About

This is the combined journal of Miguel, Michael, and me Aliana de la Guardia. We are a father and two siblings who have all decided to be conscious of our health.

We three lead very different, busy lives: Miguel often travels on business; is an amateur long distance runner, cyclist, and a certified athletic trainer; Michael is a full-time student at Rutgers University studying biology with a part-time job; and I am an actor and opera singer specializing in avant-garde music, and a young theatrical/musical entrepreneur with a full-time non-arts related day job.

I had the idea to start a blog as a food and exercise journal after I asked my dad for help developing a food and exercise plan for me with a goal of loosing 20lbs by the end of May for the opening of the next Guerilla Opera production. My dad and I don’t live near each other my original idea was for my dad, as my trainer, to help me track my progress and post helpful suggestions.

Dad liked this idea and thought it would be interesting to start blogging along with me because he is also training. My dad Miguel has completed several half-marathons, 5 full marathons and four 130+ mile Angel Ride. Not bad for an old guy!

After we talked about this I thought to include my brother. Mike recently started training in a specific style of Kung Fu called Wing Tsun with our cousin Alex Richter, owner and head instructor of City Wing Tsun in New York City.

We hope that as you track our progress in our three different kinds of athletic training you feel encouraged that you can get and stay healthy living full-time busy lives!

Please note that this blog is the account of how three everyday people have made time for fitness and training in their lives. You should always check with a doctor and/or qualified nutrition/fitness specialist before engaging in any food or excercise plan. Knowledge is power!

About Us

 The Trainer: Miguel de la Guardia (Age: 56)

I am a Nuclear Medicine professional and work training clinical trial sites to use the anti-cancer agents the company I work for is developing.

Interestingly, it was not until my late 40s that I realized that I could run distances well beyond the 5 or 6 mile range. Even then, it took me about 3 years to go from running relatively short distances to cycling 100 miles or running marathons (26.2 miles). I have run marathons in Chicago; Newport, RI; New Jersey; Space Coast; The Marine Corps as well as several 1/2 marathons and 4 Angel Rides (130+ miles). The marathons and cycle rides are all to raise funds for charity.

I’m also a Running Coach certified by the RRCA (ROAD RUNNERS CLUB OF AMERICA) and enjoy training novice runners.  I don’t consider myself a fast runner. Maybe that’s how come I can still run at my age? Regardless, I still can run. Because of my work, which involves lots of travel, my age and family – there is stil ne child at home, training for endurance events is a daunting challenge. My hope is to show here that it is possible to take the available little chunks of time to get some exercise in one’s hectic life. Training for cycling or running long distances though is a team effort at home.  Hopefully, I can give you an idea how to manage the training and home time.

Also, if one is exercising for health and weight management, then running very long distances like I do is not necessary. Training to run and cycle long distances actually increases the difficulty of weight management as I am HUNGRY ALL the time.

Since Aliana, Michael and I have different reasons for exercising.  I am either in recovery mode or training for some charity event. Hopefully we can give you a cross section of what we do and our successes and failures along the way.  Maybe, we can also pass along some exercise and time management tips.

The Artist: Aliana de la Guardia (Age: 28)

I am a contemporary soprano and actor specializing in the performance of contemporary, “avant-garde” classical music.  As soprano and General Manager for Guerilla Opera I run the company and have created five operatic roles. Most recently I premiered the roles of Sarah Palin and Diane Sawyer in Say It Ain’t So, Joe (Sarah Palin opera), by Curtis K. Hughes, an opera based on text from the 2008 Vice Presidential debate, which received national attention this past September. Recently I started another project called Dirty Paloma to promote contemporary vocal concert music and expose innovative composers and musicians, and have performed two concerts with Dirty Paloma since November. Aside from mt own projects I am active in the musical community of the Greater Boston Area, having also performed with Boston Lyric Opera, Granite State Opera, The Ludovico Ensemble, White Rabbit/Harvard Group for New Music, and Firebird Ensemble among others. I have also performed for PRI’s “The World” (available on iTunes and the PRI Website). In February 2009 I was the only classical singer profiled in Stuff Magazine‘s “Rising Stars: Local Talents Shine Bright” article, which highlighted my work in contemporary classical music. I addition to this I also work a full-time day job (thank you, economy), practice singing regularly (technical exercises) and learn new music, much of which is academically and technically challenging.

My goal is to lose 20 lbs and improve my over-all physical strength and flexibility before the next Guerilla Opera production in May. Wish me luck!

The Student: Michael de la Guardia (Age: 24)

I am a full-time student at Rutgers University studying Clinical Lab Sciences. I have a part-time job at an italian restaurant in my home town. When I’m not studying or working I like to hang out with my friends, go to clubs, and listen to music. I recently started training in Wing Tsun Kung Fu with my cousin Alex Richter, owner and hear instructor of City Wing Tsun in New York City and have taken up running since the summer of 2009.

My goal is to lose 20-30 lbs and improve my agility and overall fitness. I recently completed in my second 5K race and finally finished in under 30 minutes. A good accomplishment indeed!