Many years ago I was born in the then little dorp of Uitenhage weighing 7lbs 3 ounces (just over 3kgs).
I was the apple of my parent’s eye and my mom thought she had produced a future beauty queen or model.
Wow, how did it all go so wrong?
At four years of age, I already started showing signs of having a weight problem. This was possibly due to my grandparents spoiling their blonde-haired, blue-eyed butter ball with an abundance of sweets, chocolates and home-baked goods.
In those days, there was little thought about the impact of this on a child’s life, so my grandparents can’t be blamed.
However, it became a normal way of life for me with long-lasting effects.
My mom soon realised, though, that I needed to slim down and chose to send me to ballet classes.
Yes, ballet!
As if it happened yesterday, I still have the clear memory of being squashed into my ballet attire every Tuesday and Thursday to attend lessons.
The ballet teacher’s husband would come to watch all of us little tots performing, and one day, in front of all the children and mothers, he said to me: “Cheryl, you look like a little pink elephant in that tutu!”
It is amazing what a negative effect words such as these ones have on a child.
Weight was a real problem for me even at that young age and negative words such as his can impact one’s life forever causing anxiety and low self-esteem.
Needless to say this pink elephant never went back to ballet.
Anybody who knows me also knows that I have a passion for children. They are such blessings and deserve the best out of life.
I have three healthy grandchildren of my own and yet I know what it is like to have special needs children to care for as my twin nephews are blind and autistic.
Special needs children are just that – “special!” They have so much love to give and seem to always be happy, despite their struggles.
Parents, such as Hayley Bartle, have to be admired for the unconditional love, patience, time and for what they do to meet the necessary yet excessive costs that go hand-in-hand with raising these children.
When I heard about Logan Bartle who has Cerebral Palsy and the Fit for Logan Challenge, as initiated by Pot O Curry owner, Tubs Lingham, I was hooked.
I knew that by doing this challenge I would be able to create awareness about Cerebral Palsy while at the same time assist to raise much-needed funds for Logan.
I gave myself a quick pep talk: “This is it. You need to commit to this challenge to benefit Logan, change your life and get healthy particularly because of your diabetes.”
After all these years, my healthy journey has finally started.
My body is sore, but soon I will stop moaning about that, and there are days when all I want to do is lie in bed and eat chocolate.
However, I have a wish to be around for, and watch, my grandchildren grow into awesome adults.
So the gym sessions with Shape Up Gym owner, Wanda Fourie, and the healthy eating habits that I have in place will help me achieve that.
Please support me in my aim to shed 20kgs by sponsoring my weight loss per kg lost.
The contribution can be R1 or more per kg and all funds go to the worthy Fit For Logan cause.
You can e-mail me at cheryll@goexpress.co.za for more information or click on the link below https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe9EdVhIMF-Rj7pXSELYPvfbldsFYk1xaHKsTAviBTupI-IAg/viewform?vc=0&c=0&w=1&flr=0
The GO! & Express is the official print media sponsor of the Fit for Logan Challenge.
Read previous articles about the Fit for Logan Challenge by clicking on the links below:
https://www.goexpress.co.za/2021/03/25/get-fit-for-a-good-cause/
https://www.goexpress.co.za/2021/04/01/exercise-lose-kilos-for-a-good-cause/
https://www.goexpress.co.za/2021/04/15/a-season-of-change/
