Growing up as a sports enthusiast, Diaz admired professional athletes who soared to great achievements and had long healthy careers. “I, too, wanted to be a successful athlete even in our small community,” he said. Throughout his high school and college days, and during his participation in basketball and other sporting events, Diaz avidly read Men’s Health and Bodybuilding magazine. “I looked for shortcuts to be lean, ripped, athletic,” he said. So he drank SlimFast and ate salads for meals while running from the Pacific Islands Club to the Hyatt Regency Saipan and back for five months.
Rose Diaz, wife of Jerry Diaz, and their children prepare a homemade meal. Contributed photo
“Back then, I was happy with the visual and performance results,” he said. However, he soon learned that it was not sustainable. “I did not have direction and the proper nutrition program, which eventually led to frustration due to the fact that I ended up where I started, with the same weight or even heavier, without the physique that I wanted. I also sustained physical injuries.”
Five years ago, when Diaz began his journey to become a certified fitness and nutrition trainer, he started to learn about the types of food to eat to match the type of lifestyle he wanted. As an active individual, he now fuels himself with healthy carbohydrates, protein and fat to power through the day and rebuild muscles from his daily workout program.
“My workouts are focused on the art of movement instead of high intensity,” he said. “These workouts allow my body to repeat the process without overstressing my nervous system.”
Diaz said the key to habitual change is a balanced approach. “I enjoy home-cooked meals made by my wife and break down my training program throughout the week while avoiding overtraining,” he said.
He started to log his meals and daily activities while noting his emotional status. Diaz said his wife prepares healthy snacks such as fruits, nuts, a health bar, wrap or sandwich that help him avoid unhealthy foods.
Diaz said it is important to learn about healthy living and practice positive habits to ensure long-term success. Individuals who have a clear goal will find the right fitness path, he added.
He said eating healthy food is crucial to a sustainable fitness program, which may also require changing some of our daily habits — and environment. “Your environment includes everything around you, like your home or the place you work,” Diaz said. “At the end of the day, one’s way of life must match one’s goals. And goals require daily action.”
References
http://www.dothemovement.com/fitness-and-sustainability
https://www.lifehack.org/500325/10-sustainable-health-and-fitness-habits-everyone-can-adopt
https://www.my-fit-24.com/myfitthrivetribe/2019/11/1/sustainability-in-fitness-and-why-its-important
