Meet Christina Maldonado | Certified Instructor & Fitness Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Christina Maldonado and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Christina, have there been any changes in how you think about work-life balance?
For me the whole concept of “work life balance” was a struggle. As a perfectionist I always felt like I was dropping the ball somewhere. As a single woman I was determined to be successful and work with excellence to achieve my goals. As a young wife I struggled to find out how to do that and nurture a relationship with my husband, someone who technically was supposed to come first. Then, I added kids to the mix and felt I could never achieve the ideal “work life balance”, or any balance for that matter. I can’t tell you how many nights I cried because one week I would hit it big at work but then I would come home to a messy house. The next week my house would be immaculate but I felt behind at work. In this stage of my life I’ve learned a little secret. The whole concept of “work life balance” is not achievable. Who feels perfectly balanced at any given time in their life? What I’ve learned is to determine my priorities and work from that. I’ve got to take a look at the time I have allotted in my week and decide how I will utilize my time. I’ve got to make time to prioritize the things that help me to stay well – my bible studies, workouts and eating well. I’ve got to prioritize time with my husband and my children. I’ve got to take care of my household. Then, I’ve got to decide where my time will be best spent as opportunities and jobs come my way. It’s not easy. It’s not perfect. It’s not failproof. However, it does give me a base to come back to when I get off track and allows me to have more good weeks than regretful ones.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Health and wellness was not an avenue I expected to find myself in. I began my career as a corporate event planner and eventually my volunteer efforts at my church led me to a full-time position. I currently serve as a Women’s Ministry Leader at The Path Church in Atlanta, GA and have done so for over 10 years. Coincidentally, it was at a Path women’s retreat that I first decided I needed to take better care of myself. After I had my children I’d put on some extra weight and I’d noticed our eating habits weren’t the best. I began to get convicted that I was feeding my infant healthy fruits and vegetables but realized the rest of us weren’t eating anywhere near as well and soon my child would be entering into that same dynamic. I also realized that I’d been blessed with a temple by God I wasn’t taking good care of and decided to do something about it. What began as a personal journey led to certifications and the launch of my own company, FitMomATL. I wanted to offer a health and wellness option that was realistic and approachable. I know what it’s like to start and stop workout programs and wanted to offer an opportunity for women to change their lifestyles, happily, versus just go on another weight loss program. My goal is to help other women develop healthy habits that can not only impact them for the long haul but their families as well. I want to take the guesswork out of a healthy lifestyle and allow women to still feel like they can enjoy ice cream with their kids when they want to. When I hear that my clients are doing everyday tasks with ease that used to be challenging, that they’ve gone down a dress size or that they actually like working out for the first time it pushes me to keep going in what I do. As I said, FitMomATL was an avenue I didn’t expect and starting a new venture later in life can be challenging! However, health and fitness is a passion of mine and has taught me that even when you feel like a fish out of water in a new venture to follow the direction of the momentum and to keep growing.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If I’m planning a day of fun it’s probably going to be centered around some good food! How about a walk up Stone Mountain for some breathtaking views followed by a yummy breakfast. Folk Art in Inman Park is one of my favorite spots for breakfast and would be perfect to fill up after that morning hike. Atlanta has so many attractions so you’d definitely have to see one of the museums that afternoon. Take a trip to the Martin Luther King, Jr Center, The Center for Human and Civil Rights or even The Georgia Aquarium if that’s your fancy. Hopefully it would be a beautiful day to take in one of the outdoor shopping centers/restaurants/parks that have sprung up across the city. Atlantic Station used to be the only option like it but now they’ve had several pop up. You’ve got the beltline area, Chattahoochee Food Works and even The Avenues up in North Atlanta. For the evening I’d love to hear some live music and get some good eats. I could go for a concert at City Winery or find a good sushi or tapas place. My perfect few days might be a repeat of this day over and over again to get through the options I didn’t get to the previous days. Also, what I love about Atlanta is that if I’m going to include the kiddos there are loads of events (many are free!) that I can take my kiddos and any visiting kiddos to. It’s a great city to live in!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I’d like to give a Shoutout to my incredible husband, Angel Maldonado. When I began my fitness journey I was really on a personal quest and did not think about the opportunity to inspire others. After I was recommended to become an instructor I shrugged it off but my husband encouraged me to go for it. Years later I’m walking down a path I wouldn’t be on without his encouragement and connecting with women I’m excited to support!

Website: www.fitmomatl.com

Instagram: @fitmomatl

Linkedin: Christina Maldonado

Facebook: @fitmomatl

Youtube: @fitmomatl

Image Credits
mnjphoto