As a health-focused architecture firm, we instill healthy living on a personal level this year we created two separate challenges. One was based on minutes of exercise and the other was based on calories burned. Joaquin blew the socks off of the rest of the team’s calorie burn so we sat down with him to get a few pointers on how he stays fit mind, body, and soul.
Have you always been interested in fitness?
I’ve worked out my whole life, it’s something I like to do. In high school, I swam in the City League and the school swim team it was a really big deal we won state once. It was always so much fun to be a part of a team. Once I started college at Texas Tech I didn’t swim, I learned about other fitness exercises. Since I graduated, I had to be more intentional with my workouts and planning them since I am studying for the ARE test.
What is your daily work-out routine?
I typically try to work out at least four times a week. If I feel energized in the morning, I will wake up and go for a 500-meter swim. Every two days or so I’ll do a three-mile run and then after work I sometimes do HIIT workouts which is a calisthenics workout that involves things like box jumps and bodyweight pull-ups. I typically add a 10-pound weight vest for those exercises to make them more challenging. I love the challenge and it allows me to get out of my head it is almost like a form of meditation. If I could only do one workout for the rest of my life it would probably be HIIT or swimming.
You can do one of the HIIT workouts I do free off of YouTube HERE.
How do you stay motivated?
Ever since I moved to Houston it’s been a hobby and focusing on staying healthy. Also, it’s kind of funny, but one thing that keeps the fire burning is this show I recently discovered, that has reignited my love for Dragon Ball. There is a new series called Dragonball Super and it’s an anime fighting show which gets me pumped up pre-workout.
What music do you listen to during a workout?
I love all kinds of music, so it just depends on my mood I usually listen to some RnB and sometimes pop. Some of my go to artists are Modest Mouse, Friendly Fires, Drake, Lenny Kravitz, and Childish Gambino.
Do you meal prep?
Since we are working at home right now, I do not feel the need to meal prep as much. I just make sure I have healthy foods available at home. I usually have a shake in the morning or two hard-boiled eggs. For lunch and dinner, I’ll have chicken and sweet potato, broccoli or cauliflower, or a tuna fish sandwich and then some days I’ll be lazy and get Chick-fil-A. It’s all about balance and discipline when snacks are so close. I’ve also been making a lot of smoothies because one of my best covid purchases was a Nutri-bullet.
What hobbies have you picked up since working from home?
I recently got a 10-gallon fish tank. I have some water plants and some shrimp. It takes a lot to maintain the tank and it has been cool to figure out.
