Namita Nayyar:
In 2017, you gave birth to a beautiful daughter and returned to competition in 2018 striking bronze at the Mediterranean Games. How do you feel about this incredible comeback? Share your prenatal fitness routine?
Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou:
My daughter is my world, my power and inspiration! Before I became pregnant I had planned that I would return to competitive sports. That been said, I was careful during my pregnancy and followed a strict diet, while I actually never lost contact with some kind of fitness routine and exercises, until the 7th month. My training schedule included 4 light training sessions per week in the local gym. We focused to minimise loses on physical condition. Of course my coach was in close contact with my doctor in order to be sure our workouts to be on the safe side.
I feel great about my “come back” among the best pole-vaulters for 2018. So far I have jumped 4.72m but the season is not over yet and I believe the best is yet to come!
Namita Nayyar:
After embracing motherhood, what challenges did you face regarding your fitness levels and how were you able to overcome them?
Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou:
During my pregnancy I added 11 Kg, while with the birth of my little princes I lost immediately 8 kg of them. I was breastfeeding my daughter for the next 3 months, so I had to eat for two! After those 3 months I was able to follow a more strict diet, protein based, and lose the remaining extra weight I had. After the first 40 days I started, progressively, again to perform light workouts like 4 times per week for the first 2 months. The target was to get back in shape. Here I need to say that due to my background of 15 years of training, my body has a memory and getting back in shape was not the hardest thing to accomplish.
Namita Nayyar:
To perform your best you need to fuel your body well too, what according to you should comprise a healthy breakfast meal? Also, what snacks do you like to munch on during or post training?
Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou:
My breakfast choice is a high in dietary fibers meal (like cereals, mostly oats) and to combine that with a whey protein shake. I follow my nutritionist advice to keep my breakfast with a low glycemic index score (the cereals), which will help me to combat food cravings during the day and maintain a healthy weight. In addition, the whey protein shake will give my body the amounts of essential amino acids, helping to promote lean muscle development.
Namita Nayyar:
Your biggest pole vault inspiration?
Nikoleta Kyriakopoulou:
My inspiration is… me in 3 years!! I have a dream and I chase and get inspirited by myself in that dream for what I will have been able to accomplish, in my way, with my efforts during my sporting life adventure!
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