Back in 2014, I started this ‘living the simpElle life’ series! I managed to share 29 of my favourite stories… and then life happened and the feature discontinued. I’ve continued to meet more amazing people each and everyday and thought the celebration of four years blogging would be a great time to share another story – the 30th story!
I created this series after I heard a great phrase all the way back in 2013 –
“The Universe is made up of stories, not of atoms”
– so that is what I wanted to share with you, stories, to open up the Universe to us all!
Each individual whose story I have shared embodies what this blog is about. They have dug deep to find motivation, they have sought inspiration and in doing so become inspirational to others. They have been empowered with knowledge to change and I hope that is what their story will do for the rest of us…
Meet: Wande Osuntokun Wayo
I met Wande through teaching Nike Training Club classes on Clapham Common quite a few years back now! Wande was one of the amazing women I met during that time, whose effort and motivation shone through every session! …here’s Wande’s story…
– {THEN} –
Elle: What made you decide to start training / running? …What was your plan / goals?
Wande: I have always been into fitness and working out but sometimes it falls off my radar due to a busy life! My goal is always to stay fit and healthy and losing a few pounds helps too 😉 Strong is the new thin so that’s the focus!
– { HOW } –
Elle: What’s your favourite way to workout?
Wande: I love spinning and reformer pilates. I fall in and out of love with running on a regular basis, depends on what races are on the calendar and what the medal looks like 😉 what can I say, I like shiny!
Elle: What’s your typical weekly schedule?
Wande: My weekly schedule is pretty insane! I try to work out 5 to 6 times a week in order to keep my body guessing. Variety is key so it’s usually spin, reformer pilates, yoga, a personal training session. On top of that I have a pretty demanding job and social schedule ☺ I guess I suffer from Londonitis!
Elle: What / who has been your inspiration?
Wande: My inspiration is anyone who has goals and works hard to achieve them! I cried when I crossed the finish line of my first organized 5K run ☺ I can be super emotional when it comes to my workouts and as a result I have made alot of awesome friendships via my fitness activities.
Elle: What was the first big difference in you, that made you feel proud and excited?
Wande: I guess my first 5K! I always thought I couldn’t run because I was overweight and also struggled with asthma. Doing my first 5K with my husband was such an adrenaline rush: getting to Hyde park, getting my race t shirt and then crossing the finish line ☺ I couldn’t believe I ran non-stop for 27 minutes! And lived to tell the tale!
Also becoming a morning person: you couldn’t get me out of bed to exercise ever! But then i met some awesome women a few years ago in Clapham who thought working out in the morning was the way forward and I haven’t looked back ever since.
Elle: Did you make any changes to your diet once you started training?
Wande: Sadly I have always been a dieter ☹ Over the last couple of years, I have managed to change my focus from dieting to healthy eating and a ‘lifestyle change’ vs ‘trying to squeeze into a dress for a weddingin a month’! I started on the paleo plan a year ago and it has been great for me. It isn’t for everyone so it’s important to find what works for you and hopefully stick with it! That being said I have fallen off the wagon over the last few weeks, I blame being ill for that ☹ Something about toast and honey while hiding under the duvet just seems like bliss and it has been!
– { NOW } –
Elle: Have your goals changed since you started your journey?
Wande: The journey is a marathon vs a sprint so the goals are always being tweaked 😉 I still obsess with a goal weight but I also know I won’t weigh what I did when I was 16 so time to let that dream go!
Elle: How do you keep yourself motivated?
Wande: Motivation comes from within 90% of the time but it helps when my husband says I look great or when I can slip into my jeans with ease ☺ I have been pretty committed with exercise over the last 12 months, classpass has been really helpful with that as I can go to studios all over the city for one cost! I still buy classes for all my other loves, it’s an addiction really!
Elle: If you could go back and give advice to the “before” you…or any other person contemplating changing their lifestyle…what would you say?!
Wande: The ‘before’ me would not eat frigging Cornish pasties or fruit toast from Starbucks at Victoria station!!! I commuted out of Victoria when I moved to London and did not make great choices with food and as a result, I gained some serious London lbs when I moved here in 2007! I would also say ‘live love and laugh’ ☺ All while working out and not being too hard on oneself!
….so what d’you think?! …I’ve loved reading Wande’s story and so happy to have had the opportunity to share it with you! Please leave Wande any comments below along with anything else you would like to share with us!
If you would like to be featured on the blog, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via the ‘Contact’ page!
Until then, keep living that simpelle life 😉
Elle
Nice to meet you Wande! I love how she said the journey is a marathon not a sprint. So true in life and fitness! You need to constantly change goals and routes along the way.
Love it!!!
Thanks Ellen! If you ever wanna share your story just let me know x
Absolutely love this and love her! What an inspiration. I can totally relate to her words about motivation and dieting. I seem to be an eternal dieter myself, and tend to fall out of it often. So nice to read about how other people go through it too, but stay committed to getting back on track and getting their goals! Love her story and definitely inspiring me to get my butt to the gym (I was thinking of skipping today! Lol) and getting it done. Very well written, elle! More power to you and Wande! Abbi