You’re standing in front of your cupboard with clothes scattered all over the floor, but you still can’t find anything to wear. You rifle through each shelf and try on each item, but nothing is fitting quite right and all you want to do is climb into bed and hide under the covers. Sound horribly familiar? It’s easy to imagine that if you just lost five, 10, 40 kilos, you’d never face this dilemma again. The truth? It’s a bit more complicated.
YOU WILL STILL DOUBT YOURSELF
My transformation happened at the university. I’d picked up 20 kilos somewhere between the local takeaway joint and the calorie-dense alcoholic beverages I’d recently discovered and I realised it was time for an intervention of the exercise and clean-eating variety. My efforts paid off – as the months went by, my body began to slim down. Before I lost weight, I would spend hours in front of the mirror practising how to suck in my “boep”. I would often imagine what it would be like to have toned arms, instead of my bat-wings. I imagined slipping into those high-waist denims that show off a flat stomach beneath a tiny tank top – which I had never worn before, but I knew I would soon. After I lost the weight, I was overjoyed when I slid into a pair of jeans that previously wouldn’t go over my thighs. But the excitement was short-lived. Soon I was back in front of the mirror, practising my “slimming” angles once again. How could this be? I’d hit my goals and lost weight. Where was the confidence I was meant to be oozing?
YOUR GAME PLAN: IT’S A MIND OVER-MATTER SITUATION
Denne historien er fra January/February 2020-utgaven av Women's Health South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent ? Logg på
Denne historien er fra January/February 2020-utgaven av Women's Health South Africa.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
Irreconcilable Differences?
You’re one-upping your partner on all health fronts and now your relationship has more tension than your new resistance bands. Here’s how to get over the hurdle of mismatched goals.
Hot And Bothered
Inflammation is all the rage in health conversations right now and research is establishing it as a major player in all sorts of issues you don't want to deal with. But! You can safeguard yourself from the smokin' internal inferno with these smart strategies.
Self-esteem under the microscope
The term brings to mind positive-thinking memes with sunset backdrops and swirly lettering. But could I you sum up self-esteem when asked as part of a pub quiz? Didn't think so. And there's more at stake here than winning the points.
the reset
IT'S NEVER TOO LATE TO START OVER
Mind Over Muscle
Could you level up your strength training just by putting your mind to it?
ON BEING THE HEROINE OF YOUR OWN LIFE
Olympian. All-African Games winner. African champion. Record-breaker. Javelin athlete Jo-Ané van Dyk talks mental fortitude and what it takes to live up to your own hype. If there's one thing she can do, it's to throw down. And it's all about to reach peak levels.
Why Women Are Choosing to Be Child-Free
The choice can be liberating, yet stigmas persist. Here, how to cut through the noise with clarity and confidence to make the decision that's right for *you.*
FUEL YOUR SKIN
Inside your body, there's a crew of unsung protein heroes that scientists believe are the key to a healthy, glowing complexion. Heads-up: your routine is about to change for the better.
How To Be Decisive
You could use a Magic 8 ball to help you make a choice. Or, while you're waiting to 'ask again later', let our experts explain the best ways to get unstuck.
Build A Strong Base
You heard it here: the pelvic floor is the forgotten core - and you're selling yourself short by waiting for a specific life stage to train it. Your four-move workout is here.
