GOLD’S Gym personal trainer Jerry Diaz said based on research, it is best to focus on individualized programming to master a specific goal.
In 2000-2004, Diaz played for the CNMI National Basketball Team under the guidance of coach Rufino Aguon.
Diaz and the rest of the team needed to work on their reaction time and other basketball skills at least twice a week.
“During this period,” he said, “I was able to accomplish feats that I’d dreamed about such as dunking the basketball and training for two hours without feeling fatigued. It felt like we were machines at our peak performance.”
He said this was a prime example of individualized programming which is all about proper training.
Diaz said each individual requires focused assessment. The trainer must understand the individual’s body type, and must determine the training approach that works best for the person based on his/her lifestyle and eating habits, he added.
“The goal is to reach optimal performance and to be the best version of each individual,” Diaz said.
“It is also a lifelong journey that requires accepting change as each person ages while his or her priorities change, too,” he added.
Besides individualization, Diaz said the other pillars of fitness training are specificity, progression and overload.
Specificity means that a person’s training program should be related to the sport and/or activity of the individual.
Progression focuses on workout frequency, duration and intensity.
Overload is a common problem when an individual does not take a rest day.
When Diaz takes on a client, he first learns what the client’s desired specific outcome is.
“As a certified trainer, my job is to guide each client to perform at their peak performance,” he said. “Everyone has a different body type and not all will have a ‘perfect’ figure. What’s most important is reaching one’s desired fitness goals safely and progressively with little to no injury.”
Educator and flow illusionist Simon Necesito, right, performs a juggling practice while on a stability ball during an outdoor training session with personal trainer Jerry Diaz, left.
Contributed photo
