Refresh magazine december 2016 UK

Angelique
van Oijen
' A change
in behaviour
is the key
to success.'
Cooking up: Weight consultant Angelique van Oijen on energy
Food and nutrition are often discussed on the internet and
on TV, in newspapers and magazines. But it's not just in the
media. People themselves also talk about it a lot and are always
thinking about it. There seems to be no getting away from it.
When it comes to nutrition and weight loss, people jump on
one bandwagon after another. It's like a vicious circle.
And in most cases, a breakthrough can only be achieved by a
change in behaviour, a change in lifestyle. Angelique van Oijen
is a weight consultant who helps otherwise healthy people
who wish to gain or lose weight and people who would like
more energy. She often focuses on getting them to change
their behaviour.
Nutrition over sport
As an avid sportswoman, it wasn't
surprising when Angelique van Oijen
started working as a sports instructor
12 years after the birth of her youngest
child. She then trained as a weight
consultant and now finds it more
enjoyable, not to mention more
interesting, to focus on nutrition.
However, she still trains a running
group and people who are preparing
for marathons and also provides sports
nutrition advice.
Disappointing trends
'I know what forms a healthy foundation and I'm good at evaluating trends', says
Angelique. 'However, the average consumer doesn't have the same knowledge and
tends to fall for gurus and hypes. And hypes come along all the time: dairy products,
carbs, sugar, raw food, fats, meat, the list goes on. We like to follow the gurus.
People see photos and videos of attractive people on website or in magazines and
decide to follow a similar diet. Although they often lose weight at first, as time goes
by people tend to slip back into old habits. Then they will jump on a new bandwagon,
full of enthusiasm. I can always rely on my basic knowledge and see what has been
scientifically proven. I work with my clients to change their behaviour. The psychological
aspect is very interesting to me and I consider it the key to success. You can tell people
what constitutes a healthy diet and a healthy lifestyle, but many people just won't follow
your advice. As a result, it's better to focus on fundamental changes and to help them
make the transition.'
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