AFTER a 60-day starch-trek potato challenge, Westville’s author, running enthusiast and now proud starchivore, Debbie Ivins, has unearthed a passion for helping others and encourages other Highway residents to support her initiative.
Becoming fearless
When an injury forced the passionate runner to sit on the side-lines, she would not allow it to hold her back and used this time to pour her energy into helping those in need.
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“Running does not make me who I am, and just because I cannot run right now, it does not mean I cannot inspire or motivate other people,” said the determined 39-year-old.
“With all my goals and aspirations centered around Comrades for the first half of the year, this setback has made me re-evaluate these things and I am focusing on what I can do (watch these biceps grow) and cheering other people on.”
“I am limited in my physical abilities but still have my mental strength and will keep working on that. When I come back to running, I hope to be fearless and go for my goals with the same courage as before,” she said.
Inanda Trail Running Club
“One of the best things about running is the amazing people you meet,” said Debbie.
“Mmeli Ndimande and Sipho Patrick Canham, are two such guys. In January 2018 they founded the Inanda Trail Running Club and the aim of the club is to introduce the youth in its area to trail running sports, as well as helping children to become responsible adults by making sure they have what they need to get an education.”
Debbie wanted to find a unique way to raise awareness for the club and came up with the 60-day potato challenge and Potatoes For A Purpose was created. The goal was to ask 60 people to sponsor R30 each (the price of a takeaway coffee) to raise R1 800 for the team’s transport costs.
Health
Despite living a healthy lifestyle, for the past two year’s Debbie’s cholesterol has been dangerously high.
“It came as a shock, and it is proof that everyone is unique. It shows we can never be complacent about our health and need to find our best way of living for our bodies,” said Debbie.
The doctor felt her cholesterol levels should be monitored every few months and that medication could be avoided for the near future if changes were made.
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“I was keen to see if these 60 days would have a knock-on effect for my own health and so began the journey – for the kids of Inanda, as well as my own heart,” said Debbie.
Spud specs
“We eat potatoes several times a week, so it was already a staple I loved, especially when it comes to sweet potatoes. They are economical too and the grocery bill was substantially reduced, which is always good news,” she said.
Her daily consumption was a 3kg bag per day. “With society’s unhealthy obsession over protein, I’m proud to be a starchivore and stand up for the spud – which often unnecessarily gets a bad rap,” laughed Debbie.\
Nutritional value
Thought of only as a good source of carbohydrates, these powerhouses of nutrition contain so much more than that.
“With different fibres and resistant starch, they are excellent for gut health,” said Debbie.
During her 60-day potato diet, her cholesterol decreased back into the safe zone. She just smashed the challenge.
To make a donation towards her cause or learn more about the life of a starchivore, contact Debbie on Instagram @debbie.ivins or email debbie@ivins.co.za.
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