As a National Academy of Sports Medicine certified personal trainer, Jerry Diaz says one of his greatest challenges is motivating his clients to stay consistent after a fitness journey.
Maja Diaz plays volleyball outdoors with her mother.
However, with the number of Covid-19 cases rising on the island, fitness isn’t the first thing that comes to mind for most people, he added.
How do personal trainers react to these hurdles?
“The main approach is based on the needs of the individual,” said Diaz. “It cannot be a ‘one size fits all’ approach.”
To make sure his customers are excited and motivated, he praises them for every progress they make. “Even putting in 10 minutes a day three times a week is progress,” he added.
Diaz listens to every customer’s concerns and also wants to know their daily challenges.
Then he and his customers discuss possible solutions. “The key here is to be flexible,” he said.
“So many people fall off the car because they try to follow a strict, consistent concept of fitness and nutrition,” he added.
For example, if a person is supposed to exercise with barbells and weightlifting bars but can’t go to the gym because of the pandemic, then their entire fitness plan will be thrown out the window, Diaz said.
A person who is supposed to strictly follow a certain diet and nutrition approach but overeat because of stress or anxiety – that person will end up gaining weight and feeling frustrated, Diaz said.
“A trainer doesn’t have to come up with a great approach to training or nutrition,” he added. “But a trainer needs to develop a mindset that will help the client be successful and stay motivated, especially during this global pandemic.”
Nevertheless, the motivation for everyone, including athletes and coaches, is not easy, said Diaz.
“Getting people to follow a particular program is a challenge, and it gets tougher when a person’s interest wanes, especially now that many of them have to exercise at home,” he said.
Diaz recommends a simple home exercise regimen based on a person’s ability, as well as an approach to fitness and nutrition based on the person’s goals, interests, space, and equipment.
Start with the basics
For example, if a person only has five minutes to spare, Diaz recommends doing one of the following exercises:
• Squats on the chair
• Knee pushups
• Walk in place
• Bridge hip lifts
• Series of planks
• Conventional crunches
Diaz said that even with the best of intentions and support, many problems are still to arise.
“Maintaining consistency will be the biggest challenge,” he added. “In my experience, a lot of people leave with a broad mindset about fitness and nutrition. If they fail to maintain consistency, they feel helpless. “
Diaz said it is “very important to accept what is available to us, including time. If we can only train for five minutes a day, that’s still better than not training at all. If the individual can have healthy meals every now and then, that’s still much better than giving up completely and not even trying. “
Diaz wants his clients to have fun while exercising. “Once the person is bored, this is the cue to perform another routine that may include swimming, dancing, walking, or cycling.”
The main goal, he said, “is to enjoy the time you spend on a routine so you can keep moving.”
For professional fitness nutrition inquiries, contact Jerry Diaz on Instagram at @BBJ_Athletics or Facebook.
