Celebrity Q&A – Qiana Martin, Soccer Star

Qiana Martin is an international athlete, global soccer ambassador, Fila Body Toning Spokesmodel and owner of Eat Soccer. Her for-profit and non-profit efforts introduce new communities to the beautiful game and inspire participation. Most recently, Qiana released her Soccer Mental 90 and Soccer Mission:View the Match downloads on iTunes. She is a featured soccer video expert on eHow.com.

What was the ah-ha moment that made you start taking your health seriously?
Healthy eating and fitness were always a large component of my life. However a few years ago, I had gastrointestinal issues that became so severe that my physician had to perform a life-saving procedure. He advised me to go on a pescatarian diet, and I took a hard look at my internal dialog and the ways in which I coped with stress. I realized that I had been presented with a wake-up call and unique opportunity to hit the reset button on my physical, mental and emotional health. As a result, I am happier, living a purposeful life, and my gastrointestinal issues are a thing of the past.

Do you have a secret habit that is part of your healthy lifestyle?
I must confess that I sing (or lip sync) and dance in my bathroom at least 20 minutes per day. It is something that I started doing around age nine or ten to practice my dance moves and daydream about living a life outside of my small hometown. Now, this habit makes me happy, gives me a good laugh, helps me jump start my day and/or serves as a celebration ritual for an accomplishment. I am proud to say that I have performed in bathrooms on at least three continents!

Run, walk, ride or swim?
Although I am a fan of all four modes of movement, walking is one of my favorite pastimes. You can learn so much about a neighborhood or city when you walk it. Walking in Rio de Janeiro helped me to better learn the public transportation layout in my neighborhood. Putting my feet to the pavement in Los Angeles allowed me to find some cool boutiques that I would’ve otherwise overlooked. Taking steps around Atlanta not only gave me a better appreciation for the city, but it has helped me to generate some really great business ideas.

If you were a fruit or vegetable, what kind would you be?
I would definitely be a grape. Grapes come in a variety of colors. You can eat them raw, press them to make juice or ferment them to create wine. They are chock-full of nutrients and transform into raisins when they get old.  I love to eat my grapes frozen. It is one of my favorite snacks, and there is typically a bunch always in my freezer.

If you could tell one thing to your adolescent self, what would it be?
My advice to adolescent Qiana would be the following: Words are powerful. Whether thought or spoken, they have the ability to build you up, tear you down, attract people and create experiences. It is common for people to misunderstand and/or misuse this great tool.  Listen closely to the words spoken to you by others and replay only those words that move you forward. Toss without a thought the words that seek to hold you hostage.

Tags: celebrity interview, pescatarian, Qiana Martin, soccer

Comments are closed.