“No Excuses”: Fitness Enthusiast’s Body Transformation With Homemade Weights Amazes South Africans
- Sikhululiwe Nduli showed dedication to fitness by making homemade training weights using backpacks and cinder blocks
- The fitness fanatic displayed no signs of giving up, even when the bags got increasingly heavier
- The viral video garnered more than four million views, prompting thousands of members of the online community to applaud Sikhululiwe's dedication
- Briefly News reached out to a trusted fitness expert to learn more about the online user's routine
Source: Instagram
TikTok user Sikhululiwe Nduli proved that it is possible to make homemade training weights without spending thousands on gym memberships. The 20-year-old fitness enthusiast's toned arms wowed the online community, which agreed that there are no excuses for keeping fit.
On 15 April, 2025, Sikhululiwe posted a video showing various thin, cylindrical objects and Nike and Adidas bags filled with cinder blocks used as a barbell with weights. The heavy items put a lot of strain on the young app user at times, as it was evident when the homemade weights were lifted. However, persistence and dedication were also in plain sight.
Sikhululiwe wrote in the caption of the post:
"Just do it."
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Briefly News journalist Moroba Maepa got in touch with an experienced fitness expert and certified personal trainer, Mothusi Maepa, about the online user's exercises, where he also explained the concept of progressive overload.
"He's doing a combination of bicep curls and reverse bicep curls; they're arm workouts. They are both isolation movements as they only target one muscle group, where bicep curls target the biceps, while the reverse curls work on the forearms. Notice how he is adding more weight with heavier objects; this is called progressive overload and shows that he's hoping to build size and strength.
"Progressive overload involves gradually increasing the stress on your muscles by adding more weight when working out. To do this, you increase the weight or do more repetitions in your workouts. This gradual increase ensures that your body continues to adapt to new challenges."
Body transformation stuns the internet
With more than four million views, thousands of members of the online community shared how impressed they were with Sikhululiwe's progress.
Source: Getty Images
@ukn361 said in the comments:
"You know, it’s amazing. I thought I was alone on this one when it came to putting my school bags on a broom or something, then you have a massive, bulky meal right after that was made for you."
@zed_1.2m told the online community:
"Discipline and obsession: the two most important keys."
@itsjassuu felt they couldn't start the transformation journey just yet, writing:
"I have a backpack, and I have a stick, but I don't even have books to put in the bag."
@fvtiiima wrote to Sikhululiwe:
"I don't know you, but you are doing such a great thing that even a stranger (me) would be proud of you."
@bedroombodybuilder0 shared their method with the public:
"I used to put sand in two 10kg maize meal bags and place them in a bigger bag to do squats and leg extensions. No excuses."
An appreciative @user19407543416523 commented:
"Oh, I've been looking for things I could use because I can't afford the equipment. Thank you."
Watch the TikTok video posted on Sikhululiwe's account below:
4 Other stories about body transformations
- In another article, Briefly News reported that a man stunned people on social media when she showed how his taxi driver friend had changed in three years. The man went from having a slim physique to a fuller figure.
- A woman sparked widespread interest when she showed her body transformation before and during her relationship. The video highlighted lifestyle changes, prompting people to offer advice and support.
- The Real Housewives of Durban star Jojo Robinson got candid about undergoing multiple surgeries to help her shed 20kg. She showed before-and-after images, which had fans praising her for her transparency.
- A Mpumalanga mother, who once weighed 100kg, proudly showcased her incredible body transformation, revealing a toned figure. Many interested parties wanted to know how long it took her to achieve her goal.
Source: Briefly News
