OMU OBILOR

What drew you to lifestyle and wellness and what keeps you passionate about your life?

I was fortunate to have been brought up by parents who were extremely particular about wellness. From my early years, I did Jane Fonda with my mum, then Angela Rippon and in the 90s’ I stepped up to Tae Bo when Billy Blanks developed it. About the same time, Gin Miller developed step aerobics. So, I’ve basically always just had one exercise routine or the other. I also picked up dieting from my Mum. By the time I got married, I had tried all sorts of diets.

Fast forward to when I got certified as a health coach. My friends and gym buddies always came to me for advice on what to eat and how to stay healthy but I always felt I wasn’t in a position to give professional advice since basically what I had done was trial and error. It was at that point I decided to get formal education. I also needed to understand the chemistry that went on with the foods I ate. The why’s and how’s. I have stayed passionate about being a lifestyle and wellness coach because it’s helped me in all other aspects of my career. As a certified John Maxwell leadership coach I discovered that even when training on leadership and other areas to increase performance in the workplace, what is actually needed is often times, a lifestyle change. The high point for me is seeing my clients achieve wholesomeness. What can someone expect from their time with you?

I have developed a transformational coaching method that helps clients achieve results through goal setting and planning. It’s a process. I come up with a plan working them through figuring out what their personal lifestyle and wellness issues are, by asking questions that make them think deeply about their choices, excuses, motivations and more, how these issues interact and affect them holistically. I then develop strategies to overcome them. I don’t stop there, I support and mentor them through these changes until our goal is achieved. At the end my client leaves energized and fulfilled. We all define “good health “differently, but most people associate it with lack of disease, a wellbalanced life and a strong social network. How 14 There are several dimensions of wellness. Emotional, Mental, Physical, Environmental, Financial, Social, Occupational and Spiritual. Good health is when you’re able to achieve balance between these key areas. I don’t agree that it’s “only” the absence of disease, it is also the ability for one to recover and bounce back from illness and other problems. would you define it?

There are several dimensions of wellness. Emotional, Mental, Physical, Environmental, Financial, Social, Occupational and Spiritual. Good health is when you’re able to achieve balance between these key areas. I don’t agree that it’s “only” the absence of disease, it is also the ability for one to recover and bounce back from illness and other problems.

The main principle of good health is being aware of YOU and your body’s needs. Reading the signs and symptoms before they fully develop and taking action to look after yourself. Remember “Good health is a journey not a destination “! In a parallel universe, if you weren’t into wellness what would you be doing?

If I wasn’t into wellness, I’d certainly be into some form of coach and training. I like sharing knowledge. I enjoy watching the transformations. I also enjoy learning in the process of coaching. Can you give us some general health tips that you follow and would recommend?

First I’d like to say that taking the health journey as a “one size fits all” approach does not work. We are made differently with different body compositions. However, these are a few general tips. Avoid processed food. They’ve been made to trigger your pleasure centers, as they trick your brain into overeating and sometimes addiction. Do not underestimate the importance of sleep. Not just sleep but good quality sleep. Poor sleep is capable of driving insulin resistance, disrupting your appetite hormones and reducing your physical and mental performance. It is also one of the strongest individual risk factors for weight gain.

Drink enough water. Water has limitless benefits. Health bodies usually recommend two litres a day. I take that as a minimum. Listen to your body. Some days the weather is so hot you might need more.

Take care of your relationships. Avoid toxic relationships or relationships that drain you both at work or socially. Learn to set and respect boundaries.

Avoid stress. Being stressed all the time is a recipe for disaster. Excess stress can raise your cortisol levels and impair your metabolism severely. It increases fat in the stomach area, junk food craving and risk of various diseases.

Exercise. You don’t have to belong to a gym. 150 minutes of exercise per week is advised. You can achieve this by making a few changes in your lifestyle. Like using the stairs instead of the elevator, walking round the office during your lunch break, stretching in between the days activities.

Start now! And keep changing gradually. Gradual lifestyle changes are easier to maintain than major changes introduced all at once. For instance start by writing down what you’ve eaten or drank and how much physical activity you engaged in. Do this for just three days. It would be easy to spot where you could improve. It could be anything from skipping breakfast, a small bowl of fruits, a slice of bread or a bowl of cereal could help introduce routine. Not enough vegetables? You can start with introducing one at a time. Too little activity? Incorporate activity by using the stairs for example. Walking to places close by instead of using a car or something just as simple as running errands at home.