Diane Martinez, spin instructor at Revolution in San Antonio, has a strong tie to the studio because of the impact they’ve made in her own health journey. When she walked into the studio two years ago, she had only just begun making changes in her lifestyle. With the help of the community of Revolution, she rode off about 75 pounds. Keep reading for more of her journey!
What is your WHY? Why do you teach?
I started spinning as a rider at Revolution in June 2016. At the time I was about 30 days into cleaning up my diet and finally making my health a priority. Every single person at Rev from the front desk to the instructors to my fellow riders was so supportive, motivating and helpful along the way. I kept riding and riding and lost about 75 pounds! Not only did I lose weight, I gained confidence, made friends, and believed in myself in a way I never had before. I teach because every day I just want to give back to the community that gave so much to me. They helped me change my life. All I want is to be able to show my riders and fellow instructors how grateful I am that I found them and how much I love what I do!
How did you first get into fitness?
I can tell you this, if you would have told me at any point in my teens or even in my 20s that a fitness company would want to interview me for their blog… I would have laughed! I was always overweight, not athletic at all. It was when I started to clean up my diet that I finally had the energy and desire to move my body on a daily basis. I had a hard time holding myself accountable at the gym so I wanted to try a group class – a friend suggested cycling so I googled it, put it on the back burner for a while because I was scared of it, then finally dove right in. It is almost shocking to me to be considered athletic or any type of athlete now, but that’s the amazing thing about life. You really can be anything you want to be and you can achieve anything you ever dream of, you just have to decide to take action and keep showing up.
What’s the best health/wellness advice you’ve ever received that has actually helped?
Best advice I ever received was that habit will always trump motivation. You’re going to have days you don’t feel like working out. You’ll come up with all kinds of excuses. If the habit is there, you’ll just go do it anyway. For me it was working out in the morning that was tough. So I told myself, “You are the type of person who gets up at 5am to go to a spin class.” I kept saying it and waking up until it was just a habit. Now I feel like I’m forgetting something if I don’t get up and spin in the morning!
What’s your favorite workout to do when you’re not teaching?
I love to run! I was never a runner. Cycling has given me an insane amount of cardio endurance and strength and I love the zen of just getting outside and running (when it isn’t 108 degrees …).
What’s the last song you listened to on Spotify (or iTunes, Pandora, etc.)?
I taught a class this morning so the last song it says I listened to was “Don’t Speak” by No Doubt (it was one of the cool down songs), but before class I was blasting Juvenile through the studio. That’s how you wake up at 5:30am.
Best thing in your fridge right now?
I wish I had a really cool locally sourced organic thing to say right here, but I am pretty simple. I love strawberries, I eat probably 2 pounds of them a week. So I guess I would say strawberries. If I was on MTV Cribs you would all be seriously disappointed at my fridge. It’s just a bunch of berries, vegetables, water, cold brew.
Go-to pre or post-workout snack?
Bananas. That’s about the only thing I can stomach right before or right after a workout.
Go-to morning beverage(s)?
WATER. From the minute I wake up to the minute I go to bed. This summer heat is no joke and I am drinking water all day, every day.
Favorite splurge meal/dessert?
Chocolate chip cookies. I can’t pass up a chocolate chip cookie.
Where do you get your health/wellness information? (blog, website, podcast, etc.)
I follow a lot of blogs and I am always online researching or learning something!
If this wasn’t your job, what would be your job?
Everything! Ha! I am a jack of all trades, so to speak. I do freelance graphic design. I also still work sometimes in Real Estate which was my desk job before I left to spend more time on fitness and design. I really love helping people solve problems… even if it isn’t graphic design or real estate related.
Favorite way to unwind after a long day/week?
I am notoriously awful at this. But if I’m being honest, I find my true zen aimlessly wandering the aisles at Target.