So this is how it ended!
I had the privilege to spend just over a year on “sabaticle” with the family in the berg!
The most wonderful time of my life and an opportunity not many get .
So why?
At 43 I have done a lot of different things and have had positions of responsibility and management in various roles that have exposed me to the best and worst of business and people!
I was not loving where I was and needed to understand what I was going to do.
So first of all I was FAT and no matter what justification for that I made I had to do something about it. I was also upset that in the scheme of the world I was a “taker”(making a living off others efforts)
and not a “maker”(adding to the world through real effort). While this is hugely financially rewarding it leaves you with a incredible feeling of worthlessness!
When you wake up to that realization it is an eye opener of note!
A truly defining moment ……..
So after 25 years of every meal being a buffet it was time to diet …..Dukan diet ……. High protein low carbs. I weighed 125kg at 1,79 m tall. Severely Obese on all BMI scales
14 months later 25kg down on the back of lots of exercise mostly in the form of cycling and the diet with the support and watchful eye of the family who always made me aware when I was straying from the plan !
I also stopped drinking all alcohol ! Now it’s not that I don’t like alcohol, but in this time off I spent time with people who did not drink and I was amazed that the following where actually true-
-You just feel better…
-You can have fun without drinking…
-You miss out on soooooo many subtle messages and things when your drunk…
-You get another 3 hours a day which are not “hazed”…
-Mornings are truly beautiful…
-Weight loss is inhibited by alcohol…
-And most importantly you are in control of your actions …I shudder at the fact that I used to drive my family after a night out …
I wish I had learned this 25 years ago!!
While the ability to do this came as a result of having time ( a good ride takes 4 hours) and that the daily work related stress that I was living under had totally disappeared . I made this time work and when people say you did nothing for a year that statement is soooo not true.
-I spent time with my family at a period where “us” time was possible .
-I got fit.
-I lost 25kg .
-I know what I want to do with my life
A very productive year by my reckoning!
So back to the end I did what I never thought possible .
I rode the Old Mutual Joberg2c a 930km 9 day mountain bike stage race.The worlds longest mountain bike stage race.
AND I DID IT!
I now look forward with a clarity of mind to the next stage of my life knowing it is true that you can do ANYTHING and that you are never given a dream without also been given the ability to make it come true.
To my family and friends , thank you for EVERYTHING and know that I love you all.
