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Ms. Wunmi Idowu<\/strong><\/span>
\n $\"wunmi.png\"$
\nNo we are\u00a0not blood related, but Wunmi has always been\u00a0like a big sister to me. When I was in university dancing with Wunmi was one of things that kept me relatively active during those years when I wasn’t very health conscious.<\/p>\n

What\u00a0I admire most about this lovely lady\u00a0is that\u00a0she has ALWAYS taken her health and fitness seriouly-\u00a0before<\/strong> and after<\/strong> children.\u00a0As the Founder and Director of Woezo Africa Music & Dance Theatre<\/a><\/strong>\u00a0<\/span>Wunmi is using what she loves most –\u00a0dancing<\/strong><\/span> – as a platform\u00a0to empower<\/strong>\u00a0and\u00a0encourage<\/strong> other women to a healthier lifestyle<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

For #MyMarchMaddness<\/a><\/strong><\/span>, I asked Wunmi a\u00a0few questions about her\u00a0fitness journey<\/strong> and here\u2019s what she had to say\u2026<\/p>\n

Q: What does Fitness mean to you?
\nA: To me, fitness is more than just eating less and sweating more. It’s more than just exercising; it’s finding the willpower and the endurance to get up and elevate your heart rate on a daily basis. Fitness is focusing on what you can control, not what you can’t. It is ultimately about how we go about maximizing our potential as human beings by maintaining a healthy weight for our age, gender and body type. What we do with our bodies, how we feed ourselves,\u00a0and how we process stress in our lives are all things we can control.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Q: When did you begin living a healthier lifestyle and what inspired you to do so?
\nA: I was a 100 Meter and 4×100 Meter relay sprinter during junior\/high school and competed in several track and field meets including the Alberta Schools Athletic Association (ASAA) provincial championships.\u00a0At the same time,\u00a0I was\u00a0an African dancer and choreographer which\u00a0was\u00a0a unique and fun way to burn thousands of calories per day. It was after having my first child that I noticed huge changes\u00a0in\u00a0my body which prompted me to return to my passion for African dancing.\u00a0I\u00a0founded Woezo Africa Music & Dance Theatre in 2006 to perpetuate the purity of the cultural values and principles of African dance and teach dance classes to improve body tone, flexibility, fitness and vascular health. African dancing has helped me strengthened my bones and muscles, and improve my posture and balance. The\u00a0movements from African dancing embraces\u00a0strong and vital techniques with dynamic resistance to the rhythm of the music.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Q: What is your biggest struggle\/constraint (if any) to maintaining a healthy lifestyle?
\nA: I had days when I over ate, but I didn’t give up. I just admitted my faults and improved on what challenged me. I try not to make any room for excuses and\u00a0creatively handle\u00a0my cravings. I used portion control and stuck to clean foods. It was very important for me to adapt to a nutrition plan that could help me create a lifestyle change. Meal prep is my saving grace! It’s kept me on track!\u00a0It is a mindset that you have\u00a0to overcome. You can do all things through Christ, who gives you strength! Surround yourself with people who want the same goals and can give you positive feedback. Consistency is the key.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Q: What is your\u00a0favorite\u00a0type of exercise?
\nA: Everything! I\u00a0workout\u00a05 days a week for 30 minutes a day that is including my weekly African dance dynamics class. I also engage in cardio, strength training, and stretching! All my workouts are done from home. I also love taking power walks and using the stairs where ever possible to help raise my fitness and energy levels.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Q: One piece of advice you’d offer to someone\u00a0that\u2019s\u00a0feeling discouraged on their fitness journey?
\nA: My advice to anyone wanting to lose weight is to start somewhere and do what you can, even if it isn\u2019t much. Stay focused on the end goal. You don\u2019t have to see the entire staircase before you take a step.\u00a0Journal both your food and workout routine on the My Fitness Pal app.\u00a0This is how you will begin to understand how your body responds to eating clean and exercising.<\/strong>
\nTake before and after pictures every 30 days. Whenever your get discouraged, look back at the photos and they will motivate you with a progress report to keep going. Also, never compare yourself to others. You want this to be a lifestyle change. I got tired of not being able to wear the cloths that I wanted. You want to feel better and look better. If it was so easy, everyone would be doing it and succeeding at it! You have to fight and say \u201cEnough is enough.\u201d<\/strong>
\nRemember that this is a very personal journey, there are no one size fits all programs. Set realistic goals and plan ahead. Also, stay encouraged because sustainable weight loss is not a sprint, it\u2019s more like a marathon. Slow and steady wins the race.<\/strong><\/p>\n