Future Freaks #FitSpire of the Week: Jay Maryniak: "The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively."
#FitSpire of the Week: Jay Maryniak: "The greatness of a man is not in how much wealth he acquires, but in his integrity and his ability to affect those around him positively."
What gives someone the right to consider themselves a successful fitness model or personality in the industry? Is it the amount of covers one can land because of their physique? Could it be how many sponsors they are able to grab to help support them? Or is it the amount of money one can make between different modeling/ fitness gigs?
Everyone will tell you something different, but if there is one thing that is hard to disagree with, it’s the ability to promote and market yourself to others. Social media has begun to play a huge role in self marketing as an athlete, competitor, fitness model or personality in the Industry. These days, you don't need a modeling agency to help promote you, or a company to take you on as a sponsored athlete in order for you to be seen in the industry.
Someone who once could have been just an average fit person, now has the ability to transform themselves into a “Social Media Fitness Star!” If you put in the time, the effort, and truly have a passion for fitness, you can change yourself from just a face with a body, to a bona fide personality – someone able to inspire and motivate others on their own fitness journey!
Jay Maryniak, age 28, and hailing from New York, is proof that if you put in the time, effort, hard work in the gym AND the kitchen, and use social media as a tool to self-promote, you can turn your average health/fit lifestyle into a network that reaches out to endless amounts of people who want to take the time out to follow your journey.
Q: Tell m
e about your competitive history.
A: Muay Thai kickboxing and CrossFit.
Q: When did you get started on your fitness career/journey? What made you want to become more than just the average person living a healthy and fit lifestyle?
A: I started working out when I was twenty years old. Before then I was a full blown alcoholic and drug addict who barely ate and slept. I hit rock bottom at 20 and decided to get help.
I was an athlete when I was kid so I decided to take on martial arts when I got sober. Started with karate then Muay Thai kickboxing and mixed martial arts. While training for a fight I had coming up, I tried a CrossFit class at Hybrid Athletics in Stamford, CT. I fell in love with CrossFit immediately.
I never wanted to be average and actually didn't like being average at all. When I started seeing how amazing the CrossFit athletes were I knew that I wanted to be on that level. A year ago, on March 11, 2013, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes and my whole life changed.
Fortunately for me I was already a pretty healthy person so the transition to eating really clean and healthy had been somewhat easy. Having Type 1 diabetes isn't easy but has forced me to be even healthier and more fit. I have to constantly check my blood sugars especially before, during and after workouts which can be pretty challenging.
Since being on social media I've had the pleasure of being in contact with other Type 1 diabetics who are trying to work out and be healthy. This has totally inspired and motivated me to be as healthy and fit as I can be to show all diabetics in the world that being fit and healthy is possible for them.
Q: Being that you have a loyal social media following, what is some advice that you would offer someone wanting to increase their popularity in the Fitness industry? What tip can you give someone to help them build their following as well?
A: The best piece of advice I could give someone who's starting a fitness page of some sort is to make it all inclusive. There are a lot of really cool advanced moves out there that everyone is really impressed by, but most people can't do.
I've really made an effort to do it all and post advanced as well as beginner moves and to post progressions on how to perform the more advanced moves. Most of all, be true to yourself and post what you believe in and you can't go wrong.
Q: Do you consider this as your part/full time job or a hobby?
A: Instagram started off as just a hobby but has kind of turned into a part-time job.
Q: There are many people that motivate and are inspired by you. How does that make you feel knowing that there are people who take the time to see what you are doing day to day?
A: Honestly, Instagram has changed my life in a very positive way. To know that I'm inspiring and helping other people is amazing. I've gotten messages from younger kids saying that they want to be me when they grow up which is something I never thought I would hear in my lifetime. And ultimately all of my followers motivate the hell out of me to be the absolute best I can be. I think they may inspire me more than in inspire them.
Q: How does it feel knowing that somewhere, you are actually helping someone by motivating them to achieve their personal goals, just by posting your personal life and achievements on social media?
A: It's such a great feeling to know I'm helping people by just sharing my life experience. From the addiction in my earlier years to having diabetes, it's awesome to know that my hardships could possibly be helping someone. It's wild to know that I've reached people literally all over the world.
Q: Is there anyone who has motivated or inspired you to become the person you are today?
A: There are so many people that have inspired me. There are a group of athletes on Instagram that I have watched and learned from who definitely helped me get where I am today.
Q: How does your family feel about your lifestyle? What would you say to someone whose family does not support their lifestyle?
A: My family totally supports my lifestyle. My older brother Joe is really into working out as well. It would be so unfortunate if family didn't support a healthy lifestyle, but that does exist in our world. It's important to surround yourself with like-minded people. It makes things so much easier.
Q: Of all the social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, etc.), what do you think is the most effective to use in order to market yourself in this industry?
A: So far, I have found Facebook and Instagram to be the most effective. But all of social media can be beneficial. It's important to have as many people as possible to see you.
Q: What is your diet like? Do you eat clean all year round?
A: I hear that question a lot, "What kind of diet are you on?" I'm not on a diet. I eat healthy food as much as I possibly can, including lean meats, fish, vegetables, some fruit and a little starch and a few things in between.
The eating clean thing has b
ecome even important now that I have diabetes. When I'm eating really healthy my diabetes is easier to manage.
Q: What is your favorite cheat meal? How do you control yourself from going overboard when you decide to treat yourself?
A: That's a really hard to question to answer! Haha. It would be pizza. I love pizza! Followed by a chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream. How's that? My diabetes definitely keeps me from going off the deep end so to speak with the cheat meals. My disease gets much harder to manage when I'm eating unhealthy food.
Q: Do you take any supplements? What do you think is one of the most important supplements someone should take who is training constantly?
A: I barely take supplements. On occasion, if I'm really working out hard I'll have a very low carb protein shake. That's probably the one thing I would recommend to someone who's hitting the gym hard. I recommend a really clean protein source within a half hour after their workout.
Q: What’s your social media/contact information?
A: Instagram: @jtm_fitness
Facebook: @jtm_fitness
Q: Special thanks to:
A: Special thanks to family and friends and to all of my followers who motivate and inspire me every day!
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