I have recently been working on a translation job with Yoryet Román, who is in the tourism business in Guadalajara. Her first name, by the way, is automatically pronounced “Georgette” by all Mexicans, but inevitably perplexes English speakers. During her years as a student in Sacramento, California, she says the moment she dreaded most was roll call by a new teacher, as “I just knew they were going to sabotage my name by mispronouncing it.”
In the course of time, I discovered that Yoryet-Georgette is also very knowledgeable about health and fitness and has been writing on the subject for some time. Hoping to coax her into offering some free advice to readers of this column, I asked her about her background and for some suggestions for staying healthy and fit.
“I’ve had a love-hate relationship with health and fitness for 17 years. I did hard core competition in cross country and track for 11+ years, pulling through multiple injuries. I also played soccer, got involved in body conditioning and countless fitness courses and for four or five years I’ve worked as a personal trainer, aerobics instructor and a health and fitness advisor.
Román said there are some concrete steps that people can follow to get fit, but insists there is really no secret formula. However, she outlined some basic steps for nurturing a love for exercise and a healthy diet:
1. Start integrating a clean diet/physical movement until it becomes a habit. Once you are past that, your body will claim a healthy diet.
2. Schedule a specific time for this and remain loyal to that particular time.
3. Get a workout (power walk) buddy.
4. Drop red meat intake; consume more fish, veggies, fruit.
5. Stay alert for the right type of fat.
6. Watch the frequency and portion size.
7. Eat clean, smart and according to your blood and body type.
8. Avoid mindless, compulsive, impulsive, emotional, unnecessary, and excessive eating.
Román said it is possible to make health and fitness a lifestyle, but you must teach yourself to love it in order to enjoy it. “Take (health and fitness) seriously but don’t think about it too much – just do it!”
Curious about point number 7, I asked her what she meant by blood and body type.
“That is where most of us fail. We don’t know our body and we start trying every single diet that’s out there, inevitably failing after a few weeks. We do the wrong routines and we eat the wrong food.”
Román recommended reading “Eat Right 4 Your Type” by Peter D’Adamo. In this book, he suggests that people with blood group O (he calls these people The Hunters) eat a higher protein diet, while those with blood type A (The Agrarians) should have a diet emphasizing vegetables, a diet free of red meat.
“According to D’Adamo, I’d have to follow a diet based on wheat, corn, beans, lentils, lettuce, soy, etcetera, for weight gain,” said Román. “For weight loss, something like this: sea weed, fish and sea food, liver, iodized salt, red meat, cauliflower, spinach, broccoli, etcetera.”
Román said there are basically three distinctive body types, although most people are a cross between them.
The ectomorphs are “people who are thin, fragile and even lanky at times. They are called the hardgainers in the bodybuilding industry.
“It is rather difficult for ectomorphs to put on weight but with the right nutrition and proper training, they can and do.”
One great advantage ectomorphs have over other bodybuilders is that because of their low body fat, they will have very attractive visible defined muscles once they build them. “This is because they do not have body fat to cover their nice muscularly toned body,” Román said.
She continued: “Mesomorphs are genetically blessed with an athletic body shape and ability. You will generally perform well in whatever sports you choose to participate in.”
Finally, there are endomorphs, who have a round physique that tends to put on weight and fat easily. Their physiques present the illusion that much of the body fat is accumulated in the abdominal area, which may or may not be true. Román said many endomorphs mistakenly believe that in order to get rid of their abdominal fat they have to do plenty of abdominal exercises like crunches and sit-ups.
“These exercises do not get rid of your belly fat. You have to do weight bearing compound exercises and adhere to a proper diet to build your muscles and lose your fat so that your muscles can show up fabulously. The more muscles you build up, the more fat you can burn because muscle mass raises your metabolism to burn more fat.”
Román said knowing your body type will give you an indication of how your body will react to weight training and how fast you can build up your muscle mass.
Román – who is completely bilingual – occasionally works with clients who ask for a diet or an exercise routine and helps people work out a plan, depending on their body and blood types. If an organization would like her to come and give a talk, she can be contacted at: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. and you can read her blog by Googling “Yoryet Roman.”