However, the real challenge is weight maintenance. So many resort to fad diet supplements or other crash diet approaches.
“There is an immense pressure to have a physical image that presents a ripped physique,” Gold’s Gym personal trainer Jerry Diaz said.
He recommends that we “focus on the quality of movement in our daily lives instead of trying diet supplements and quick-fix crash diets.”
Diaz said about 99% of his clients want to look a certain way so he teaches them to lean on what is realistically maintainable.
He said not all diet supplements should be avoided, but one must consult a doctor first to ensure that they’re safe and appropriate.
As for crash diets, Diaz said those who try them risk lowering their metabolic rates and may experience mental and physical fatigue, resulting in anger, frustration and even depression.
Roque Pulido, a client of certified personal trainer Jerry Diaz, says he has tried diet supplements in the past. Contributed photo
Eventually, an individual may experience weight gain and has to start all over again.
Diaz recommends to just “trust the process” instead of resorting to fads.
He said professional trainers and year-round fitness enthusiasts understand that there no shortcuts.
“There is only the daily journey to be better than yesterday by having a positive mental approach to one’s mental, emotional and physical self,” Diaz said.
“Seeking advice from professionals and taking what works for you and doing it for the right purposes should be our primary considerations,” he added.
One must build a better daily habit, Diaz said. Enjoying local healthy food and working out from home through simple yard work or planting will help one stay fit, he added.
Signing up for a gym membership can also help immensely, Diaz said.
One of his clients, Roque Pulido, said “the only weight-loss supplement I have ever tried was Hydroxycut. Believe me when I say that it did not work for me. What works for me is the ketogenic diet which involves creating meals using inexpensive ingredients found at our local stores. Intermittent fasting and regular exercise are also part of my routine,” he added.
As an Army Reservist, he has to stay fit year-round so he sticks to his training schedule. So far, so good.
