The Muscle Feed

Name: Christina Adler

Nickname(s): Redheadlaw7

Age: 37

Height/Weight: 5’2” 129

Background:

I am a mother to two beautiful girls and wife to the most patient loving man in the world. I am a “recovering attorney” hoping to make some major career changes in the near future.

I was born and raised in Youngstown, Ohio where I was very active in school activities. I lettered in 4 sports including softball, cheerleading, golf, and gymnastics. I graduated as my class valedictorian. From there, I moved on to Kent State University where I received my undergraduate degrees in Political Science and International Relations. For the final two years of my undergraduate studies, I spent most of my time interning in Geneva Switzerland and Washington D.C. I returned to the states and began law school at the University of Notre Dame. I was lucky enough to gain a wide range of work experience after law school. I represented both plaintiffs and defendants but ultimately found my home at a state appellate court where I was employed as a staff attorney for 8 years. After having my second child I gave up my nine to five job to do some freelance writing and editing . But soon after I became clinically depressed and was placed on all kinds of medication. I ended up putting on a ton of weight and my life began to spiral. I found myself drinking too much and shutting out everybody and everything. I found my way back with the help of my family and friends. Probably the most important catalyst to my recovery was my nine year old daughter who really needed her mommy to get better.

After I recovered emotionally and physically I decided that law was no longer my passion. I wanted to help other people who were in a similar position as me to realize that there was hope. I wanted them to know that they too could not only recover from extreme depression but that they could come out in an even better position on the other side. So for the past several months I have been contributing to several fitness and nutrition message boards like www.bodybuilding.com and I also run my own recovery blog , www.redheadlaw7.com where I share my story and provide encouragment and advice to other new moms. Additionally, I moderate on www.moarmuscle.com, an up and coming website with a ton of extremely knowledgeable and helpful members. In addition, I serve as a spokesperson for L G Sciences.

How long have you been training?

I guess it depends on what you consider training. With the exception of the period in my life when I was extremely depressed I have always been a very active and very fit person. I have always been into walking, hiking, and cycling. In the past few years though, I have added in classes like yoga, pilates and bodypump to my exercise regimen. It wasn’t until a few months ago that I realized that I had run into a wall and I wan’t going to get much further without shaking up my routine. So just recently I have begun working with a trainer and he is pushing me harder and further than I thought I could ever take it.

What was your body like before you started training?

Before I started lifting I had a fairly fit body from all of the cycling and classes I was taking but until I started lifting I was probably heading toward being skinny fat.

What keeps you motivated?

I would have to say that all of the encouraging emails and messages I receive from women who are trying to fight their way back from either postpartum weight gain or depression really fuel my fire. Another thing that keeps me going is knowing that I will always be a role model for my two daughters regardless of whether or not I deserve to be. I want them to look at their mommy and see a healthy, happy, women who is full of energy and who is fearless. I want them to see that when you decide to put your mind to it that you can do anything. Yes, that sounds so cliche, but it’s true. I’m actually on a two week trip in Montana with my family right now and it is so exciting to see my girls want to climb up mountains and trudge across rivers. They are so adventurous and are up for anything that seems like a challenge. They want see and try new things and I would love to think that my recovery and new found love of fitness has something to do with that.

Do you get more attention from the guys now that you are in such good shape?

Well I certainly get more attention from my husband! I also get much more attention from all my suburban mommy friends. Everyone wants to know what I’m eating and what type of exercise program I’m doing. I think I may have even inspired some friends to start up a program of their own.

What is the weirdest piece of advice you have heard in the gym?

I’m not sure I’ve actually gotten any advice from anyone else at the gym other than my trainer. However, I doI know that there are a lot of people in my gym who have the mistaken belief that starving yourself and spending hours on the treadmill and eliptical is going to drastically change your appearance. I think all this does is makes you tired and hungry.

What is the one key piece of advice you could pass on to our readers?

I would have to say that you have to have patience and realize that muscle does not magically spring out over night. You have to keep working at it. Not everyone is built the same and no two people are going to respond the exact same way to the same diet and exercise routine. So I guess I would say that you have to stop comparing yourself to other people and keep doing your thing until you find what works best for you.

What is your favorite energy/pre-workout supplement? Protein supplement?

My favorite supplement is LG Sciences Speed V2. My favorite protein supplement is L G Sciences chocolate lipotropic protein.

How many days a week do you work out?

I lift 4 or 5 days a week but I cycle practically every day. We have some fabulous trails where I live and it’s the one part of my day that I look forward to most. I don’t think there’s anything better than jacking up the tunes on my ipod and setting off into the woods for an hour or two.

What kind of workout program do you follow?

I usually will do bodypump classes 3 or 4 times a week and I meet up with my trainer 2 times a week so that he can do all of the spotting for my heavier lifting like sqauts and deadlifts.

Do you believe in workout programs like Insanity or P90X?

Most definitely. I think the idea of muscle confusion and high intensity interval training is wonderful. I think people spend too much time doing long bouts of cardio with little or no results. I know that when I reach anoter plateau these are definitely things I would consider doing to get off the final few pounds.

Who is your favorite bodybuilder, fitness model, and/or athlete?

I have to say that Tiffinay Forni is my biggest inspiration. She lost an incredible amount of weight and is competing on a national level I believe. She is physically stunning but she also has a huge heart and wonderful personality. I frequently visit her bodyspace to see what’s new with her. She just keeps going and going and going!

What is your favorite healthy meal?

I guess this depends on what you consider healthy. I know that I have had great success with a high fat and low carbohydrate and I was eating like a truck driver when I lost most of my weight. So I guess I would say that my favorite keto meal would be crunchy peanut butter mixed with cream cheese, cocoa powder and splenda.

What is your favorite cheat meal?

My favorite cheat meal would involve something fried with lots of salt and cheese. So I guess a huge plate of bacon cheddar fries at my favorite local pub would probably do the job! In a close second would be a cinnamon raisin bagel with a ton of cream cheese and a huge cup of Dunkin Donuts coffee loaded up with cream and sugar.

What is your favorite exercise?

My favorite type of actvity would be mountainbiking and my favorite weight related exercise would be squats.

What is your favorite quote?

If you keep doing what you’ve always done, you’ll keep getting what you’ve always got.

What is that one body part that you just can’t seem to bring up or make it look like you want?

My abs. But I think having seen so many pictures of bodybuilders and fitness models I have set some pretty crazy standards for myself.

What is the best asset of your physique/body?

This would be a toss up between my quads and my biceps.

What are your methods for breaking a plateau?

This may sound crazy but I drop my activity a bit and eat some more. I give my body a break every now and then. This keeps me mentally sane and lets my body recover.

Do you have a special message for our readers?

Go easy on yourself. You are the only person that has to live with you 24-7 and you are probably your own worst critic. Don’t give up because you’ve slipped up with your diet or had a bad day. Find something that you already love about yourself and focus on that. Keep reminding yourself that you are worth having a happy and healthy body and that you deserve to be fit. Don’t look at this journey as a struggle or as a punishment but as a way to nourish and take care of yourself. Keep at it and don’t forget to stop every now and then and give yourself a big pat on the back for whatever you have already done. As I like to say, a journey of a thousand squats starts with one!

Thanks Christina!

Be sure to check out Christina on BodySpace to find out more!