MANILA, Philippines — Mark Anthony Barriga is now in Los Angeles counting the days before he battles Mexico’s undefeated Carlos Licona for the vacant IBF minimumweight crown at the Staples Center on Saturday and he’s not in the least worried about making the 105-pound limit because of a nutrition program prepared by fitness coach Jeaneth Aro.
Two months ago, Barriga’s trainer Joven Jimenez sought out Aro on lawyer Bobbet Bruce’s advice. Bruce was introduced to Aro when she worked with the national youth golf team and later asked her to plan a nutrition program for his daughter Samantha, a scholar parbuster at San Jose State.
“Atty. Bruce knew about my work with Hidilyn (Diaz) so he understands the importance of nutrition for athletic performance,” said Aro. “When I started with Mark, he weighed 130 pounds. After about seven weeks, he was down to 108 which was what he w eighed when he left for L. A. last Thursday. I helped Mark with his weight loss. Mark is more comfortable with gradual weight loss rather than drastic weight cuts which is common practice among a lot of fighters. Si Mark mas gusto niya yun katulad sa amateur when it comes to achieving his fighting weight.”
Aside from weight management, Aro assisted in improving Barriga’s overall diet quality while optimizing his nutrition regimen to maximize strength, power and endurance. “I had to make sure that the headache and drama of weight cuts were taken out of the equation so that he could focus on physical and mental conditioning,” she said.
Aro met with Barriga, Jimenez and IBF superflyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas twice at their training facility Survival Camp in Magallanes, Cavite. They met on another occasion outside of the camp. “I’m in touch with Mark and the team every single day,” she said. “It’s my priority to ensure that he’s comfortable and he feels good with what we’re doing. I also ask for the coach Joven’s feedback daily to stay aligned with the goals for Mark. For me, being a proactive nutrition coach is particularly important not just for the welfare of the athlete but also for the ecosystem of the whole team. Mark responded really well and told me it’s the first time he experienced an effortless weight cut.”
Aro said Barriga and Ancajas are particular with their food. “At the onset, I was advised in our assessment that they don’t want food or dishes they’re not used to eating,” she said. “Since I’m used to customizing meal plans, I included only Filipino food they like. This has always been my approach with all of my clients so that the program is not only doable but also sustainable.”
Aro, 37, is the personal sports nutrition coach of Diaz, jiu-jitsu world champion Meggie Ochoa, Youth Olympics archery gold medalist Gabriel Moreno, Barriga, Ancajas and Rio Olympian boxer Charly Suarez who just turned pro. She’s also the nutrition coach of the UP taekwondo team, La Salle Greenhills swimming squad and ABAP. At the recent Asian Games, Aro worked with five of the country’s 21 medalists.
Since implementing sports-specific nutrition programs over 10 years ago, Aro has proved time and again the essence of collaborating the discipline of sports, fitness and nutrition in handling hundreds of athletes. Aro, a registered nutritionist-dietician, has conducted numerous nutrition and fitness counseling for various corporate clients, including the “healthification” of canteen meals.
The oldest athlete Aro has coached is 58 years old and the youngest is a nine-year-old figure skater. “I’ve worked with people from all walks of life, from elementary students to Master’s degree holders,” she said. “Some are from humble living conditions, like collegiate and national athletes who are dependent on school and government allowances. Some are from well-to-do families. Athletes I’ve worked with include elite national athletes, professional athletes and those who are up-and-coming in different parts of the country. I was with TNT for three years and Meralco in the PBA, Gilas and the Smart pro cycling team. My only employment from the very beginning has been my own nutrition consulting business, Nutrifit Nutrition Consultancy Services.”