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Founder of FitMomz SA, Matshediso Reneilwe Modipane tells us more about her company and her motivation for inspiring other mothers to get fit.
What is FitMomz SA?
It's a fitness and lifestyle brand created specifically for mothers looking to get back in shape and regain their verve and confidence after having kids. We want to change perceptions around what it means to be a mom by redefining and going against stereotypes that represent mothers as round, fat, boring, plain Janes who do not take care of themselves.
We want to illustrate that mothers can in fact be fit, sexy and vibrant beings and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. We believe that when we are the best versions of ourselves as women, then we are able to give 100% to every other situation in our lives – to our work, our partners, our friends and our children.
What motivated you to start this business?
I gained over 20 kgs during my pregnancy and really struggled to drop the weight after my daughter was born. Carrying the extra weight around was quite uncomfortable. I felt tired all the time; I felt overwhelmed and emotional and didn’t have the energy to be the mother I wanted to be to my daughter. I didn’t even want to go out and be around people and that really affected my confidence, my social life, as well as my love life.
So, I decided to just not be that person. I wanted to be and feel good about myself. I wanted to be strong and to take life by the horns instead of moping around. It is more than what happens to you on the outside. It’s about what happens to you on the inside - how you feel about yourself and how that affects your whole life. So, it’s definitely more than just business for me.
How did you lose the 28kgs?
It was on and off for some time. Like so many women I wanted a quick-fix. So I tried it all and failed a lot along the way. Eventually I learned that if I really wanted to change I would need to put some real effort into it. So I changed my eating habits completely. Eating healthy is actually not as bad as people make it out to be.
You don’t need to starve or eat dry tasteless food to lose weight. You just need to eat the right kind of food in the right portions. But what really melted the kilos away was fitness training and I have never looked back since! Working out is like a happy drug for me and when I started doing it, I started seeing real results.
What is your typical workout schedule?
Well, I didn’t just want to drop kilos. I wanted to be fit, toned and to feel great in my own skin – stretch marks and all. So I put in real work in my sessions. I do about three, 1 hour high impact cardio sessions and about four body sculpting/conditioning sessions a week. I work hard during the week and relax and have fun during the weekend.
What is your advice to other mothers looking to get back in shape?
Just start and see where it takes you. Your body is your most accurate compass and it will tell you which direction to follow. It’s not about where you begin and what worked for someone else may not necessary work for you. But if you really want to change, you can do it.
It will hurt a little. It might take some time to see results (depending on how much weight you want to lose), but at the end of the day it is always worth it. You are worth that change! Real transformation comes from a good diet plus consistent training. If you work on one and neglect the other, you might not see the results you want.
What has been the biggest benefit of your transformation journey?
I’m healthy. I’m positive about life. I feel confident and sexy as a woman. But above all, I feel like a rock star mom. I can play sports and games with my daughter and her friends all day. My daughter is really active and hardly sits still but I’m right there matching her energy levels and being the best mom I can be to her. And that’s a great feeling.
Have you joined an exercise programme to get back into shape after having your babies? Send us an email to chatback@parent24.com.
