Alyssa Diaz is a multifaceted actress known for her roles in popular television series such as "The Rookie," "Army Wives," and "Ray Donovan." While weight loss is a common topic of interest in the entertainment industry, focusing solely on that aspect diminishes Diaz's accomplishments and contributions to the acting world. This article will explore Diaz's career, her dedication to her roles, and the importance of body positivity, while also touching upon the broader context of health and wellness in the entertainment industry.
A Look at Alyssa Diaz's Career
Born on September 7, 1985, Alyssa Diaz has built a successful career with recurring roles in various television series. Her early work included guest appearances on shows like "Southland," "CSI: NY," and "Lie to Me." Diaz gained recognition for her role as Jasmine on the ABC Family series "The Nine Lives of Chloe King" in 2011.
In 2012, she secured a recurring role as Gloria Cruz on "Army Wives," later becoming a series regular for the seventh season in 2013. Diaz also appeared in "The Vampire Diaries," showcasing her versatility as an actress. In 2016, she joined the cast of the CBS drama "Zoo" as Dariela. More recently, she played Mika Camarena in the Netflix series "Narcos: Mexico," further solidifying her presence in the industry.
Alyssa Diaz is also know from playing Angela Lopez on "The Rookie" for the first three seasons. As part of her role, Diaz mentioned her rigorous training process for the show to Starry Constellation Magazine. "We learned how to clear rooms. We learned how to arrest people."
Staying Fit for the Role
Actors often undergo specific training to prepare for their roles, and Alyssa Diaz is no exception. For "The Rookie," she underwent rigorous training to authentically portray a police officer. She mentioned how they learned to clear rooms and arrest people.
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Body Positivity and Self-Acceptance
Sara Rue, who has a recurring role as Nell Forester, has been open about her struggles with weight, and talked about her journey with Cosmopolitan. “Anyone who has ever tried to lose weight knows it’s such an emotional, complicated thing. As an actor, there are certain roles that you really can’t play or be cast in when you’re overweight. But I don’t want to sensationalize it; my weight loss was more of an internal thing, and it was about mentally and physically wanting to be in a place where I could feel really comfortable in my own skin. When I turned 30, I had this image of myself and where I wanted to be in five, in 10 years - but the reality of my situation just didn’t match up. It's no secret that I'm all in when it comes to everyone on this planet dropping excess body weight and getting fit and healthy. As someone who used to weigh over 450 pounds, I know what it's like to struggle to climb stairs (or even to not become winded or short of breath simply from talking on the phone). It's not rocket science. Losing even modest amounts of excess body weight offers major benefits. But I have learned from my journey from fat to fit that hating or shaming ourselves in regard to our excess body weight is not condusive for inciting permanent, positive change. Because this task of liking ourselves as we are in the now can be a challenge, I love when we can catch glimpses of body positive actors in favorite TV shows. This doesn't happen nearly enough in the media (which is why many of us have a skewed image of how we should look in the first place). We all come in different sizes. Recently, I've been enthralled watching the beautiful Alyssa Diaz who appears as a wrestler-dominatrix-and this season's love interest for Bunchy-on Showtime's Ray Donovan. Ms. Diaz not only owns her body size, but also exhibits a very confidant sexual prowess both on and off camera. And no, I'm not saying Ms. Diaz is heavy. It's sad that this kind of exhibition of the body beautiful doesn't crop up more often on screen. Therefore, when it happens, I want to call attention to it with thunderous applause. So kudos to Ms. Fact is, the more we accept and respect others (no matter who they are or what they look like), the more disposed we'll be to extending that kind of acceptance (and even kindness) to ourselves. It's true! You can do anything.
Health and Wellness in "The Rookie" Cast
The cast of "The Rookie" prioritizes their health and well-being in various ways. Nathan Fillion, who plays John Nolan, focuses on career longevity. Jenna Dewan, who plays Bailey Nune, emphasizes the importance of rest. Niecy Nash-Betts, who played the lead role of Simone Clark on the show’s spin off, enjoys acupuncture and sauna treatments, while Lisseth Chavez loves hiking.
