The model has been working since the late 90s and if you’re one of the 11. 5 million people who follow her every pose and (boxing) punch on Instagram, you will know that the supermodel knows how to shut down a runway and a workout with equal force.
Few people can testisfy to having the level of staying power that Adriana Lima has had.
Now everyone’s ‘gym inspo’ has aptly become Puma’s international training ambassador, adding to a CV so heavy only the fitness queen herself could physically lift it.
Here, taking a break from shooting her new Puma campaign, Adriana Lima talks about being the badass fearless female she is, the lessons she wants to teach her daughters and how hitting the gym gives her the inner strength she needs…
I am such a fan of Puma because of how they represent women…
I am very athletic, I have an athletic mindset so I am passionate about working out and fitness. I have been a fan of Puma for many years because of how they represent women, what they stand for and how they inspire women by providing apparel and shoes so they can reach their own goals in a fashion forward way. I have seen the upcoming collection and I have been able to use everything before everyone and it’s so fun.
I am the type of person who puts everything on, I go to the gym and figure out the best shoe for boxing, the best bra top for lifting weights, the list goes on. I am just a big fan of the brand, in my head I have always thought of myself as a Puma woman so it’s a great thing we have partnered up. To be next to Cara Delevingne and Usain Bolt – are you kidding me? I am right next to him as one of the ambassadors, it’s quite an honour!
All the sweat in the campaign is my own – I want to show the reality…
I believe in advertising that people want to feel related to you as a human. What I always stand for through my work is that I like to show reality, what is real. For instance, over the last few days, shooting for Puma, everything that you see in the campaign is real, I go out there and I am working out for real. The sweat you are going to see is real, it’s not a set up. I believe Puma wants to empower women to stretch and reach their goals whatever they are and whatever that takes whether that is through being fashionable or feeling good about themselves.
Every time I hit the gym, I find an inner strength…
I have my favourite Puma piece for every occasion but every time I put on my favoruite leggings and sports bra and I go the gym, I feel empowered. I leave the house and do what I love, I am always up for a challenge. Every time I hit the gym, I find an inner strength and that’s what is empowering for me.
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Intensity makes boxing is my number one love…
Boxing is my favourite workout and even though I have been doing it for so long, every day there is something new, and the new challenges make sure it is never easy. Consistency and intensity is something that is always with me and it make you learn so much about yourself and your body, too. Boxing is a sport that improved my strength both physically and mentally. It’s challenging every day to do certain movements and exercises. That plays off your mind, not just your body.
I don’t train because it’s my job, the reason I train is because it’s a passion…
I work out because it is a lifestyle and regardless of my job, I would be at the gym whether I had my career or not. To be in the gym consistently, not giving up on the goals you want to achieve, gives you a lot of mind power.
Mental strength is the most important thing for you…
I am a mum; I have two kids; I work; it’s not easy. There are days when I am exhausted, it’s not easy to get up and then you tell yourself to go for it, maybe you will overcome something today and for me, the only way to find out is by actually going to the gym.
I do not work out for body image…
I do it because I enjoy learning new things. If you have been working on something for a few weeks and you finally achieve something you have been working towards, that feeling is something I can’t compare to anything else. I am a person whose goal is to have longevity for many, many years, be healthy and be a good example for my children. That’s why I work out.
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If you are really unfit and want to change, the first step is always wanting to ACTUALLY change your life…
Everyone has their own story and the first thing they have to do is to what to change their life – that is the most important thing of all. From there, look at what your goals are, who do you want to be, where do you see yourself and from there you go to working out, nutrition, choosing the right workout gear – that will affect your consciousness. The key thing is to find a work out you like and stick to it; you need to keep moving. I usually listen to music, it wakes me up and motivates me, it gets me in the zone.
I can’t function unless I exercise or meditate…
During my everyday life I am in sports clothes – my children know that! I drive the kids to school and after that I go to the gym, if there is a day I don’t do that, my kids ask, ‘where are you going? ’ That is my everyday life, I can’t function if I don’t have my exercise or I don’t meditate. That’s how I have to start my day to wake me up.
The lesson I want to teach my children about body image and fitness is…
Feeling good is not a physical matter, feeling good is a thing that is inside of you. You are the one who has to figure out what makes you happy, whatever that is. If it’s taking a walk, dancing, that’s a form of workout. It’s a matter of doing the little things that make you smile – that’s the secret to life.
