Teen promotes self-development

Juanma Colombo focuses on personal development. Photos submitted

By Tom Victoria

Juanma Colombo embarked on a journey of self-improvement and is helping others do the same.

The content creator covers fitness, nutrition and developing a proper mindset. Juanma, 18, of Argentina explained why it’s important to achieve personal development.

“Personal development is essential for people because it is how they can connect with their best version and have a happier life,” he said.

Juanma is dedicated to helping others achieve self-improvement.

“I want to inspire a lot of other people,” he said. “But I have to inspire me first. You have to recognize the good things that you have and the good things that you could have and you want to have. Because if you are not good, you can help no one.”

Juanma prioritizes fitness to reach his goal.

“I train every day for my health,” he said. “It's very motivating to watch progress on your physique, be stronger every day.”

Juanma’s training varies.

“My workout is not strict or always the same,” he said. “I train every day. In recent days, I discovered that I can train with my body weight very well and it's not necessary to always go to the gym. You can have good results training with your body weight, too. And you can do it everywhere. It's not difficult and you don't need anything. I do the basic exercises well, push-ups or bench press, pull-ups, rows for the back, squats, deadlift.”

Juanma said the key is to improve oneself, not try to be what other people are.

“I try to enjoy the process always,” he said. “Don't compare yourself with other people.”

Jaunma mixes athletic endeavors into his regimen.

“I never count it,” he said about how long he spends training. “It could be one hour per day or more. Sometimes, I do a lot of activities or sports or I go cycling, but strength exercises are one hour a day.”

Juanma started working out a few years ago.

“I started in 2020, the pandemic,” he said. “I started training with my body weight. Then, I buy some training equipment. I kept training in my house since then.” 

“I train every day for my health. It's very moti-vating to watch progress on your physique.”

Juanma has an athletic background.

“I played football,” he said about the sport Americans call soccer. “I stopped playing football last year. But I played since I was 5 years old. I love that sport. It's very popular in Argentina. (professional player) Lionel Messi is from my city Rosario. I played football all of my life, but I stopped playing it because I have lots of things: the gym, the school, I study English, the fitness account. I wasn't enjoying it.”

Juanma’s feelings at the time led him to consider overall self-improvement, not just physical.

“I started searching information about it because I try to pay more attention to mental health,” he said. “That is really important, not only physical health. I try to tell it in my fitness account, too. But there are a lot of things you need to care your health. Not only physical to mental health, but your relationships, your economics. To have a purpose on life is very important.”

Juanma realized his mindset improved along with his fitness.

“When I started working out and becoming stronger, I noticed more confidence in me,” he said. “So, having more muscles grew my confidence. You have more strength and you can carry more weight.” 

Juanma is currently proceeding with a career in physical education, but wants to keep his options open.

“I want to do something that I really like,” he said. “There are lots of options, but it's important to have one purpose or an objective and keep going toward it. This objective has to be very important to you.” 

Juanma said motivation is tied to having an objective.

“If I can't do lots of exercise, no problem,” he said. “If I have to rest, I rest. But for motivation, I think the most important thing is recognize that it's important to training. It's good for you and you need it. If you have an objective that is really important to you, you will train. If you are sad or if you are angry, you will train.”

Juanma offered advice to those wanting to begin working out.

“You can start working out everywhere, in your house if you want,” he said. “Start doing some exercise with your body weight and try to progress every day. You have to want it. Because if you don't really want it, you will stop working out the first month or in the first few weeks.” 

Juanma said the first step in improving fitness doesn’t have to be one way for everyone.

“The mindset is very important,” he said. “Do something that you like. If you don't like weight training, it's not necessary to do weight training. You can go for a walk, go cycling with a friend. But weight training is important for your muscles, for your bones, for your mental health, too. I like weight training, but start with something that you like to start daily. Because the problem is sedentary life. Don't be in your house all the time and not have contact with nature. Move your body. And then if you want muscles, it's important to do weight training, but it's not complicated. People think that it's really complicated or difficult and it’s not.”

 Juanma’s Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/juanmafitness_/

 Juanma’s Youtube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@juanmacolombo

 Juanma’s TikTik: https://www.tiktok.com/@juanmacolombo_