanted to wear, now I can wear what I want. Life has truly been amazing since losing all the weight and I’d like to thank my coach Nsizwa Thwala and the Zithande family.  Now I’m even the first female captain of the Zithande family because of my hard work and determination. Looking back, if anyone had told me I’d be where I am today I would probably have laughed in their faces.

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