Latin fitness sensation Adela Garcia Friedmansky is on top of the fitness world and currently readying herself for battle in Columbus. Aside from being a fantastic competitor, this little lady is a great person with a heart of gold! Find out how Adela has created one of the best bodies in fitness as well as how she has given hope to many girls without gymnastics backgrounds to continue in the sport.

1) Mayhem: Adela, please give us a little background information on yourself:

a. Age * 32

b. Where you grew up * I grew up in San Juan, Puerto Rico and born in the Dominican Republic 

c. Where you live currently * I live in Bloomington, IL

d. Who or what made you become interested in competing 

*. I started lifting weights when I was 18. I was living in California in 1993 and saw Mia Finnegan in a magazine. She looked amazing to me, her abs where incredible and I wondered if I could ever look like that. I had a lot of people telling me that I should do a show someday, but was unsure due to my inexperience in dance or gymnastics. I moved back to Puerto Rico and while working as an aerobics instructor and personal trainer at the Military base I saw a poster for the 1995 Armed Forces Bodybuilding and Fitness Championships. I put a routine together by looking at fitness videos and got ready on my own. I traveled to North Carolina for my first show and ended up placing 2nd. I was hooked....

e. How long have you been competing *9 years

2) Mayhem: When did you turn pro and what was the event?

Adela: I turned pro in 1999 at the USA's Nationals in Santa Monica, CA.

3) Mayhem: Before turning professional in the fitness industry, what career path were you following?

Adela: I was doing personal training and teaching aerobics classes while going to college for a Criminal Justices degree.

4) Of all the places on earth you could live - you are residing in the Bloomington/Normal area of Illinois! What is the reason for this and do you find it refreshing to live in the Midwest - away from all the drama and fast paced living on the east and west coasts?

Adela: I moved to Bloomington, IL because of my husband Brian. I met him in Puerto Rico and I followed him to IL. I hate the cold weather and not being able to go to the beach every weekend like I used to in Puerto Rico. All my family is in Puerto Rico and I really miss being able to spend time with them.
Bloomington is a nice town and everything is close by. I am not a big city person, so besides not having my family close to me, Bloomington is fine. 

5) When you first came to the pro scene, fitness was in a gymnastics whirlwind. Not having a gymnastics background, you have had to work twice as hard as girls with this type of background. Do you feel that over the last year or two this trend is changing and that more emphasis is being placed as it should on strength, flexibility and overall appeal and how do you personally feel about the routine round(s)?

Adela: Good question:)
It has been really hard for me to compete in the routine rounds since I don't have the gymnastics background. I've worked hard and don't let this stop me from competing hard in that round. I believe my hard work is paying off and people are starting to respect and give me credit on my routines. I keep fighting; it's all I can do. I was very disappointed at the fitness Olympia because of my placing in the routine round. I couldn't understand how my score in the 2 minutes routine was the same score I got in 2000. It did not make sense to me. I felt that I was not getting any better in that round, but then I had people coming up to me telling me that my routine was awesome. I was upset about it because a judge told me that I should take gymnastic classes so I could become competitive in that round. At times, I think the trend is changing but when Judges are telling you to go to gymnastics classes it makes me wonder. I will keep improving upon each performance. I might get upset but that is not going to stop me from getting better.

6) Physique trends in fitness are always changing - one year the girls are very lean and muscular, then smaller and softer - however, you continue to come in the best YOU can - no matter what the trend. You have an incredible physique and have come a long way since first turning pro - can you tell us a little about how you have created the physique that is winning rounds at every show you enter?

Adela: Thank you for the compliment about my physique. It means a lot coming from you Kim. When I turned pro I was told that my shoulders needed more size, so I started working hard to improve them. I was preparing for contests on my own until my managers hooked me up with Mike Davies after I was not happy with my placing at the 2001 IFBB Pittsburgh Pro Fitness. They talked to Mike about it and Mike was willing to help me. I've learned a lot from him. He is an excellent trainer and friend. He is passionate about his work and I am blessed to have him as my trainer. We have been working together to get my body in the best shape for every show. 

