As a student in college, Michelina Chindiya was at her heaviest. So she turned to fitness and documented her journey to stay on track and to inspire women. The 27-year-old private wealth manager hasn’t looked back since. While living in Harare, Zimbabwe, she’s grown her Instagram page @misschindiya to nearly 30K followers by positively influencing women “to feed their own fire and take ownership of their bodies and lives,” says Chindiya. After winning PRETTY GIRLS SWEAT’s December 2021 photo contest, she shared great wellness tips that you can follow to stay motivated, beautiful, and true to yourself.

“The Sky is Not the Limit… I am”

T.F. Hodge

Tell us how your winning photo came about? 

I had spent most of the year in lockdown without much access to gym facilities, and this had me feeling low at one point. So, as soon as lockdown measures were lifted, I got back into the gym and worked out consistently for four or so months (the most consistent I’d been since the pandemic started). I felt proud of myself and what I had achieved with my body, so I thought to reward myself with a shoot in the gym to document my small win.

Please briefly share your fitness journey with us:

I gained weight during my University years and reached my heaviest weight of 77kgs (169 lbs). At this point, I decided to regain control of my life through fitness. In the process, I lost close to 20kgs (44 lbs), and I began to share my journey on my various social media platforms with the aim of wanting my commitment to fitness to inspire other young women to take care of their minds and bodies, to feed their own fire and take ownership of their bodies and lives.

We believe fitness + friendship = FUN! So what is your favorite group fitness workout?

HIIT Classes! High-Intensity Interval Training is so effective, so intense, and it’s great to do as a group because we can push each other through it.

While working out is essential, so is eating the right foods. What is your go-to pre-workout meal? How do you refuel after a workout?

Pre- and post-workout meals play a key role in the effectiveness of my training sessions. 

The purpose of my pre-workout meal is to fuel my activity and give my body what it needs to perform at its best. So I have a banana (high in fiber & potassium) and peanut butter (packed with protein) on whole-grain bread (high in carbohydrates) to top off my energy stores for the session ahead. 

The purpose of my post-workout meal is to supply my body with the nutrients it needs to repair, replenish, recover and adapt to the training stimulus that the workout provided. So I refuel by consuming adequate fluids, eating foods rich in protein to aid muscle repair and growth, and refueling with carbohydrates. So, I have grilled chicken with roasted vegetables and brown rice.

What is one item that is always in your gym bag?

Gloves! Resistance/weight training is an integral part of my program. Lifting gloves provide a good layer of protection between my hands and the rough bars, preventing the development of calluses & blisters (I still want to keep my hands cute), and they are great for grip. Weight gloves with wrist straps also give me more wrist support allowing me to lift heavier than with just my hands.

What are your top 3 fitness Instagram accounts to follow?

1. @Hannaoeberg
2. @Lisafiitt
3. and @Chaneldelisser are my faves

What is one thing people would be surprised to learn about you?

Well, I am pretty laid back with my eating at times. But I am a sucker for a good burger! So many people assume I am always on a strict diet and that I live off of salads and smoothies alone, but I do believe that food is fuel and that we can treat ourselves once in a while, as long as it is all done in moderation.

What are the top three goals you hope to accomplish in life?

1. To be an ACE certified personal trainer
2. have fitness boot camps for women and girls
3. and to one day own my own wellness center for women.

What does PRETTY GIRLS SWEAT mean to you?

To me, PRETTY GIRLS SWEAT is a movement all about encouraging young girls and women to take control of their health and empower themselves through fitness/a healthy lifestyle.

Since PRETTY GIRLS SWEAT, what is your favorite deodorant?

Dove Deodorant – gentle on my skin, nourishes it, leaving it feeling softer and smoother. (Dove, $3.38 – Walmart)

How can readers stay in touch with you on social media?

I am most active on Instagram and Twitter, so they can always drop me a DM there (my handle on all my platforms is @misschindiya 🙂 ), and I’ll be sure to respond. Or they can always send me an email at business@misschindiya.com.