Meet Radio DJ Jay Rodriguez

Get to know the voices behind your favorite radio stations, including their favorite power foods and workouts.

We listen to them in the car or at home—they play our favorite jams, make us laugh with their witty banter, keep us up-to-date on the latest celebrity happenings, and take our phone calls when we have an opinion or comment on the show. But radio disk jockeys (or DJs) are just like the rest of us. They eat, sleep, get stressed and workout. They might even be jogging on the treadmill next to you, or lifting weights in your afternoon BODYPUMP class.

Over the next few weeks, we’ll introduce you to a few celebrity iHeart Radio DJs—who work out at 24 Hour Fitness—and find out their go-to movement, where they find inspiration, and what motivates them.

This week, meet Jay Rodriguez, morning show co-host at Sunny 99.1 in Houston, father of two and Bryan Adams fan.

24Life: What has been your relationship with fitness?

Jay Rodriguez (JR): I’ve always considered myself an active guy, but never really a gym guy. I love playing sports. But as far as being a gym guy, I don’t really know how to work out or I didn’t know how to use a lot of the machines until I got a membership at 24 Hour and then I learned. I got to ask questions. Everyone was okay with the questions I was asking. They understood why I needed help and where I needed help and they were more than happy to help me out.

24Life: How has 24 Hour helped you in your fitness journey?

JR: There are several people at 24 Hour Fitness that have helped me get so much further on my journey than I would have on my own. The minute I walked in and I was introduced to Guy Reyes. He was working at the front and he just got to know me. He addresses me by name every time I come in. He found out what I was looking for, how I wanted to change myself. He used that information to pair me up with my trainer, Taryn, who has been wonderful through this whole process. She encourages me; she’ll do the exercises with me; she’ll show me how to use each and every piece of equipment in this building, not just weights, but the treadmills, the elliptical, the foam roller. She showed me how to stretch. She identified all these problem areas that I had in my body and she showed me how to work them out. And I wish you could see the difference from when I first walked in to where I am now. And I’m so much more mobile. I thought I was okay, but I wasn’t. And now I feel so much better because of her and because of what Guy recognized in me.

24Life: What motivates you?

JR: I want to look better; I want to feel better. And the number one reason I go to the gym is for my kids. I have two little girls—10 and 6—and just keeping up with them can be kind of tiring. So going to the gym not only gives me more energy, but it lets me build strength where I can lift them up and I can play with them and not wear myself out doing it.

24Life: What’s your go-to workout or group exercise class?

JR: I love walking on the treadmill. The fact that I can walk on the treadmill, do two, three miles at a time like it’s nothing and I can watch TV while doing it and still get exercise. I just love it, love it, love it, love it. I love stretching. So anything on a foam roller. I love the TRX. I’m still learning with them, but I love them because I can feel it. I feel it immediately as soon as I do a set. It’s like I can feel myself getting stronger. I like Pilates. Now, I didn’t know before I joined the gym that a guy could do Pilates because I don’t know any, but I enjoy it. [It’s] hard, but [it’s] so rewarding and so fun to do.

24Life: What stresses you out and how do you de-stress?

JR: Deadlines—I work in a very hard deadline type of business. Even getting to work can be stressful in Houston traffic. And just being tired and knowing that there are things that I still have to do, that’s stressful. So one of the things I like to do is I go to the gym and I take all that stress and I use it as motivation. I work out and I feel great afterwards. But I have to keep telling myself, “Get in there, do what you have to do.” And 100%, every single time, I feel fantastic after.

24Life: What’s your power meal or power food?

JR: I love grilled chicken. I have so much chicken at home and I love grilling it; I love preparing it in different ways. I try different marinades. I love eating it with vegetables, mixed veggies. I will steam broccoli, corn. And before I work out, I try to have one piece of fruit, maybe an apple with peanut butter on it.

24Life: Any tips for a good night’s sleep?

JR: I try not to work out too late in the day. So with my schedule, I’m off around lunchtime and then I’ll go eat. I might go take care of some errands, do stuff at home, then I go workout in the early to mid-afternoon. And I don’t eat after 7:00 o’clock. [When] 7:00 o’clock comes, I make sure I am already fed, that I don’t need any more food for the night and I shower. I take a shower at the end of the day, obviously after the workout. But even on the days when I’m resting and I’m not working out, I’ll still shower at the end of the day just to get that day off of me. And I feel great after a warm shower and it helps me sleep better.

24Life: Where do you find inspiration?

JR: My kids inspire me because I can play right along with them and I’m not tired. I find that my trainer inspires me because she encourages me to keep on going. She gives me goals that I can hit. When I go to the gym, I’m motivated by watching other people work out too because I know they’re just like me. They’re trying to change their lives for the better as well. And I like the way I feel when I leave the gym. I have more energy. I feel clean inside and I want more of that.

24Life: What’s at the top of your playlist?

JR: I love songs that motivate me. I love songs that have a hard guitar riff, I like a driving rhythm. So when it comes to rock and roll, I love Bryan Adams’ “Summer of 69,” that’s my number one. For alternative, “Sweetness” by Jimmy Eat World. If I’m feeling just happy and I just want to get my stuff done, I’ll listen to more pop music like New Order “Bizarre Love Triangle.”

Recently played on Sunny 99.1

“I Love Rock n’ Roll,” Joan Jett and the Blackhearts

“Hero,” Enrique Iglesias

“Beat It,” Michael JAckson

“All Star,” Smash Mouth

“Scars To Your Beautiful,” Alessia Cara

“Every Breath You Take,” The Police

Photo credit (top to bottom): avdyachenko, Thinkstock; ICV Digital Media