Professional Soccer Player

RODRIGO GARDUÑO

has brought his fitness passion beyond the field to design a program that responds to the needs of his clients to improve their self esteem and confidence.

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Q: Where are you from?
A: I was born in Mexico City

Q: How long have you been in Miami?
A: I moved to Miami with my wife and two daughters in 2017

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Q: What was your career path?
A: I started my life in amateur soccer at age 12 and by the time I turned 17 I had debuted in professional soccer, having played for some of Mexico’s leading first division teams such as los Rayos de Nexaca and los Monarcas de Morelia as well as other teams in the US and Chile.

When I was 29, my soccer career came to an end, something that led me to suffer from depression. I went from training every day, for 20 years, to having basically nothing to do all day.

That was the moment when several companies started contacting me to inspire their employees and motivate them to exploit all their potential through sports. All of a sudden I was giving keynote speeches at conferences on personal development in 34 countries from around the world.

I urged people to leave their comfort zones and aspire to more in life, to stop being spectators and become major players.

After four successful years of lectures, in 2012 I decided it was time to enter the fitness industry in Mexico by creating a 54-day training program that works mind and body to achieve maximum performance, the first program in the country to use high intensity training discipline.

Behind 54D, there’s decades of experience as a professional soccer player, personal training, motivational speaking and author of several research studies.

54D is a system based in discipline, willpower, character, passion, heart, that not only helps on a physical level but also boosts self-esteem.

With studios in Mexico and Colombia, the location in Coral Gables steals the spotlight, set at a 5,000-sq-foot studio which includes a wide range of training equipment as well as cryotherapy, infrared saunas and Normatec equipment for recovery.

Q: Who influenced you the most?
A: My parents were definitely my main source of inspiration growing up, teaching me the importance of discipline and working hard to achieve my goals. Of course, all of my coaches throughout my career, as well as my teammates, all added value to my life as a young kid and later as an adult.

Q: Can you describe that "moment" (experience, emotion,) when you knew that you were pursuing your passion?
A: Basically that moment materialized when I created 54D, something that led me to experience a great positive emotion because I knew back then that, through this new brand that we were developing, we would be helping people feel better about themselves and change their lives forever. It felt, and still feels today, like my true mission in life.

Q: What does a typical day look like for you? 
A: Same as everyone else I had a pre COVID-19 routine that consisted in waking up everyday at four in the morning to prepare everything for my first studio class at 6 a.m. with classes extending until noon and then resuming the group trainings at 5:30 p.m. until 7 at night.

If you refer to my new “quarantine routine”, I still wake up early and, after a quick breakfast with my family, I start working out on my own or with my 54D friend and “brother from another mother” Rodrigo de Ovando, the head coach for 54D in Miami where I live.

By 10:30 a.m. we start preparing everything for our daily IG Live training, which starts at 11 a.m. ET with more than 33K joining on average from Monday to Friday. After wrapping up the online class, I take a quick shower and have a light lunch with my family, something that I can enjoy with more time now that we are all at home due to the current situation.

In the afternoon, I usually take time to answer media requests, from TV to online outlets all around the world, something that usually takes all afternoon. We’ve been fielding a lot of requests because of the number of viewers we’ve had on our IG Live workout class every weekday morning with celebrities such as Adriana Lima and former New York Yankee Jorge Posada joining on a regular basis.

By nighttime, I usually spend quality time with my daughters, catching up on their new routines at home, now that school and extracurricular activities have been paused or gone online. Two days a week we host an IG Live specifically created specifically for kids to remain active and healthy during this quarantine, something that they love to do as the mini influencers they became.

Q: What have you liked most about your profession?
A: Sport is basically a platform for wellness, it generates endorphin and oxytocin levels that make you feel good and help with your self-esteem and confidence. My experience as a professional athlete has taught me that discipline is the most important component when looking to accomplish anything in life; and with that in mind, our core curriculum sets people on a path for success and happiness.

Q: What are some healthy tips you can share with us today?

A: Please see listed below my top healthy tips:
1. Avoid any white, refined flours
2. Avoid any refined sugars
3. Avoid eating carbs after 6 p.m.
4. Avoid drinking processed juices
5. Avoid the consumption of dairy products

Q: What are some of your “go-to” healthy snacks?

A: Dried fruits with almonds, protein bars, as well as chopped cucumber and celery.

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Q: On your cheat day, you have to have…

A: Pork greaves with lemon, salt and chili or a bag of Cheetos Crunchy.

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Q: Any projects in the works?

A: We are working on an online program that will provide a variety of different classes, with users that will be able to download an app and take part of the 54D movement from anywhere in the world, anytime.

This app will allow our followers to, no matter where they live, join our movement without having to leave the comfort of their homes.

We also plan to add more studios to our portfolio, with NYC being the next city to welcome 54D in 2020.
 

Q: What is something most people wouldn’t know about you?

A: 54D was recognized by Apple as one of the most important brands worldwide. I also conducted several important conversations regarding health in Mexico at the Senate of the Republic.
 

Q: What’s a quote you live by?

A: “Discipline doesn’t negotiate”, meaning that hard work and dedication are two aspects in
life that shouldn’t be compromised by any external factors that could lead us to give up.

 

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