Lerato shapes up
50-year old Lerato Pitso was declared the winner of the weight loss challenge.
The Go Jozi Healthy Lifestyle programme is shaping up the city one challenge at a time. The recent weight loss challenge saw the city’s residents start a diet and exercise programme in an effort to live a healthier and more active lifestyle.
50-year old Lerato Pitso was declared the winner of the weight loss challenge.
Before joining the programme in February, Lerato weighed 120.9kg and endured annoying stares and whispers as people gossiped about her weight.“The city’s initiative saved my life,” said Lerato.
The mother of one has battled with her weight since she was a teenager. “I’ve tried every diet available but nothing worked. I was on the verge of committing suicide. This challenge saved my life. I was tired of people being unkind to me, whispering as I walked past and others taking photos of me from behind. It was humiliating. I tried several diets and would shed a few kilos only to put them back on because fitness trainers never taught me how to eat properly. That was until Go Jozi got me on the right track,” said Lerato.
In 2013 she suffered a pulmonary embolism attack that was a wake-up call for her.
“I had to do something about my weight otherwise I was going to die. At some point I was walking on crutches. My struggle also affected my child’s life. I feel really good. Now we are both very happy. I can do all the things I could not do before losing all this weight. I swim and box as part of my exercise regime. My personal trainer, Claude Maphosa, keeps me on track. My diet is strictly low carbs, high protein. It’s working and it has inspired a lot of people in my family. People must not pass judgment when they see an overweight person because they don’t know their struggles.”
The weight loss programme coordinator, Thoko Nhlapo, is proud of what Lerato has achieved and hope this will inspire her friends and family to live a healthy lifestyle.
Executive mayor Clr Park Tau launched the Go Jozi Healthy Lifestyle programme about three years ago as an initiative to help prevent non-communicable diseases such as diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity.
