A letter from Adriana's trainer defending her diet and character. CHECK THIS: THEN READ: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hW_AVPy_VeA Picture this... You're a top "Angel". A featured model within a world famous lingerie company's year end fashion show. The show'll be beamed to countries throughout the world. You've been outfitted in the least amount of lace allowed on prime time tv. The wings you wear are strategically placed to highlight your "glamour points"... you also happen to take your job seriously, appreciate the gifts and opportunity you have been given and don't take your responsibility, nor the contract you have signed, for granted. And maybe most important of all, you know there is no airbrushing of the body on the catwalk. You can't hide. Innately you know that should a scintilla of cellulite appear on your body before the 10's of millions of watching eyes... The gathered throngs, the high powered photo lenses, Jay-Z, Kanye West, the younger up and coming models looking to supplant you, other companies looking to have you rep their brand, will think you're slipping... Before you know it, you've lost your job and your diet'll consist of "eating crow" and most likely with a healthy serving of snide comments to add to the expanding waist (and unemployment) line. Now, I ask, to what lengths to get into shape, would you be willing to go? Enter CNN's talented, charismatic, highly regarded and ill-informed (in this instance) Anderson Cooper and his inconsiderate comments. On one segment of his Anderson 360 show, (which he calls the Redicu-list) he mocks Adriana Lima's fitness and nutritional plan in preparing for the biggest fashion show of any model's year. Which goes a little something like this... 9 days before the event Adriana stops eating solid food and begins her "liquid diet" of protein shakes and water, etc. (Please keep in mind Adriana's nutritional plan is overseen by certified doctors and nutritionists.) The eve before "the Secret" is unveiled, Adriana doesn't drink any water at all, which allows her to look as sleek and "un-bloated" as possible. Often she bumps her training to 2 workouts per day. Those workouts consist of customized boxing, jump rope and specially designed sculpting exercises. Sounds like a lot? It probably is for the average model, but this woman is not being asked to do something average... Like a world champion boxer or body builder Adriana is expected to hone her body to its perfection. It's not enough that she "looks good for a woman who had a baby 2 years ago." She simply has to look immaculate-incredible. Period. "(If you) Swear off solid food and water, you'll look great... " Coop, quipped... "You know... If you don't drop dead first". Insert cheap laugh... Not quite the whole story Anderson... And what happens when you don't tell the whole story? It leaves room for interpretation by the impressionable; Young girls who don't have Adriana's resources and want to emulate her success. "If Adriana looks that good on a 'hydro diet' I can too." Then the trouble starts. I guess he'd much rather stick with the inaccurate notion that modeling is a vapid job of little work and all luck. Instead of making light of Adriana's preparation, he should be commending her for her dedication, discipline and willingness to sacrifice comfort to achieve a specific goal. You know, like getting/staying at the top of your profession is not easy for anyone. That's something our youth can benefit from... Actually, so can our adults. It doesn't matter what you're given in this world, you still have to work and work HARD in order to cultivate that gift. Isn't it a contradiction that we can gaze in wonderment and applaud Olympic Gold Medalist Michael Phelps for his consumption of 7000 plus calories per day, (a feat that really doesnt seem too unobtainable for the average person considering the epidemic battle of the bulge the world is trying to win. ) yet castigate Adriana for showing the same amount of determination and dedication in order to remain successful in her chosen field? The same thing but opposite sides of the food spectrum. Their bodies have to be performance ready, no excuses. Adriana has a life outside of her profession. Everything is kept in perspective in relation to her job and everyday life. Adriana has a beautiful marriage to husband Marko Jaric and they have a scintillating daughter, Valentina (2). Balance? They have it. Responsibly, it is important to note that Adriana said this is what SHE does in preparation for the VS show. Not what anyone else should do. She also went on to state that other than this event, she adheres to a very normal and natural way that (and to this I can bear witness) allows her to eat as every other healthy professional should. I'd bet Victoria's Secret not only hires Adriana because she has a marketable beauty, I would think they continue to work with her because she is a professional of the highest order. One who takes her job seriously. She is dependable and always impeccable. As a spokes person and a model. The VS lingerie body does not appear to me to be like the "high fashion" runway body. That two seem different worlds. Adriana's athletic workouts are not only for her body, but for her mind... She doesn't just sweat, she loves the sport of boxing and enjoys the psychology of fighting which everyone in life can identify with... Fighting and sacrificing in order to achieve. Not a novel concept, but its been shown to work. How can those qualities not be admired? I've had the pleasure of being Adriana's personal trainer for 5 years. Over that time she has carried the same focus, dedication and respect for not only her profession, but everyone else I have ever heard her discuss. That's her character and nature. It reflects the type of workouts she prefers. Her workouts enhance the sleek/athletic curve of her body so she can stand before the world in confidence knowing that she looks the best that she can look. For that alone she deserves respect and no matter your profession, that's what we all want, right? And I am sure that's what Anderson Cooper and all professionals want from their peers... Respect. Does he watch what he eats? What he wears? Rehearse what he says? To what lengths does he go in preparing to go on air? Does he drink or smoke, subscribe to healthy sleeping patterns? Workout to remain youthful and energetic? I'm sure he has unordinary rituals in prepping for his show that many of us would be scratching our head over and calling excessive, but that's what success does... It goes further than "good enough". So Anderson, sorry but I have to give you a thumbs down for your panning of Adriana. You took the easy road just to have something to talk about on your show and for that, until you redeem yourself, I will refer to your show as not "The Redicu-list," but the "Redicu-journa-list". Stick and Move, Michael