I was always fascinated and interested with fitness, from high school already I just enjoyed sweating might sound weird to some people but the reason is because I first ashamed of it. Couldn’t walk without breaking a sweat in winter or summer

Background story(2010-2013)
I was a big(basically fat/over weight) for a good part of my life, to put into perspective I played rugby throughout my school years from grade 3 till like grade 10, I was the designated prop. It was so bad that my regular jog pace was everyone’s active rest jog (team even called it the Byron jog)

It was around winter time in grade 9 when I decided enough was enough I can’t feel like this for the rest of my life and I need to do something.

So the research began to find what would be the best diate for me and my high school lifestyle.
I came across a 3 day diet, where they said you have to strictly eat certain meals for those 3 days and then you can basically eat whatever you want thereafter.
Around came summer or perhaps the next year for the new rugby season i went from starting prop to starting flank, so I went from 100/90 kg to a flat 75kg.

Fast forward to college(2014 – 2016)
I moved from the North West to Cape Town to study hospitality, reason being I was born in CPT but raised in the North West so all my family is here.
I was fairly active but not knowing how demanding the industry is I neglected my fitness and health. So education and job security was priority and my well-being came second.

2016 – 2020
I graduated, I secured a permanent job and met my wife to be.
I regained my focus and prioritized my health and fitness, bought a bench and a few weights and I was ready to rock and roll, also started my intermittent fasting lifestyle and keto diet.
But the importance of health, fitness and overall well-being became all to real when my father was diagnosed with stage 3 cancer in August 2018(same year I got engaged).

2020-2024
Yeah COVID hey!
All the progress I made, I basically through out the window.
I was a coach potato for 3/4 months solid. I didn’t do any physical activity whatsoever, tried to eat right/health and tested out the vegan lifestyle (not bad) but that didn’t last long.
My focus my shifted again as I had a wedding to prep for, get used to life again after COVID and had to prep of a baby on the way.

2021
We were blessed with healthy and beautiful baby girl and a hell of birth story to go with it!
Focus was on taking care of my family first and foremost.
With the support of my wife, I decided to leave the hospitality industry because I was working in the night and my wife was working during the day and I did not want my daughter living past both her parents or never seeing us simultaneously together.

2022
I was fortunate enough to find another position/job in the real estate industry and thought it would be perfect because you could basically work your own hours.

Super greatful for the experience and knowledge that I was able to acquire but there wasn’t any job security. Always on the hustle, late nights, getting paid bare minimum (company had me on a 60/40 split).
So, I had to make something happen!

I was determined to find and make a change and secure something more suitable for the life I knew I could have even if it meant going back to hospitality.

I had a job lined up in hospitality once again, contact drafted and I just had to sign but I was still going to interviews inbetween still in hopes that I don’t go back and something just told me to wait a little bit longer.
So I declined something concrete before even receiving feedback from the other company that I had a second interview with.
By GODS grace he blessed me with a phenomenal opportunity for working with PUMA SA!

2023
FOCUS WAS BACK ON ME!
I was able to start working out again from April/May and never looked back.
Started eating better.

2024
Discovered HYROX in early January during our monthly GM presentation at work and found a goal to work towards, so I formulated a plan for myself leading up to the event.

1. I increased my intermittent fasting to a 20/4 hour split to assist with weight loss(first month was insane, mood swings and all lol)
2. Train in my fasted state so that body can use it’s stored fat/energy.
3. Gradually increased my training session.
4. Start to incorporate supplements after 3/4months(April/May)
5. Find a HYROX affiliated gym in order prepare me accordingly (3 months before event)

I found BOUND FIT best suited as it was the closet to work and home.
I am confident and comfortable with decision. It’s such a welcoming environment with like minded people, basically felt like I belonged here.

For HYROX I entered in the open men’s division and my overall time was 1hour & 34 minutes (aimed for sub90). I’m proud of myself in what I achieved and the dedication it took to reach that point.

In the future and going forward will definitely participating in future HYROX events and similar events in & around CPT like TITAN events such as beach battle, Hybrid heroes and maybe do a few marathons to make my running stronger.

Thank you my family believing and supporting me.
Thank you coach Ruan Retief for pushing me past my limits and for building the machine I am today
Thank you to PUMA SA for giving the opportunity to be me again!