Hey guys, today I am going post an interview I did with aspiring South African female Fitness model/fitness competitor, former beauty pageant queen and model Thato Seopa. She is from the Limpopo province which is one of nine provinces in South Africa. She is 21 years old and is currently doing her final year at North-West University (NWU). She plans to work in the fitness industry as a sports conditioning coach when she completes her degree. She is an inspirational young lady and I hope this can help to motivate other girls to live the fitness lifestyle.
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Tell us a bit about yourself and how you got started in fitness?
I have always been a person who lived for fitness. Every day I woke up with the aspirations of making people feel good about their bodies when they see me jog every afternoon.
There is one golden rule within the fitness industry for me and that is Hard Work
You were a model and beauty pageant queen before, what made you transition into fitness?
The Modeling industry, like many others, contains a substantial amount of controversy. There are however some issues that you learn to deal with and others that are the issues that will always remain part of controversy no matter which perspective one chooses to approach it from.
I have come a long way on the pageant and the transition from being a pageant queen to aspiring fitness model was tremendous. Of-course that industry taught me a lot , but by far the most lessons that I have learnt since joining the fitness industry are more than what I have learnt since my days of being on stage at the age of 16. There is one golden rule within the fitness industry for me and that is Hard Work. I love that I can go to the gym and formulate my own success. I choose the reps and amount of weights that I want to push myself towards and if I slack I know that I will pay the price. It is all up to you. Fitness competitions are won when they see that you are determined to make a success of your life and by looking at your Body, it being a reflection of your lifestyle. You can’t blame anyone for not pushing you to go far to reach your own goals if it's you who have to pick up the weights and sweat to victory.
I choose the reps and amount of weights that I want to push myself towards and if I slack I know that I will pay the price.
What inspires/motivates you to train and stay consistent?
The fact that I see results with every workout I do inspires me to keep pushing in order to see more of what my body can go through. It is the best feeling ever and it is so addictive! Sweat is sexy! :D.
Do you train using weights or just cardio and why?
I train with weights yes and I do cardio. I think it is of great importance to have a balance between the two. If I want my body to be at its best I have to give 110% and not only 50%. Weights are there to push me to the limit (which doesn’t actually exist, it's just an illusion hhhahahahah) and cardio for those amazing endorphins to flow free.
If I want my body to be at its best I have to give 110% and not only 50%
What is your workout plan?
I have an amazing boyfriend who made a workout plan for me that consists of 6 days training a week , 2 hours a day.I transition throughout the week between upper body, back and arms(biceps and triceps) and lower body(Squats baby!!!!).
What sort of diet/nutrition plan do you follow?
I follow a very healthy diet that consists of lots of water consumption of course , lots of veggies, carbs and fruits!! Did I mention that chicken and rice is the best meal ever?!!!
What is your opinion on the fitness industry in South Africa? Are South Africans especially girls into working out and nutrition?
I would love to say that the fitness industry is evolving. Especially due to Jaco De Bruyn who brought Paul Dilett's WBFF to South Africa! I take my hat off to Jaco-Dis mense soos jy wat mense soos ek help maak soos wat ek wil wees
| This is Jaco de Bruyn in case you don't know him. He Placed 3rd at the WBFF worlds (muscle model) last year |
hahahha just incase he happens to read this. What I have noticed though is unfortunately the misconceptions girls have regarding lifting and going to the gym. Such insipid opinions that so many girls utter and it is definitely what I want to change. I have had girls tell me that my body is perfect the way it is and that I will have testosterone levels to the death of me and look like a man. My face was like :0.
Your favourite fitness/motivational quote?
Best quote ever*(cutting out the swearing)"Sometimes you need to hate the weights and sometimes you need to remind them who the - you are"-Dana Linn Bailey.
Where can people find you (your social network links)?
I am on LinkedIn(ThatoSeopa),Tumblr,Twitter(miss_seopa),Facebook(Thato Kuite Seopa),Whoswho SA,Weheartit and Instagram(fitnessthatoseopa).
This post first appeared on ZuLu MuScle ExpreSs - Building Lean Aesthetic Func, please read the originial post: here