7) Your look is very feminine and pleasing and you have a healthy, natural look to you. How do you feel about fitness women using enhancement drugs to help create their physiques?

Adela: I don't think it is necessary to take enhancement drugs in fitness or figure, but this is a personal choice. People are welcome to do what they believe is good for them. It is not my place to judge them. 

8) It seems as though many of the girls are sacrificing the look of their physique in order to spend more time on perfecting a routine - or because they are worried that dieting down will zap their energy for their routines? Would you rather see the girls be small and lean [in other words, better physiques] with less emphasis on the routine?

Adela: I like to see the girls stepping on stage in great condition. Why have an awesome routine and not have the physique? Fitness is about physique and routine, so I believe in bringing a complete package to stage. I love to see the small, lean and curvy physiques with a great routine; a good balance of the four rounds.

9) Since we are speaking of physiques, what do you think about the current state of women's competitive figure? When this class was first created, it was to be the "fitness" physique with no routine, however, everyone is noticing that is far from the case - what do you like in a "figure" physique and where do you see this new form of competition heading?

Adela: Figure is evolving and I believe they are having a difficult time finding the right figure physique. It seems like the top 5 girl's physiques are different from show to show. It goes from lean to soft so it is difficult to understand what they are looking for. It's just a matter of time; Jenny Lynn, Davana, and Monica are setting standards for a figure physique in the IFBB. I see figure getting bigger and bigger each year and more athletes retiring from bodybuilding and fitness going into figure.

10) Not to brand you, as you are your own entity, but you cannot escape the fact that you are a "JM Girl". Does it bother you that some girls have filed complaints stating foul play concerning the whole JMP Management scene and what do you have to say about this?

Adela: Honestly, I get upset when people say things such as "Adela placed top 5 because of JM" I don't think is fair for people to talk like that. I believe JM is a business person and if he sees talent he is going to seek business. I've known JM and his wife for over 8 years now and have had a great experience with them as managers and friends. People are always going to find an excuse to justify there placing. I remember people putting me down when I first started competing because of JM. People used to say that I was mediocre and did not deserve my placing, that I placed in the top 5 because of JM. I am very sensitive person and I cried so many times. I kept telling myself not to let people get to me and used every single word to make me work harder and to prove people wrong. I feel that I have accomplished that and that makes me happy. 

11) Speaking of JM, he has helped you produce the "Fitness Diva's" Calendar - which features yourself and Christine Bergeron -how is that venture going for you?

Adela: The calendar is going well. I had a great time shooting with Christine Bergeron. She is a great friend and competitor. I really love the pictures in the calendar, and hope we can work on a new project next year... I hear there are a lot of men in Florida who like my calendar and my website as well.

12) In a competitive sport where the word "Diva" is used both often and loosely, you are in reality far from a Diva - in fact you are completely sweet, down to earth and a fantastic person - what keeps you grounded?

Adela: Thank you I love being myself and treating people with respect. I believe God blessed us with a lot of things in life and we take things for granted. I am thankful for everything I have. I like being myself at all times. I am not afraid of giving another competitor a compliment. I feel very confident about myself and I just want to make others feel comfortable around me. I like making people laugh and act crazy most of the time.

13) In the "wonder years" of body building and the inception of fitness - the late 80's and early 90's - the true stars of the sport graced the covers and pages of industry magazines. How do you feel as a "star" in the industry about industry magazines holding "model search" contests or picking girls that place low in shows for covers and articles because they are supposedly "more mainstream and marketable"?

