Sensei Danny Banez and Jerry Diaz undergo bare knuckles sparring training at the Kyokushinkai Karate Dojo.
IN a previous edition of the BBJ Fitness Corner, National Academy of Sports Medicine Personal Trainer Jerry Diaz talked about the social media fitness culture, its benefits and drawbacks.
Today, Diaz wants to dive deeper into the relationship between an individual’s mental state and lifestyle.
“Having our photos and videos uploaded online and receiving praise from the public can help validate our sense of self and encourage us to stick to our current approach, which we believe is the correct fitness approach,” Diaz said.
“However, there are times when we get negative feedback or no response at all, which can make us question our approach,” he added.
A long-time fitness enthusiast and now a professional fitness trainer, Diaz acknowledged the importance of sharing our successes with the public so we can be encouraged to continue with our fitness journey.
“Having the opportunity to train clients of various ages, I’ve learned how to provide them with safe and productive fitness advice through social media. Adding music to a non-edited photo or video, for example, can further motivate us to stick to our workout routine,” Diaz continued.
“Some of my clients enjoy sharing videos of their workouts even if they show imperfection. We should not get used to looking at lean and sexy male and female physiques that don’t represent the real struggles that real individuals experience.”
However, comparing oneself with other people’s photos and videos can create stress and frustration, he added.
He said it is important to avoid idealizing unrealistic images of people who are sexy and athletically fit.
“We should realize that everyone has a different body type and that we all respond differently to fitness and nutrition plans,” he added.
“Our goal is to have a healthy mindset and perform quality movements that are pain-free while following a nutrition program that is balanced and will not make us feel deprived,” he said.
For professional fitness inquiries, contact Jerry Diaz through Instagram at @BBJ_Athletics or Facebook.
