Melinda Vaspal, Fitness Instructor

  • 7 Mar 2016 11:00 AM
Melinda Vaspal, Fitness Instructor
Wellbeing and healthy eating have always been crucial in my life. I suffered for more than ten years with PCO syndrome. Doctors told that having a baby, either naturally, or with their assistance, would be very difficult, if not impossible to me.



I tried several diet trends and sports techniques in an attempt to balance my hormones and heal my ovaries, but nothing worked—until five years ago, when I discovered the solution. I worked during 2 years on myself, than finally the blood test showed that I went the right way.

Today, I'm a contented mother of a sixteen-month-old healthy daughter. During my search for a solution to my problem, I realized that there are general truths regarding eating, but most importantly, I discovered that the key to good health is to personalize one’s diet. Also, with regard to sports, it is true that exercise is part of a healthy lifestyle, but not all movements support the endocrine system. Balancing the endocrine system is basically the secret to obtaining a lean body, losing weight, and actually being fit—not just looking fit.

1. Where did you grow up?
I was born in a small town in Transylvania (Romania), called Dicsőszentmárton. Lived there with my family until graduating high school, then moved (alone) to Piliscsaba and Budapest for university studies and started life here in Hungary.

2. If you could be an expat anywhere in the world, where would you choose?
I am already an expat (kind of) though my mother language is hungarian, but if I should choose another country I would probably go for Italy.

3. What would you miss most if you moved away from Hungary?
Speaking in Hungarian with the waiter in a restaurant.

4. Friends are in Budapest for a weekend - what must they absolutely see and do?
Visit the castle area, Váci utca, have a walk on the Danube Promenade, taste the night life in the jewish district.

5. What is your favourite food?
Salads and the foie gras of course.

6. What is your favourite sport / form of exercise?
As a fitness instructor I should say fitness but what I really love is what I do and teach: functional training. (re)Learning the basic movement patterns for your body, strengthening the core muscles and balancing the equilibrium, which leads toward the development of more complex movement patterns. Total Body Balance (my class) is a carefully structured training /exercise plan that not only strengthens your body, but it builds your muscle mass, increases your endurance and flexibility, and supports the endocrine and nervous system. We use our own body weight, kettlebell, plyometric box, pull-up bar, medicine ball, suspended tools, unstable devices, etc.
This special workout plan takes advantage of your body the way your body was designed - in its entirety.

7. What is your favourite place in Hungary?
Definitely Budapest. Really love this gorgeous city.

8. What career other than yours would you love to pursue?
I love what I do...I think I could also imagine myself with a carrer in television.

9. What’s a job you would definitely never want?
I already was for a short time, so I know that I'm definitely bad as a sales person.

10. Where did you spend your last vacation?

In Opatija, Croatia. We have very nice memories from there.

11. Where do you hope to spend your next one?
In my favourite country, somewhere in Italy.

12. What was your favourite band, film, or hobby as a teen?
All time favourites: Madonna, Beverly Hills 90210 and Sex and the City.

13. Apart of temptation what can’t you resist?
I'm probably addicted to my phone.

14. Red wine or white?
Red.

15. Book or movie?
Both: depends on my mood.

16. Morning person or night person?
Definitely morning person.

17. Which social issue do you feel most strongly about?
Obesity and poverty.

18. Buda or Pest side?
Pest: I prefer the vibrating choices this side of the river offers.

19. Which achievement in your life are you most pleased about?
Definitely my pretty sweet babygirl. I'm very happy that I didn't listen to anybody proposing to follow traditional medicine to heal my disease (polycystic ovary syndrome and very high testosterone level). I belived in myself and the new lifestyle choices (diet and sport) and time proved me. I got pregnant naturally (which was almost impossible according to medical opinion), I had a healthy pregnancy and gave birth to the most gorgeous babygirl.

20. What would you say is your personal motto?
Belive in yourself, no matter what they say.

  • How does this interview make you feel?