Cierra’s Interlude: Are You Really Healthy?

By Cierra Mayes

Cierra’s Interlude is a podcast platform I created to give current college students and former students the opportunity to tell their truth. My show airs on Blog Talk Radio Wednesdays 2 to 4 pm. I talk about different subjects that are related to the student experience on and off campus. I am a recent graduate from the University of North Texas with a focus in broadcast Journalism. Recently, I wrote an article “If I would’ve known, what I know now” about my personal experiences in college and growth over the years. I chose to create a podcast that would help out the student community.

Recently I interviewed one of DFWiRadio’s show hosts, and we talked about the importance of health and fitness. Now are you really as healthy as you think? Aside from DFWiRadio, Zhamir is working on becoming a licensed fitness trainer before the end of the year. His experiences motivated him to stay healthy and be passionate about what he is putting into his body.

CM: How did you get into health and fitness?

ZW: One of the reasons I got into health and fitness is because 22 years ago, my grandmother died of a massive heart attack. With the conjunction of having diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and being slightly overweight. As a kid, knowing what happened to her I didn’t want to go down that road.

CM: Yes, I haven’t had a drink of soda in a while.

ZW: It’s funny that you said that, because I recently just made a Facebook post that on Saturday it will be 20 years since I have had soda or candy. When I was in high school, I worked out intensely. Part of it was because when I was in 7th grade, I went to get a physical. I had developed ring worms really bad and the doctor told me that it could be my diet. I had them longer than usual and around that time I had been eating a lot of chocolate. So, I decided to change my diet.

CM: When you cook, what do you usually fix?

ZW: I usually fix chicken and fish. I bake chicken multiple ways and I eat all types of fish. Fish is one of my favorite foods. I bake catfish, salmon, snapper, and more. I always look at people crazy when they say Tilapia is a man-made fish because it’s not.

CM: It’s not?!

ZW: It is not. It’s a fish that is found in East Africa and that’s why we say that here because it is not made in America.

I definitely learned something new there because I was one of those who always said Tilapia is man-made. I enjoyed the conversation we had. Zhamir also shared tips on how to stay active in and out of school. Remember to tune in to Cierra’s Interlude every Wednesday from 2 to 4 pm. You don’t want to miss it. If you do, you can also always check out the archives.