Today we’d like to introduce you to Chioma Aladume
Hi Chioma, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Hi my name is Chioma aka “Chiomzyy” and I’m an online Fat Loss Dietitian as well as a professional dancer and dance instructor, mostly specializing in Afro dance. My story has two parts, but I’ll start with part 2 (working backwards here), which is my journey to becoming a Registered Dietitian/personal trainer and founding Dumé Fitness.
To be quite honest, when I started college at Baylor University in August of 2016, I had no idea what a dietitian was, hadn’t even heard of it. At this point I was a Nutrition Sciences major with a secondary major in theatre arts (that’s a whole other story), and on the track we all know and love so well, the pre-med track. I was going to be a dermatologist! Or so I thought. Let’s be for real, I didn’t want to be a doctor. By the end of my first semester freshman year, my advisor had introduced me to the pre-dietetic track which began me on a journey I never would have thought I would take. I graduated university, matched into a dietetic internship and completed it (back at Baylor nonetheless), sat for the RD board exam and passed on the first attempt (phew) and completed my Master’s in Nutrition Sciences. I landed my first big girl job as a pediatric dietitian at Texas Children’s Hospital, and then went on to take another job as a Spinal Cord Injury clinical dietitian (which I currently do full time). I’m leaving sooo many details out but all I can say is God! This journey has only been by his everlasting grace let me tell you! I look around sometimes and I’m like wow, we really did it. In the midst of all this I grew a love for nutrition, health and fitness and decided to get certified as a personal trainer. I went on my own weight loss journey where I lost 30 lbs, and built muscle to not only sculpt and shape my physique, but to promote a more healthy me. Through the years I’ve developed a desire to take what I had learned and help other women set up a more solid and holistic foundation for losing fat, ditching yo-yo dieting, and tackling their health. Thus, Dumé Fitness was born.
Now, where were we? Oh yes, let’s go back:
Part 1 begins my dance journey. I first began dancing in the church when I was 11 years old. Me and my friends would perform hip hop choreography to Christian rap music. We thought we were eating! (and was). From there, I joined my first official dance team in 8th grade, the “Renegades”. We performed at all the football and basketball games, it was kind of like an introduction to what a drill team would be. In high school I joined the illustrious Victory Vipers and was placed on the Senior competitive hip hop team dubbed by the name “Stellar”. I did this for all four years of high school and we traveled all over to compete; from the NRG stadium in Houston, to NDA in Dallas, Galveston at Moody Gardens, and the most awaited competition of all each year was the “Worlds” competition taking place at Disney World every spring. My last year on the team , my Senior year, we placed top 5, and that was HUGE. After I graduated the team went on to win more titles at Worlds which I was and still am so proud of. In the midst of all this I was also a part of the African Student Association at George Ranch High School which, of course, afforded me some opportunities to perform and get more into Afro dance. Me and some of my friends would even perform at Weddings or gatherings from time to time.
As I entered college at Baylor University, I made a beeline for the African Student Association and joined their dance team without hesitation! Before I knew it, I became the Dance coordinator my sophomore year. That was my first time coordinating dance on such a large scale, 50 people! We went on to place 3rd at ASA Weekend in the Fall of 2017, and oh what a proud and joyful moment that was. To this day we still joke that we were cheated out of 1st place haha.
During my time in college I’d also begun to take afro dance classes hosted by Afrirock in Houston at soundbox studios whenever I could. I believe 2018 was the year I first began to take paid gigs, and they were very sporadic. That was also the year I had my first ever Afro dance class. Despite all this I ended up taking an unplanned hiatus from dance from 2020 to January of 2023. It was so bad that I had people asking me “Do you still dance??” That’s when I knew it was time to lock in.
Fast forward to 2025 and I’ve taught consecutive sold out Afro dance classes in Houston. Big shoutout to Afrirock because I couldn’t have done it without them! I’m an official dancer for the Igbo cultural dance group “Igwe Cultural”, performing at multiple weddings and birthdays all over the country, and I’ve performed with artists like Fally Ipupa, Toofan, King promise, Odumodu Black, and more. So much has happened over the past 16 years and I can only thank the Lord for his guidance, mercies and blessings. But honestly, I’m just getting started.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. My first time applying for dietetic internships, I didn’t match first round. I remember being so discouraged, but God still made a way for me, and here I am today. Never give up!
As for dance, it can be a constant battle of comparison, feeling inadequate and second guessing oneself. But one thing that I have learned, and am still learning, is that I have an audience of one; myself, and the Lord…so more like two but you get the idea. This mindset has allowed me to push past my own boundaries, and even boundaries set by others over me, in order to bear fruit to the creativity and ideas that I’ve been blessed with in my mind. And trust me, it can still be an uphill battle, but it’s all part of the process.
As you know, we’re big fans of Dumé Fitness. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
At Dumé Fitness, I help busy working women shed stubborn fat through a sustainable and personalized approach, finally regaining their confidence, breaking through plateaus, and reclaiming their health. I recently launched the “Whole Body Health” program which focuses on laying strong foundations for fruitful weight loss.
The program is delivered through 1 on 1 online coaching and does include a group component for effectual and continuous accountability!
I also offer the chance to receive a free nutrition report, where I’ll tell you exactly what’s holding you back from seeing your goals come to life. If you’re reading this and what I described above sounds like you, go ahead and head to @dumefitness on Instagram and click the link in my bio to get your free report card!
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
My top app would have to be the Bible app of course. The Word of God has so much practical knowledge, don’t sleep! Some other apps would include LoseIt for tracking my calories and macros, pinterest for inspiration and creating idea boards, and CAVA (gotta get those points! My favorite podcast right now would have to be “The Deep End with Taylor Welch”
Pricing:
- Beginner Afro Dance class on April 10th: $15
- Intermediate/Advanced Afro dance class on April 10th: $20
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dumefitness.my.canva.site/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chichialadume/profilecard/
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/dumefitness/profilecard/
Image Credits
@shotbyolash
