We had the pleasure of speaking with Lelo Sora, a certified nutritionist and weight loss coach.
Her demeanor and willingness to take you through her weight loss success have been her most considerable form of self-care to date. Talking candidly with her about shedding off extra kilos leaves you with the WOW factor of feeling good about your body once more!
“I was in a toxic cycle of binging, food restrictions, starving myself feeling tired constantly and worst of all, I hated my body,” says Lelo.
Speaking to Lelo was nothing short of extraordinary. We were excited to talk about everything that makes her an amazing nutritionist and weight loss coach.
If you are wondering about the origin of her unique name, Lelo, a Borana, hails from Marsabit in northern Kenya.
What do you do? How long have you been doing it?
I’m a weight-loss coach who implements nutritional, workout, and mindset programs for my clients to help them achieve realistic weight loss.
I recommend home workouts, which are client-based.
Before, I did two things: content creation and weight loss coaching. When starting, I created food-related content before transitioning to weight loss content and coaching.
This was after I received feedback from my followers regarding my weight loss journey. I’d say my body has changed a lot through the years.
People wanted to know what I had been doing. I saw the need and took up a nutrition and diet planning diploma course in June 2020. After getting the certification, I saw the program works and decided to help people desiring to lose weight attain results in a sustainable manner.
It wasn’t until October last year that I had my first batch of clients. I signed up 12 clients for my program.
Have you ever interviewed weight-loss experts? If so, which pieces of advice did you hear over and over from different people?
A fitness expert who’s big in the industry and social media advocates for patience when dealing with weight loss clients.
Different clients have different needs and momentum. Because many people want to lose weight, help them achieve that goal.
Which pieces of advice most surprise you?
It’s unnecessary to fast for days on end to lose weight. It’s not a realistic approach. Weight loss is a long-term process. Drinking green tea or taking shortcuts isn’t sustainable. However, Keto, Paleo and intermittent fasting can work if it’s something you can do continuously for more than six months.
Keto is a diet characterized by low carbohydrates and high-fat content. Paleo, on the other hand, emphasizes whole foods.
For women who want to lose weight, which challenges are most underappreciated?
Women or anyone willing to lose weight should get guidance on basic nutrition information. Don’t fall into weight loss gimmicks. Women are hormonal, which affects their diet significantly when in a different emotional state.
All women must know how to manage cravings and appetite and eat differently than what they’re used to.
Moral support and encouragement go a long way. Women have been conditioned to believe being big is beautiful. However, maintaining good health keeps your heart healthy and improves your lifespan.
Conversely, which areas of weight loss—exercise, eating less fat— do you think are less important than most women assume they are?
Sleep and stress management are the key things people overlook. Sleep is crucial in balancing hormones, body recovery, cravings, and stress management. Prioritize sleep the same way you prioritize eating and working out.
Which diet mistakes do you find that women frequently make?
When starting to lose weight, they go into starvation mode. Don’t stop eating when you begin to lose weight. Don’t overlook the good fats. Don’t cut out foods and natural fats because they are all important.
Fats support your nervous system, balance your hormones, and manage the heart Proteins for bodybuilding, while carbs give you energy.
Instead, cut out processed foods (junk food) because they attack blood sugar and make you gain more weight.
What mistakes are most women making in terms of exercise? should they be doing more weights, a different kind of cardio, lifting heavier, and training more often?
Start with essential cardio to increase your heart rate before moving on to other exercises.
Also, it is worth noting one exercise can’t help you achieve your goals. Keep combining different activities and adding intensity to see the results.
People’s health habits are heavily influenced by the people around them — what are some ways women can surround themselves with healthier influences?
Form a group with family members on the same weight loss journey. Request to join people working out in estates. Have an accountability partner. There are various Facebook groups supporting women in this course. If that’s not enough, a weight loss coach like myself will help with your workout and mindset program.
Can you give an example of a workout routine you’d design for a typical weight loss client?
For starters, running, walking, and household chores will play a vital role for someone starting the weight loss journey. However, I wouldn’t recommend someone who’s over 100 Kg to run. Walking each day helps burn fat in your body.
Can you give an example of a typical one-day eating plan for a woman who needs to lose 1-5 Kilograms?
Your body is in detox mode from waking up until noon. Drink warm water and green tea if possible or eat fruits.
Afterwards, you can move to proteins (veggies, eggs, liver, last night’s dinner). For lunch, healthy carbs and fibre (rice, ugali, potatoes, githeri (maize ad beans), legumes).
In the evening, eat good-quality proteins and vegetables. Cook using butter, then add some guacamole.
Breakfast: 9-10 hydrating or having some fruit before eating.
Lunch 1-3, depending on your schedule
Eat dinner 2 hours before you go to bed. This helps the body digest food.
Any words of advice for those looking to lose weight and attain good health?
Consistency. Whether working out or dieting, ensure you don’t lose focus once you attain your desired weight.
My success was the biggest form of self-care to date. And my aspiration is to help as many people who have been in my shoes and want change.
1 Comment
Pingback: Mövenpick Nairobi Offering Mediterranean Cuisine and Welcoming Guests Now