Meet Monique Wiltz | Certified Nutritionist, Fitness Instructor, and Educator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Monique Wiltz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Monique, how has your work-life balance changed over time?
My work life balance has changed a lot. I was the 5am fitness instructor who worked a 12-hour day after teaching my classes, went home, slept and did it all over again for years. I thought the more I worked out the healthier I would look and feel. The reality was that my life had no balance. I spent way too much time in the gym, and did not focus on my true talent and passion – helping others find a balance of physical, mental, and emotional health. Over time I realized that it isn’t about the time in your days but rather the days you spend in time. You have to make each day count so that means getting a balance of physical, mental, and emotional well-being. I now spend my days making my workouts and nutrition work around my lifestyle. I say yes to the cake, yes to the vacation, yes to the lazy Netflix days, yes to more family time, and yes to pursuing my passion of helping others find the same balance through the LiveMoFit community. I am a lover of quotes and Mark Twain has one of my favorites that says “Take the road less traveled by and it makes all the difference.” I think of my work life balance in that way. I help people take that road to a healthier lifestyle that is longer, less traveled but will make a generational change. The hollistic approach to view food as fuel, movement as motivation, and that self-care is not selfish is how I think of balance and help others to do that same.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
My career in education started in 2008 as a high school chemistry teacher. I would have never thought that I would find a passion for helping students through my love for science. Teaching was not easy! I learned so much about myself, and that I had a love for teaching – and a gift! I overcame many challenges over the years such as finding the balance of doing two things I truly enjoy – education and health! In my current role as an administrator at a university, I realized that my passion for health and for helping educators could be reached by teaching them what I have learned through being a fitness instructor and nutritionist. This gave me the motivation to start my LiveMoFit wellness workshops. Now I use what I have learned and practiced for years in my own life to help other educators. I currently conduct workshops for a local community college. I want the world to know that a healthy lifestyle starts with educating yourself and knowing you are worth it. It starts with the desire to make a change and spread that knowledge to others. We live in a world of “be more = do more” and that is not the reality for everyone. What sets me apart is that I help you develop positive, life-changing habits that affect your physical, mental, and emotional well being because that is how we become our best self. One of the best lessons I have learned along this journey is that when I fill up my cup, it overflows for others. If you are passionate and genuine in your desire to help others your business will thrive. My brand is who I am; wife, mom, educator, friend, aunt, sister, and neighbor.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Houston is such a fun city! I love to eat which is also why I love to cook and study so much about food. I would start with a Houston staple like Harry’s restaurant for breakfast as they have some of the best pickled veggies and pupusas. I love eating out at places with foods I do not know how to cook at home! After breakfast we would walk off some calories at the Galleria, it is a must see and I know my best friend likes to shop!

Lunches Some of my favorite spots for lunch is Sweet Greens, Central market salads, Barnabys Cafe. I would want to keep it light and fresh for lunch because I want to indulge for dinner. Sweet Greens has many locations but I love the one in rice village where we can do a bit more shopping and walking,

I would take her to the beautiful spaces in Herman Park, run some miles at Memorial Park, catch a show at the Hobby theater, and enjoy a girls day retreat at Hotel Zaza.

Dinner: This would be a tough choice but Traveler’s table would be my restaurant of choice for the evening. They have such a wide array of international cuisine and a great selection of cocktails.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I would like to dedicate my shoutout to my late mother, Kathleen Ford Irving. My mom was always my cheerleader. She had a saying that went “If you look good, you feel good.” She always told me to put on some lipstick, hold my head up high, and smile. She constantly reminded me to be confident and to work hard. She was also the first and best cook I have ever had in my life, and her influence has made me the mom, daughter, friend, wife, and child of God that I am today.

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Image Credits
@photoglow_photograpy – Gloria Wallace