The last 18 months have been transformative for Motsi Mabuse – and her experience shows how starting small and staying consistent can add up to significant progress.
After being warned by her doctor that she needed to take action to protect her long-term health – a full-body check-up revealed high cortisol levels and inflammation, as well as a risk of developing type 2 diabetes – the new Women’s Health cover star turned to her younger sister Phemelo for help.
‘My sister is very much into training – Ironmans, marathons, swimming – so I knew she was the right person to get motivation from,’ she told WH. ‘I just said, “Girl, I can’t move”.’
Her advice was incredibly simple, but it set in motion a series of changes that would transform Motsi’s approach to fitness.
‘She said to me, “Listen, the first thing you’re going to do is go outside and take a walk, just 10 minutes, then you progress to 15 minutes – and we can move from there,”’ she explained.
Over time, the Strictly Come Dancing judge turned those daily walks into a habit before adding strength training with personal trainer Dirk Berresheim.
But walking has remained a core part of her fitness routine. While Motsi trains with Berresheim twice a week, her solo sessions include 60 minutes of incline walking followed by lighter weight training.
And despite improving her strength and mobility over the past 18 months, it’s the progress she’s made with her walking fitness that she considers one of her biggest wins.
‘The first time my trainer said I needed to walk on an incline, I was suffering,’ she explained. ‘Now I’m at the highest incline, and it’s not an issue.’
You can read our full cover interview with Motsi by hitting this link. Subscribe to Women’s Health here.
Lauren Geall is deputy site editor for Women’s Health UK and Men’s Health UK. She graduated from Exeter University with a BA in English Literature before studying an MA in Magazine Journalism at City, University London. She’s been writing about health, fitness and wellbeing for over five years, with a total of seven years in digital journalism. Prior to her current role, she worked at Stylist as the acting health and fitness editor. As well as being a keen runner, Lauren is passionate about women’s sport and can often be found cheering on Arsenal Women at the Emirates or keeping tabs on the Red Roses’ latest win.