How to Stay Fit & Healthy as a Mom: An interview with Roma van der Walt, a Professional Athlete and Maternal Mental Health Advocate

The Global Citizen Therapy Podcast

In this episode, I chat with Roma van der Walt, a former professional athlete and the founder of More Than Mom, a platform that supports moms in their fitness and wellness journey. Roma Van Der Walt is also the founder of Vitelle, a women’s metabolic health and longevity start-up focused on female bodies. She spent almost a decade as a professional athlete, representing Germany in the Modern Pentathlon before transitioning to a public servant role within the United Nations in NY. Her maternal health training method and community helped over 1000 parents. She has coached hundreds of athletes in distance running, led women through challenging health conditions and partnered with organisations, institutions and companies to improve approaches and outcomes for women at all stages of their life.

In this episode we talk about the challenges she faced with medical racism, the problems with our current health system and how they impact women especially during perimenopause and menoupause, her cultural background and upbringing, her own mental health journey, and why she is passionate about empowering women to take care of their reproductive health and mental health. Roma also shares some practical tips on how to prepare for childbirth and postpartum. Whether you are a mom or not, you will find this conversation inspiring and insightful. Tune in and enjoy!

Summary:

Stigma around mental illness and women's health 10:23

Medical racism 13:17

Maternal mortality 19:59

Owning your cultural identity 41:01

Things you learn in therapy 50:02

You can learn more about Roma's amazing work and connect with her here:

Vitelle

Roma van der Walt (@romavanderwalt) • Instagram photos and videos

(22) Roma (Ndolo) Van der Walt | LinkedIn

If you've been looking for a culturally-sensitive and trauma-informed therapist who specializes in helping women of color who are daughters of immigrants, you can schedule a consultation call with me here: https://bookme.name/globalcitizentherapy/consultation-call

Join me for "Love Beyond Expectations: Empowering Immigrant Daughters in Dating and Relationships," a workshop I am hosting with Dr. Pauline Peck for FREE this week in honor of BIPOC Mental Health Month. Sign up here.