CSM Game-Changer Issue with Cristiano Ronaldo 2019 GAME-CHANGER ISSUE - Heather Blackburn | Page 136

ON FITNESS AND ON HEALTHY LIFESTYLE CSM: How do you keep yourself educated or updated for latest trends and information in healthy living or lifestyle? MARTIN: I primarily listen to podcasts, read books and follow certain game changing individ- uals on social media who I learn a lot from. Also I am constantly experimenting with my own body and learning more and more in terms of master- ing my own body. CSM: How important is food and nutrition to you as a model, athlete or as an individual? MARTIN: Nutrition is absolutely paramount when it comes to overall wellness, being a mod- el, maintaining an admirable physique and ev- erything in between! What you choose to put into your body will literally determine who you become, when you fuel your body with natural whole foods, you are nourishing your mind and body which will lead to massive success down the line. CSM: Describe the essential skills to be effec- tive in maintaining your figure or shape. MARTIN: You need to learn as much as you can about nutrition, but also you must learn how to train properly and lift weights with good tech- nique in order to yield maximum results with your physique. Also you need to master the art of discipline, patience and consistency as men- tioned earlier in the interview. CSM: What are your ideas about non-organic food versus organic? MARTIN: I eat organic foods roughly 70% of the time, especially when it comes to fruit, veg- etables and animal products. You need to be mindful with non-organic food sources because there are lots of studies coming out showing the effects of pesticides, herbicides etc. on our body in terms of our gut, mind and hormones. How- ever the most important thing is you eat plenty of vegetables and healthy foods before you start worrying about organic food sources. CSM: What are your views on an all-meat diet versus a vegan diet? MARTIN: In terms of the full vegan or carnivore diet, none of these diets are going to be optimal for most people long term. There are a few people who may benefit from these diets but in my eyes at least 90% of people should eat an omnivore diet which consists of at least 80% healthy foods, we evolved this way and the diets mentioned above have been proven to be not ideal long term for most people due to nutrient deficiencies. CSM: Do you think customized meal plans are really necessary? Why is that? MARTIN: Customized meal plans can work for some people, but meal plans in general do not work for the majority of people long term, it is much more important to learn about managing your calorie intake, and eating intuitively based on what your body needs rather than following a restrictive meal plan. CSM: Any fitness goals for yourself? What are you aiming now? MARTIN: I may potentially be competing in Oc- tober for the first time in over 3 years on the pro stage, so I am trying to build some more muscle and work on my weak areas. Also I am constantly working on my mobility so I can move better and mitigate any damage on my body. CSM: There are a lot of online coaches and lifestyle advisers out in the market already, what are the factors that people should take into consideration when hiring a personal trainer or online coaches or maybe investing some time and money to them? MARTIN: Personally I think as an online coach, you have no place coaching anyone online unless you have actually coached people one to one in real life, ie as a personal trainer. I have trained well over a thousand people as a personal train- er and it is still hard coaching people online be- cause you know nothing about how there body moves etc. in the physical form. I would say to look at the coach’s track record in training real people before you hire them in most cases. CSM: As a fitness and health enthusiast, what are the essential exercises you have to do? Why is that? MARTIN: The essential exercises I have to do are squats, deadlifts, pull ups, overhead press, bench press, and any exercises for calves. These are the most important for me although I work ev- ery body part, also I need to do my mobility drills for my shoulders, trunk and hips every morning and before training. CSM: Do you have any gym etiquette advice for other people? MARTIN: Yes take a towel into the gym with you because hygiene is essential!