Sometimes it seems like the only way to lose weight is by spending hours in the gym and sticking to a super strict diet. While these methods are tried and tested, a young Kimberley mother discovered that weight loss also happens through a journey of self-discovery.
Changed eating habits, set with clear intentions and commitment to a workout regime, has helped Katlego Moloto (26) lose 35 kilograms in a year.
While the rest of the country was munching on banana bread under lockdown, Moloto decided she would embark on a weight-loss journey so she could “live longer and be there for my son”.
“I really wanted to be the mom I needed to be for my son. I wasn’t happy looking in the mirror and seeing the woman who was looking back at me,” she says.
She has since been sharing this journey on her Instagram page, Questing For A Banging Body, and proving that she is a commitment queen.
We caught up with Moloto, who was happy to share some of her life-changing journey:
What was the catalyst in your wellness journey?
I had been on this journey for quite some time but I fell off the wagon [before]. I think one of my reasons for this was that taking care of myself, and wanting to lose weight, was never as compelling as they are right now.
Last year, on 27 May, I looked at myself in the mirror and I wasn’t happy with the woman that was staring back at me. I think a few days prior to that I had read an article that had spoken about how being overweight cuts your life short.
‘I thought to myself, if I really wanted to be the mom that I wanted to be for my son, and if I wanted to be present in his life, I had to make certain changes.’
I had to change my habits. I think that that was the moment for me; I wanted to be a better mom. And for me to be a better mom, I needed to be a better person first.
Weight loss can be tricky. What were some stumbling blocks you faced in your journey?
I’ve never been one to try all these crazy things to lose weight, but one of the most ineffective things that I’ve done was to try and starve myself.
I feel like that was also one of the reasons I had fallen off the wagon so often.
There’s also one thing that people fail to realise: When you starve yourself, or when you eat food that you don’t like, it opens up room for immediate failure.
‘One of the biggest mistakes I made was starving myself. I didn’t know that when you do starve yourself, your body goes into survival mode. That slows down the process.’
How did you manage to improve your relationship with food?
Transitioning to a more nutritious diet has allowed me to see food as fuel for my body. Food, for me, has become something that ensures that my body functions optimally. My perspective on food has changed a lot; I want to nourish my body so that I can flourish.
And what is on your plate Miss K?
A whole lot of complex carbs! My diet is also very high in protein and I enjoy a lot of veggies as well.
Is there a recipe for success in terms of following a weight-loss journey?
It is all about learning more about yourself and how your body responds to certain foods.
Find what works for you. It’s about you, you know – learning about your body, just understanding it and how it responds to certain foods.
You know, how my body responds to certain foods is not how your body will respond to it.
Do you have any advice for other people on how to improve our relationship with food?
Explore your taste buds and get creative with your food. Most people think that healthy eating is bland or tasteless. Try new recipes, try new spices, explore.
Make it a bit more interesting for yourself!
