Wellness Guru: Maeve Madden

Its so refreshing when you meet a model who's as beautiful on the inside as on the out, and Maeve Madden is just that type of girl. Though she's hit the big time with her Fitness Modelling career, most recently as the face of Vitality Foods, she still hasn't forgotten her roots. And her advice to become the very best version of yourself (see below) is just so up our street, we're just in love with this girl.

We sat down with Maeve to find out how she stays mindful and well adjusted in the crazy world of modelling. Check out her awesome advice below....

1. Tell us about yourself Maeve, and how you got to be where you are today?

Handwork, dedication and staying positive!

I've always been very athletic I did Irish dancing from a young age and was very successful, both competively and professionally fulfilling a childhood dream of dancing with Michael Flately in his show Celtic Tiger. Due to a car accident I had to stop and so went to London to study and started modeling in London. My injuries fully healed and I really missed the competition, not with other people, but with myself. I began working on my fitness again and I was also being sent to castings and booking alot of fitness job working with brands like Nike and Adidas.

I started my insta page Maeve_Madden 2 years ago but mainly posting images about fashion and the odd body pic.. People started messaging, asking me to show my daily workouts and food pics.. I was a bit nervous in the beginning filming myself and putting it online. I think it was 10 months ago I posted my first video I had 8k followers on Instagram and by Christmas I had grown to 30k. Now I'm almost at 80k followers on Instagram and have a great snapchat following too.. I love snapchat as I feel it shows the real side of people, their personalities and how life can really be.. Sometimes I feel peoples Instagram pages can be a little too filtered.

2. Tell us how you spend your average working day?

My schedule changes all the time, but I always try and keep a similar routine especially when it comes to eating and training. I start my day with protein and carbs, this will be Vitality nutri-protein oats topped with berries and nuts.. The best way to start the day is with a great super energising breakfast, I then hit the gym for 60- 90 mins, my workouts change daily but I alternate between upper body and lower body.

As my breakfast is really filling I never snack in between, for lunch I'll have chicken veg and sweet potato or tuna steak salad again protein at every meal is super important in the repair of muscles after a big workout.. Mid afternoon I'll snack on berries or nut butter and an apple, if I'm on the go I always carry a protein bar as I know I'll need the extra energy. Peanut crunch from vitality are delicious. For dinner it is usually my smallest meal, I might have sushi or a chicken salad, I really mix it up every day, I usually indulge in some extra deliciousness over the weekend, either saturday or sunday, its important to keep balance.

3. What inspires you?

I take inspiration from everyone, from my family and friends and followers, who support and encourage me every day. I haven't always led a healthy super fit lifestyle, I have had my moments and I know how it can effect your everyday life both physically and mentally.. I believe in being the best version of yourself and my drive is to lead by example..

4. What’s your goal in life?

When I hit it I'll let you know!! But right now, I am constantly setting short term goals and when I hit those I set new goals.. Currently my goal is about being the very best version on myself . I try and promote this to my followers as everyone is different and you shouldn't try to be anyone else but the very best you!

Its about becoming the very best version of yourself, so make yourself proud!

5. What does Wellness mean to you?

For me wellness is actively creating healthy happy habits in life not restrictions. The 'Goal' is not to change who you are but to become better than who you are at your best!! Being happy in yourself is a very personal thing and we do have everything inside to deal with what ever the world may throw at us. You can live a positive healthy happy life and tomorrow you will wish you had started today... so go set some goals and crush them.

6. What advice would you give to a person looking to transform their life?

Have a purpose and have a goal, workout, eat well and be patient, your body will reward you.

Remember Don't stop when it hurts, stop when your done, for if it doesn't challenge you it certainly won't change you. In the beginning it will be hard and when your about to quit, remember why just why you started. Even if you can't see results all the time every little effort and every small change is making a huge difference in your life both inside and out. Its not about becoming someone else, or becoming the person who inspires you its about becoming the very best version of yourself, so make yourself proud!

7. Tell us about your work with 'Vitality'

I have really enjoyed working alongside the Vitality brand, as it fits so well into my lifestyle. Vitality has created delicious nutritious high protein foods for active living. Having tried and tested the products vitality offers, I loved how quick simple and filling each was. I always have protein at every meal and living a pretty hectic lifestyle vitality offers healthy gluten free meal options to keep me going all day long.

I was recently in the media for publishing an image with a very bloated tummy, having been diagnosed with IBS and gluten intolerant, I have to be careful with what I eat. Many products upset my tummy, leaving me bloated and in severe pain, I was so happy I found a high protein product that was easy to make and gluten free. For me, fueling my day with the right foods is most important, I am happy to start my day fuelled with Vitality.

8. Tell us your Top 3 Tips for Wellness?

1. It is never to early or too late to work towards being the healthiest you, so start eating better not less.

2. Push harder than yesterday if you want a different tomorrow, always stay focused on your goals no matter how far they seem away, and please don't use the weekend as an excuse to give up your goals.

3. There is no shortcut, no fad diet, no quick fix, no 7day detox, that will ultimately transform your body, it takes time to build a better, stronger, fitter version of yourself, I know because I have and still continue to do it. So if your looking for a sign to workout and your reading this, go now, this is it!!!

9. So what’s next in your career/life?

In life, I plan on spending a lot more time working from Ireland, there is no place like home. As for my career, I have qualified as a personal trainer so I'm excited to be launching my new website and youtube channel under my name maevemadden.com.

I am also working along side my brother Joe Madden, on his latest short movie " Boat Boy. We begin filming Joes new short movie in Ireland within the next two months and its very excited. I have really been focusing more on acting and will feature in a new Netflix original in November.

To find out more about the Vitality range visit their website HERE

And to find out more about Maeve click here

#Food #Wellness #WellnessGuru