Adela: It is an insult. I thought that I was going to get all the exposure in the world when I turned pro. I realized it doesn't work that way; if you don't have certain look they won't use you in the magazines. You are going to tell me that Susie never was on a cover of a major magazine!!! Come on!!! A girl that won the fitness Olympia title 5 times never got a cover?! That is just not right. Oxygen is the only magazine giving the athletes coverage. It is sad to see how some magazines hold model searches when they have all the figure and fitness competitors wanting this coverage. 

14) Do you feel that this trend has hindered financial opportunities for competitive athletes - in particular the women in the industry?

Adela: I believe so!!! We need more financial opportunities in the sport. There are so many female athletes without contracts and unable to compete because of the expenses.

15) What is a typical "day in the life of Adela" like? Just a brief rundown, from the time you wake up until you go to bed please.

Adela: Get up at 5:00am and take a thermo "Jacked." Do 35-40 minutes of cardio and get ready to train clients from 7:00-11:00am. Go home and take a 30 minute nap, get ready to go to the gym and practice my routine or workout. Train clients from 4-7:00pm. At 7:30 I do 45 minutes of cardio, stretch and practice strength moves. 9:00pm take a bath with Epson salt; 10:00-11pm read emails and go to bed. Get up the next morning and do it all over again. 

16) Outside of fitness, what types of hobbies are you involved in - or how do you spend any free time?

Adela: I have a boring life!! If I were in Puerto Rico I would be going to the beach every weekend. I love the ocean. In Bloomington there is not much going on but going out to eat and drink and I don't do either. So, I have no life. LOL. I just sit in front of the TV and watch movies when I am free. 

17) Do you have any pets? What kind, how many?

Adela: I have a dog name Sammy and two cats. LOL!! Do you really want to know my cat's name? The female name is Bitch and the male name is Bastard.

18) How much longer do you envision yourself in the sport, and have you thought of future ventures in the industry for when you retire from competition?

Adela: I am not sure how long I will compete. I know after I retired from fitness I would love to compete in figure. I enjoy being involved in the industry so I am going to keep promoting my own show every year and keep working on opening my personal training studio in Bloomington, IL.

19) This will be your first year of promoting a show. Is this going to cover everything (body building, fitness and figure)? Where will it be held and when is the date? -And is it a larger undertaking than you had anticipated?

Adela: The show is going to cover everything. It is going to be called the Central USA Bodybuilding and the Adela Garcia-Friedmansky Fitness and Figure Championships. It is going to be held at the Normal Community High School in Normal, IL on June 12. I am excited about promoting my first show, but at the same time nervous. It is a lot of work!!! You have to bother people all the time in order to get sponsorships. I have been very lucky since a lot of people from Bloomington are getting involved and becoming sponsors. 

(The next two questions, we ask everyone interviewed for 21 Questions)

20) If there were only one thing you could change in our industry - ANYTHING, what would it be?

Adela: Increase the prize money for the female athletes and more exposure in the magazines. 

21) Body builders and fitness athletes are looked upon by the general public as possessing superhuman, comic book like physiques. With this in mind, if you could possess ANY superhuman power, what would it be and why?

Adela: I would love to read people's minds it Is difficult to understand people sometimes, I think it will be great to know what is in people's mind.

Thank you so much for taking the time to interview with MuscleMayhem.com - if you would like to say anything to the fans, please feel free to add it!

Thank you, Kim and Chad, for the wonderful interview and for the opportunity to have exposure on your site. You guys have been very supportive of me and I really appreciated that. I would like to thank my husband Brian for his support all these years, as well as my manager JM and Debbie for believing in me, my trainer Mike Davies for keeping me in such a great shape and putting up with all my worries, y choreographer Kevin Creegan and DJ Eddie Barreto for creating all my routines and music, Greg Henry and GNC for the opportunity to become a sponsor athlete and my sista Alti Bautista for keeping motivated. Oh boy!!! I will like to thank so many people but it will be a long interview... Everyone knows how thankful I am for all the support I have been getting all this years. I am blessed to have my family, friends and fans supporting me all this years. Thank you so much for keeping motivated.