lifestyle
MUM ABOUT TOWN
This month we meet Danielle Page, stunning
former model, personal trainer and mum, about
getting back into shape and life after having a baby
and Exercise
Science from
the University of
Wales Institute
Cardiff. I then
returned to Hong
Kong, working as
a personal trainer
and model.
How did you come to be
in Hong Kong
I come from a proud, hardworking
Welsh family. My father is an engineer
and in 1998, when I was still a
small child, he was appointed as a
construction manager for the MTR and
my family moved to Hong Kong.
Tell us about growing up in Hong
Kong and your education.
We lived in Sai Kung, and as a
child having come from the Welsh
countryside, I immediately fell in love
with all the hikes and trails that were
on my new doorstep. Weekends would
consist of running section four of the
Maclehose in the morning and then a full
schedule of swimming, ballet and jazz
dance lessons. By the age of 15, I was
the Hong Kong cross-country champion
and was sponsored by New Balance. I
also played netball and hockey for Hong
Kong and I was a member of the Hong
Kong Players.
I was a student at King George V
School and it was tough balancing all
my training, dance, studies and also
finding time to be a teenager. I worked
as hard as I could and was awarded a
sixth form scholarship at Millfield School.
After Millfield, I gained a BSc in Sport
Do you think
the challenges
of parenthood
have changed
you?
Parenthood is the most wonderful
challenge, but nothing prepares you for
how exhausted you will be, especially
in those first few months until the baby
starts sleeping through. Our daughter,
Zia, is 10 months old now. Of course,
lifestyle and routines change when you
become a parent. However, I still feel like
the same “me”, it’s just that now I have a
baby and a few more wrinkles!
I can understand how a new mother
may feel discouraged from leaving the
house and how it can feel difficult to
get out and about. I have to be more
organised than ever before in order to
take Zia with me. I also try to integrate
Zia into my routine, so a workout now
involves me running with her in the stroller
or doing a baby yoga session at home.
How did you get back into shape
after your daughter was born?
I think the most important thing is not to
put too much pressure on yourself too
soon. If you are still breastfeeding, you
may become depleted by exercise more
quickly. It will also take time to regain
flexibility and strength and you risk
injuring yourself if you rush straight back
to the gym.
Here are a few tips to help a new
mum get back into shape
Diet
Even though you are tired and
stressed, really try to avoid comfort
eating and drinking alcohol. Extra
calories will stack up after a few weeks
and your shape will start going in the
wrong direction.
If you don’t have time to cook a full
meal from scratch, get hubby to bring
home a healthy salad or meal from
Marks & Spencer’s rather than ordering
food that you wouldn’t normally eat.
Stress
It is harder to lose fat if you are tired or
stressed. There’s not much you can do
about the tiredness, especially during
the early months after having a baby,
but if you can manage your stress, you
will find yourself feeling so much better
and this is one of the foundations to
getting back in shape.
Exercise
I make sure I exercise every day.
Pushing a stroller up a hill or wearing a
sling can be a good workout! Zia loves it
when I dance with her.
I will also do baby yoga at home
with Zia which is really relaxing and
strengthens my core. We love to take
Zia swimming too and are lucky to live
near a heated pool which we can use all
year round.
Any final thoughts?
Simply drinking lots of water, starting
with gentle stretching and finding
reasons to smile and laugh are great
first steps for new moms and dads. I
would love to hear from anyone who
wants help or motivation with their
training and getting into shape.
Summer 2019
57