Hillcrest’s Neil shares his healthy inspiration

NEIL du Plessis’s personal journey to find a mentally and physically healthy lifestyle turned into a passion, evolved into a business venture and a way of life.

Neil’s dad was 52 years old when he died from a heart attack.

“He was slightly overweight and I was a mini version of him. I could see I was going down the same path and it was then, at that moment that I chose to live a healthier lifestyle,” he said.

He was bitten by the gym bug, purchased a few fitness related books and worked on himself for a year. The real game changer was when he picked up a copy of the Body For Life book.

“As soon as I changed my diet, I saw my body transform. I became toned, lean and, from being an average rugby player, I was given a contract to play professional rugby for a third division Welsh team. After five or six games I was promoted to second division and soon played in the Welsh/Scottish Premier League for a season,” said a proud Neil.

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He was then chosen for an invitational side, off season, but disaster struck when he snapped his anterior cruciate ligament (ACL). He returned home to South Africa when his visa expired.

Living in Amanzimtoti, Neil discovered he had a knack for helping inspire people and he was soon led down another path. Motivated by his own transformation, he opted to study to become a personal trainer. He took up his first gig at the Westville Virgin Active where he met his current GetFit business partner, Denver Subramany.

“Every Monday I found there would be the same issue where my clients would be strict with themselves during the week and then on weekends they would falter. They definitely still saw results but the pattern would form and they would have to work extra hard to get to where they wanted to be. There was no accountability,” he said.

Both he and Denver opened their first GetFit Gym in Gillitts and it has grown to six franchises in the Durban area.

Now 43 years old, Neil swears by setting goals and firmly believes that it is the only way for a person to truly see any results.

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“People need motivation and instruction. Eating is a massive part of the change, but there has to be a balance as you also have a life to live and enjoy. Boredom is the biggest thing, so create fun workouts and change them up constantly,” he said.

Last year he went in for an operation to repair his ACL and has been limited to stationary exercises. For 2020 he hopes to enter a power lifting competition in his age category.

The general rule, he said, was not to rest for more than two days at a time.

“The quickest way to sum up a good diet is to eat as natural as possible, with fruit, veggies and whole foods. The trick is to tell yourself you’re not on a diet, eat healthy and make the right choices. Processed food is the biggest killer at the moment. The term ‘fat-free’ fools the consumer. Rather make a lifestyle change, you need to put yourself first,” said Neil.

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