Certified personal trainer Jerry Diaz won a gold medal in the recent WKO Shinkyokushinkai 2023 Guam Full Contact Karate Championship.
“INDIVIDUALS must be aware of the dangers and effects of sleep deprivation,” said National Academy of Sports Medicine personal trainer Jerry Diaz.
“During my college days, as a CNMI national athlete or when participating in an Xterra Triathlon competition, I did not take seriously my coaches’ advice about getting enough sleep so you could imagine the outcome during an intense team training or game day,” Diaz said.
“As I continued to study performance training and functional fitness, I learned that the highest level of athletes focused on recovery during sleep, and they knew when to rest in between light and intense training to avoid low performance and unnecessary self-harming injuries.”
Today, Diaz said he patiently explains to his clients why proper sleep and recovery should be embedded in their weekly schedule.
He tells them that sleep deprivation can lead to decreased stamina and quicker exhaustion.
If an athlete is not able to sustain the required strength, conditioning, and plyometrics related to his/her sport, then s/he will end up frustrated.
Frustration can lead to stress and depression which can discourage an individual from returning to competition or fitness training.
“Yo-yo” diets, over-training, and trying to achieve quick results with a nutrition program can also lead to frustration.
Diaz said if an individual undergoing training lacks sleep, s/he will not be able to perform well.
Sleep, in short, is essential for our physical and mental health. It allows our bodies to rest and repair themselves. When we don’t get enough sleep, we can experience a range of problems.
For professional fitness inquiries, contact Jerry Diaz through Instagram at @BBJ_Athletics or Facebook.
Centerpiece graphic looking at what scientists know about sleep; includes stages of the sleep cycle, steps for better sleep and who has insomnia.
