Bikini champ: You can be a fit mom
Adriana Martin is a fitness expert on the Lifetime Channel’s “The Balancing Act,” in which she trains three South Florida women and helps structure their diets as part of “Mission: Makeover.” The season finale is May 20.
Martin performs a similar role on two Spanish- language shows also shot locally: Univision’s “Tu Desayuno Alegre” and Telemundo’s “Un Nuevo Dia.”
In February, Martin, of Plantation, won theNational Physique Committee’s 2012 South Florida Bikini Championship in the over- 30 category. She competed in the bodybuilding event’s new bikini division.
“It’s more like a beauty pageant for women who work out,” she said. “[ Judges] are looking for definition and tone but not the big, lean look.
“Winning the competition is a celebration,” she added. “I turned 35. I had two kids. Tome, you can still be amomand get yourself in shape. Celebrate being a mom and a wife and ‘ still having it.’ ”
Martin’s next competition is in June. Q: Why do you keep fit?
A: The obvious— health, look better— but that’s also my outlet and the way to keep my sanity. And if I’m lacking energy, [ exercising] helps. Yesterday I had a headache and decided to go work out. Then I realized that it didn’t make sense at first, but I did feel better after. I get that natural high from the endorphins. I’m addicted to feeling good.
Q: And you compete in fitness events?
A: I’ve done bodybuilding in the past, took third in a figure championship. And Iwas the overall winner in the 2012 NPC bikini championship for over 30. I do have a tendency to compete, but more with myself. I’m always doing a little better than yesterday.
Q: What’s your workout routine?
A: I don’t do the same thing every day. Your body is meant to move, so I like tomove it in different angles. For the NPC, Iwas doing cardio in the morning on an empty stomach five or six days a week, then weightlifting around 12: 30.
For cardio, I’m in the fat- burning zone, but nothing too crazy where I can’t breathe. [ I go to] 70 to 80 percent ofmy heart rate on the StairMaster for 30 to 45 minutes. I read a book and listen to reggaeton. For weightlifting, I do lower body onMonday and then core the next day. Third day is back, biceps and shoulders. And then on the fourth day, I do chest and triceps. And then I repeat.
I go by how my body reacts to change. Some weeks I’m more focused on hamstrings, for example. That’s the beauty of body sculpting, it’s like playing with clay. But here you get to play with your muscles and tissues and body fat.
Q: Did you work out during your pregnancies? And how soon did you resume after each birth?
A: My daughter is 2 andmy son is 6. My first pregnancy, Iwas younger. Iwas about proving to myself I could be healthy and pregnant. I exercised until the ninth month, gained only19 pounds. After the birth, Iwas right back to my weight right away. Iwas teaching kick boxing class three and a half weeks later.
Then my second pregnancy, I was thinking, “Whatwas I thinking? I just want to be a pregnant mom.” Iwanted to experience the difference of notworking out but sitting around, eating ice cream. Gained double the weight. After the birth, it took five to six months to get back.
Q: Doyou have a personal fitness motto or philosophy?
A:[ My friends] and I joke around, we say, “Your workout is my warm- up.”
Q: What’s your typical daily diet?
A: I’m a vegetarian. It’s a big challenge being vegetarian and competing, not being able to get animal protein. I eat a lot of Boca Burgers and meatless burger patties, but they have high sodium.
I havemany meals. Early morning, protein shake with protein powder and oatmeal andwater. Then I can have Greek yogurt three hours later. Then a Boca Burger or meatless patty with sweet potato. And then green vegetables— broccoli and edamame. Every meal is three hours apart. And then I can have a milkshake with almond milk and raw peanut butter. Maybe add protein powder. At night, I might eat tofu with vegetables.
Q: Is it tough to prepare meals for your family?
A: It’s very tough. One of the reasons that inspired me to compete is to prove tomyself that I can do it and still be a good mom. We sit down for dinner every night. My husband is Cuban so he likes to eat well, having that home- cooked meal. I sit down with my separate meal, but they’re all very healthy meals. However, I made a point to tell my kids and family not to pay formy eating. They can eat anything they want. They’re kids. If you tell them, “don’t do this,” they’ll want to leave the house and do it elsewhere. If they want a piece of cake, that’s fine. But obviously they have to eat that piece of vegetable first! Q: Ever cheat on your diet?
A: Yes. Cheesecake. You have to live life a little. But my cheat is rare, not weekly even. Q: What do you drink?
A: A lot of water. And I’m a coffee lover. Black but with Stevia.
Q: Take any vitamins or sports nutrition products?
A: I take a lot of supplements. Coconut oil. Flaxseed oil. Amino acids. I take glucosamine formy joints. A multivitamin. Omega 3, 6 and 9.