Dropping 38kg is no small feat. Some guys will strive for years to notch a deficit in those digits. But for Rudi Heerschop, an attorney and wealth strategist, who says he never does anything “half assed”, that massive weight loss was achieved in just two years.
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“I have an extremely addictive personality,” he admits. “At one point, [losing weight] became an obsession.” While that trait deserves some credit, the Joburg-based attorney says the real heroes of his super shred were strict discipline and a solid plan.
How He Shelved the Excuses
“I never thought I was fat,” says Heerschop. “I’ve always been a bigger oke. So, for me, and the people close to me, I wasn’t fat… I was big.” As such, he never paid attention to his weight, focusing instead on growing his business. But one day, lazing under a gazebo on the beach, he got a dose of reality.
His son wanted to throw a ball around but the sad reality was that Heerschop was “tired”. “That hit me squarely between the eyes.” He thought, “I can’t live like this… I don’t want to be a useless father, I want to be better at this life game.” In the span of a few seconds, he wasn’t just a “big oke” anymore; he was a guy who needed to make some big changes.
How Did He Lose the Weight?
His goal was to drop down below 100kg. But as he got the ball rolling, he started shifting the goalposts. First, he cut out alcohol during the week. Second, he teamed up with his business partner (Mark Pienaar) and started hitting the gym. Together they navigated these halls of iron, logging reps on a strict schedule. After a year, Heerschop was already 20kg lighter. With his first target behind him, it was time to level up.
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The pair enlisted the help of a PT (George Herwill) and ramped up the intensity. His updated menu of high-protein, low-carb meals was replaced with a fine-tuned meal plan engineered by his trainer. But the rules hadn’t changed from those early days shifting metal in the gym: “You show up no matter what,” he says.
What Were the Results?
Over those two-plus years, he trimmed down to 79kg before adding 6kg of lean muscle, and he’s got no intention of stopping. “My energy levels are great,” he says. “People are telling me I’m looking better.” But he says the perks run deeper: “Professionally, I’m making better decisions, I’m sharper and I feel smarter.
At home, I’m a better man, more present with my kids, more connected to my wife and fully invested in the life we’re building together.” His lesson? “You need discipline more than anything else, otherwise you won’t get results. You’ve got to understand that the pain you feel now is going to pay off later.”
