I am VERY PASSIONATE about prenatal /postpartum fitness! It’s one thing to get active in order to lose the weight after having a baby, it’s quite another (admirable) thing to stay active throughout the pregnancy!
I stumbled upon Lola’s Instagram page (@christsoildergirlfitness) a few months back and was so intrigued by her preggo exercise videos. I admired that she stuck with it right through to the end because that is something that I have never been able to do while pregnant. I have also enjoyed watching her get right back into it after having her baby.
If you need some prenatal/postpartum fitness advice, inspiration and coaching check out the CHRISTSOLDIERGIRLFITNESS webpage.
Here is Lola’s #MyMarchMaddness interview…
Lola Akingbade aka christsoildergirlfitness
Q: What does FITNESS mean to you?
A: Fitness is a lifestyle that involves the body, soul and mind. It involves much more than being physically strong or fit. Being fit impacts every area of our lives in ways that we may not think about. It changes how we think about life by teaching us to push the limits. While in the gym, you try something and think it’s impossible to do, but with practice, before long, you are doing much more than you expect. It basically helps maximize potentials in every area.
Q: When did you begin living a healthier lifestyle and what inspired you to do so?
A: I started working out when I gained my share of freshman 15. I worked out for hours, ran, tried so many diets till I eventually lost the weight. However, I only focused on the number on the scale and thus it was not a lifestyle but just a way to avoid gaining weight. It really became a lifestyle about 3 years ago when I started to include weight lifting and running in my workouts. I fell in love with working out realized it didn’t have to be about the number on the scale. I also learned that the scale may not show the inches coming off or the benefits this lifestyle is making both physically and emotionally. I started to focus more on how I look and feel.
Q: What is your biggest struggle/constraint (if any) to maintaining a healthy lifestyle?
A: My biggest struggle right now is finding time to workout with my 6 weeks old baby. I have had to become more flexible in working out by making use of any free time she is sleeping or even include her in my workouts by using her as my weights. Some days I am unable to workout, but I try to stay active throughout the day.
Q: What is your favorite type of exercise?
A: I love lifting weights most especially doing squats and deadlifts. They target the entire body and work more muscles than most workouts do. Weight training improves muscle tone, burns more calories and also increases strength and endurance.
Q: One piece of advice you’d offer to someone that is feeling discouraged on their fitness journey.
A: The main advice I will give is to never compete with anyone else but yourself. Competing with others will only get you frustrated. Our bodies are different and so results will always vary even if you do the exact routines. Also commit it to God and trust him. Stay dedicated to your goal on this journey and get back up after every stumbling block. It’s easy to fall off the wagon when you don’t see the results you expect.
Q: What body part (if any) would you change?
A: I actually really love my body and so i don’t really have a body part I would change, however I would love to have tighter glutes and thus I try to focus a lot of time on training them.