We sat down with this SA mom of two to chat about wellness on every front. Here's what she had to share:
What is your definition of a healthy person?
Being healthy to me means not only being healthy physically but mentally as well. It's a holistic thing - body, mind and spirit. I hold all three necessary for optimal health. Often people transform on the outside but on the inside they still hate themselves and are at war with themselves - I find that sad. You have to make sure you learn to love yourself 10000000% through your journey to health - if you battle, listen to some Tony Robbins videos on youtube, he is amazing!
What healthy habit/s do you follow daily, without fail?
I wake up every single morning and drink 500ml water with half a lemon squeezed in it. I do priming for 10 minutes (another Tony Robbins technique), this sets your mood and intention for the day. I never miss it! And I try to never skip a morning gym session. Gym is an appointment you schedule with yourself and you should never cancel, I truly believe that. It sets your tone for the day and just puts you in a good mood when you get those endorphins flowing!
What does a week of exercise look like for you?
I don't overtrain, I train 4-5 times a week, I do legs twice, shoulders twice and upper body on the 5th day. I plank a lot and love walking the dogs with my two girls in our estate - it is so beautiful here! If you are not a competitive athlete you do NOT need to train twice a day, six days a week. It will only raise your cortisol levels and put your body under a lot of strain. Life should be all about balance, not extremes.
What is your general nutrition outlook/strategy?
I follow intermittent fasting, something I have been doing for 2 years. Since I was insulin resistant, this way of life and pattern of eating truly works for me. I now also use it as a coaching method for my clients who are doing brilliantly on it too. I have lost 8kgs myself and never ever felt better!
But I do not believe its the be-all and end-all; I believe that there are many different ways of getting from A-B - you need to find what works for you and your lifestyle. Whatever you choose, though, do it properly and stick to it!
What is your biggest challenge when it comes to living well?
My biggest challenge is socialising. I have a huge, social family and we often get together. Then there is a lot of food and drinks. I am usually pretty good. It is also tough having kids, and having a snack cupboard, because I like to dig in there! (Although 99% of the snacks I keep are healthy.)
What are your non-negotiable indulgences?
A cappuccino on the weekend, nobody must keep that away from me. I am obsessed with peanuts too, I could eat a whole big bag of them daily - the salted ones!
It's ten years from now: what do want your day, week or general life to look like, from a health perspective?
I want to just feel happy and comfortable in my own skin. I want to be healthy with an amazing immune system and peak health.
If an individual wanted to start living healthier, what is the FIRST recommendation you would give them?
Find ONE thing and stick to it - a rolling stone gathers no moss!
