FITNESS. FASHION. FOOD.
FIFTY, FIT, AND FABULOUS!
By Nikeh Gray
If you picture a fitness blogger, do you envision a young and muscular man or woman, giving tips, advice and fitness challenges? Breaking new ground, Maryann Onyeaka, lover of all things sports and fitness, is steadily approaching her 50th birthday. To celebrate the milestone, she has recently launched her blog Young Fifties, a dynamic blog that discusses age and her personal fitness regime.
You could only be forgiven for mistakenly thinking Maryann Onyeaka is somewhere in her 30’s. She is familiar with looks of “shock and horror” when she reveals to new people that she has two daughters: one is 18, while the other is turn 30 in August.
Maryann, 49, who works as a Family Engagement Worker for Islington Council’s Childrens Services, will hit the big 5 0 in July. Whilst she attributes her youthful glow to good genetics, her healthy, active lifestyle also plays an important role.
Dance, football, basketball, cricket, badminton, you name it; Maryann has done it at some point in her life. Her daily source of exercise comes in the form of a strong bond between her and her bike.
“I’ve been cycling consistently for the last 13 years. I hate public transport. For me it’s a win-win situation; it’s the efficiency of the bike, it saves you time, you’re getting your fitness in, and you save on money as well,” she says.
For daughter Chloe Onyeaka, 18, bike rides with her mum during childhood were frequent, providing “mother and daughter bonding time”.
“It was fun, I always loved riding with my mum. She even used to take me to school on her bike, everyday, up a hill.
“Even if something happened to it, she would make sure it was fixed the next day,” says Chloe.
Adopting her mum’s enthusiasm for sports, Chloe has taken part in gymnastics, cheerleading and trampolining, to name a few. Their active lifestyle didn’t go unrecognised, as both mother and daughter graced the pages of Heatwave in 2006 – a local sports and leisure magazine.
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Now in adulthood, Chloe admits her dedication to an active lifestyle has dwindled in comparison to her mum, who has been a devoted gym goer for more than 20 years.
Waking up at 4.30am to visit the gym three to four times a week, Maryann enjoys intense cardio workouts such as executing cycling HITS (high intensity training), synonymous with professional athletes, along with classes like zumba.
“Endorphins are my drug,” she says. “Once I’m in the gym it’s focus time. All I need is my music; a good beat to keep the momentum going and I’m in a happy place.
“You can’t get anything more natural than when those endorphins run through your blood.
Her active lifestyle works in conjunction with a healthy diet. A lover of fruit, steamed vegetables, water and her juicing machine, fizzy drinks are not on the menu for Maryann.
Chloe Onyeaka (left), Maryann Onyeaka (right)
You have to make sure you have your intake of fruit and vegetables, have a pattern where you take in your five-a-day.
“I eat a varied diet, a bit of fish, a bit of meat, lots of water and I watch my portion sizes.”
“I’m living my best life at the moment and that would be partly because of how active I am.”
Despite her blog being named ‘Young Fifties’, Maryann says her writing contains valuable information for virtually anybody.
“I wouldn’t say it’s for older people, because the young will grow old too, so I hope they can take any tips or inspiration from the blog.”
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