Oti Mabuse, the celebrated dancer and former Strictly Come Dancing star, is known not only for her incredible talent but also for her refreshing honesty and relatable approach to life. From her views on body image and motherhood to her successful career, Oti has always been open with her fans. In a recent interview, she shared her evolving relationship with food, nutrition, and fitness, offering insights into how she’s learned to ditch the guilt and embrace a healthier, more balanced approach to eating.
From Restriction to Freedom: Oti’s Food Journey
Oti’s journey with food hasn’t always been easy. Entering the dance world at a young age, she was exposed to a culture where being thin was often prioritized above all else. This environment created a challenging relationship with food, where guilt and restriction often overshadowed enjoyment and nourishment.
The Early Years: A Focus on Results
“It was never about supplementing. It was never about drinking enough water. It was never about getting enough vegetables in you. It wasn’t really about what I put into my body – it was just about the results,” Oti explained. The emphasis was on restricting food intake rather than focusing on fueling the body for optimal performance and overall health. This mindset led to a disconnect between food and nutrition, making it difficult for Oti to view food as anything other than a source of potential guilt.
The Shift: Food as Fuel
Over time, Oti began to reframe her perspective on food, recognizing its importance as fuel for her body and mind. This shift involved separating food from her emotions and understanding its role in supporting her demanding career and active lifestyle.
What Oti Eats Now: A Day of Delicious Nourishment
So, what does Oti Mabuse eat in a day now that she’s embraced a more balanced approach to food? Here’s a glimpse into her current eating habits:
A Family Affair: Breakfast of Champions
Oti cherishes her mornings, especially breakfast with her one-year-old daughter. A typical breakfast includes:
- Eggs with sausage
- A croissant (a particular favorite of her daughter)
- Yoghurt with a little jam
- Chia and flax seeds
This balanced meal provides protein, carbohydrates, and healthy fats to fuel their morning activities.
Embracing the Keto Lifestyle
At one point, Oti followed the Keto diet, a very low-carb, high-fat eating plan. She was introduced to it by her former Strictly dance partner, Bill Bailey. On the Keto diet, the body enters a state of “ketosis,” where it burns fat for fuel instead of carbohydrates. A typical Keto lunch would include foods like meat, fish (such as salmon or tuna), green vegetables, nuts and seeds, and cheese. Oti felt that this diet made her feel “much better” about herself.
Listening to Her Body
Oti emphasizes the importance of listening to her body’s needs and cravings. She avoids strict restrictions and allows herself to enjoy a variety of foods in moderation. “I feel like if my body wants something, I should give it that,” she once said. This intuitive approach to eating helps her maintain a healthy relationship with food and avoid feelings of deprivation.
Supplements for Support
To ensure she’s getting all the necessary nutrients, Oti takes vitamins and minerals like magnesium, iron, parsley, and omega-3. These supplements help support her muscle memory, energy levels, and brain function, especially during demanding training periods.
Oti’s Fitness Philosophy: Balance and Enjoyment
In addition to her approach to food, Oti also prioritizes a balanced and enjoyable fitness routine. She understands the importance of staying active for both physical and mental well-being, but she also emphasizes the need to find activities that she genuinely enjoys.
Variety is Key
Oti incorporates a variety of workouts into her routine, including:
- High-intensity interval training (HIIT)
- Treadmill workouts
- Assault bike sessions
- Squats
- Weight training
- Functional training
This diverse approach keeps her workouts engaging and prevents boredom.
Morning Person
Oti is “definitely a morning person” and has the “most energy and positivity in the morning”. When she is not training for Strictly, she starts her day around noon. When she wakes up, she eases into the day, “taking my time and still adjusting to real time”.
Working Out with Friends
Oti loves to work out with friends. She says that she loves to work out with her friends Gorka and Karen, doing it online.
Dancing as Exercise
Of course, dancing plays a significant role in Oti’s fitness regime. As a professional dancer, she spends hours rehearsing and performing, which provides a fantastic workout. Dancing not only improves her physical fitness but also brings her joy and allows her to express herself creatively.
Listening to Her Body
Just like with food, Oti listens to her body when it comes to exercise. She creates her own routines and schedules, choosing exercises that she feels like doing and will enjoy. This intuitive approach helps her stay motivated and avoid burnout.
Body Image and Self-Acceptance: Oti’s Powerful Message
Oti Mabuse has been open about the body shaming she has experienced. She has faced criticism about her weight, which she found difficult. She said that her weight gain “wasn’t actually my fault, it was me getting over a weight problem”. She stated, “It was me actually not starving myself, not being on laxatives, not smoking, being a vegan. It was actually me being healthy for the first time and I really struggled being like, ‘why are people calling me fat?'”
“Actually, this is the healthiest I’ve ever been. I was underweight, I didn’t get my period for months. I didn’t eat, we would dance all day, we would drink but we wouldn’t eat. My ribs were sticking out. And back in those days it was like, ‘Oh, she’s amazing, she’s got a nice body’ but I was like, ‘No, but this is me being healthy.'”
Oti’s story highlights the importance of body positivity and self-acceptance. She encourages women to feel comfortable in their own skin and to reject unrealistic beauty standards.
Overcoming Career Challenges
In a conversation with celebrity relationship coach Paul Carrick Brunson, Oti revealed the toll that Strictly Come Dancing took on her marriage. She became fixated on winning and emotionally detached from her husband. “[Strictly] is all you think about 24/7,” she admitted. “It’s all you do. You’re on tour, you’re doing other Strictly-associated shows. You’re not really 100 per cent in the marriage, because this is gold. The trophy is handmade, by the way, and you’re fixated on it.” She said that she stopped communicating with her closest friends and family during the opening years of the show.
Her husband, Marius Lepure, said that he understood the demands of the show because he also works in the dancing industry. “I’m in that business. I knew what it takes to be a successful dancer and choreographer in a show like that, so it was nothing new. But obviously it’s tough and it hurts and it’s not the easiest time but you see the end of the tunnel.”
Oti eventually won the glitterball trophy twice, with Kelvin Fletcher in 2019 and with Bill Bailey in 2020.
Tips for a Guilt-Free Relationship with Food
Inspired by Oti Mabuse’s journey, here are some tips for developing a healthier, guilt-free relationship with food:
- Listen to Your Body: Pay attention to your hunger and fullness cues. Eat when you’re hungry and stop when you’re satisfied.
- Reject Restrictive Diets: Avoid diets that eliminate entire food groups or promote extreme calorie restriction.
- Focus on Nourishment: Prioritize whole, unprocessed foods that provide essential nutrients for your body and mind.
- Practice Mindful Eating: Savor each bite and pay attention to the flavors and textures of your food.
- Ditch the Guilt: Allow yourself to enjoy your favorite treats in moderation without feeling guilty.
- Seek Support: If you’re struggling with your relationship with food, consider seeking guidance from a registered dietitian or therapist.
Oti Mabuse’s journey is a testament to the power of self-acceptance, balance, and a healthy relationship with food. By ditching the guilt and embracing a more intuitive approach to eating and exercise, she has found a way to nourish her body and mind while living a fulfilling and joyful life.