- Nathan Fillion: Reflects on career longevity. Fillion talked about his career to The Toronto Sun. “For me, it seems like each project I do I’m saying to myself, ‘Oh my God, I finally made it.’ Here I am, I’m about to turn 52 and I’ve been in this business for 30 years. I’m still experiencing firsts. This is my first time on a prime-time, 8 o’clock show of my very own. This is my first time with a spinoff show.
- Jenna Dewan: Emphasizes the importance of rest. Dewan tells Shape Magazine that she makes sleep and rest a priority. “Rest is the hardest thing for me to come by, as I’m sure most people can relate, but I try to get as much as I can.
- Niecy Nash-Betts: Enjoys acupuncture and sauna treatments. Nash-Betts shared some of her wellness habits with Parade. “I’ve started a new life in acupuncture. It’s a weekly thing and that is something that I enjoy. And then I also bought an in-home or travel sauna. So maybe I cannot get down to a day spa to go sit in the sauna but I have one that I can travel with. And so, that’s an end of day routine cause once I sit in that sauna, forget about it! I’m toast after that. Having acupuncture I have found to just be a lovely gift to myself.
- Lisseth Chavez: Loves to go hiking to stay in shape. Chavez recently took a trip to Zion Narrows National Park, and shared highlights on Instagram.
- Melissa O’Neil: Combines hiking with pet companionship. O’Neil shared these videos on Instagram of herself hiking in the woods with her dog. She captioned it, “I Love this nug so much. We celebrated by going to Millard Canyon Falls. It’s a 50-ft waterfall not even a 30min drive away from home. Kind of blows my mind how beautiful it is here some times. With all the recent rain the water is flooowwwiinng.
- Kevin Zegers: Does a lot of outdoor workouts to stay in shape, and shares some of his favorites on Instagram. One thing Zegers likes to do is swim.
The Impact of External Factors on Weight Management
External factors, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, can significantly impact weight-related behaviors. A study examined the impact of self-quarantine on weight loss journeys during the pandemic. The study found that many participants experienced increased stress eating, higher food consumption, and reduced access to exercise facilities. This highlights the need for specific weight management guidelines that address the unique pressures brought about during lockdowns and similar situations.
Alyssa Diaz: A Nurse and Author
Alyssa Diaz is also a registered nurse and author. After graduating from the Conway School of Nursing at Catholic University in 2021, Diaz began her career as a pediatric nurse at Children’s National Hospital. Inspired by her experiences with young patients, she wrote "Penny's Port," a children's book that educates and promotes body positivity for children with implanted ports.
Diaz explained the purpose of a port to children, she was inspired to write Penny’s Port-her first children’s book. Penny’s Port tells the story of Penny, a nine-year-old girl with an implanted port, who helps young readers understand why she has one, how it works, and shares tips to make infusion days easier. The book not only educates patients and their families but also promotes body positivity for children at any stage of their port journey.
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Alyssa enjoys traveling, exercising, baking, and spending time with family and friends.
Inspiration Behind "Penny's Port"
Diaz was inspired to write "Penny's Port" after caring for a young patient who was getting a port. She wanted to create a descriptive story that would help children understand what a port is and why they might need one. The book aims to promote body image and encourage kids to share their stories, showing how their differences are nothing to be ashamed of.
The Publishing Process
Diaz found a publishing company and worked with an editor and illustrator to bring her vision to life. The process took about a year, with the back-and-forth with the illustrations being the most time-consuming part. Diaz was very specific about the medical details in the illustrations to ensure accuracy.
Future Vision for Healthcare Education
Diaz envisions using books and social media to educate and raise awareness about pediatric healthcare. She hopes to write another book about G-tubes to help children and families understand the process and feel more seen.
Catholic University's Role
Diaz had a great experience at Catholic University. She believes the university inspires nurses and provides them with new technology and knowledge to become better caregivers. Diaz also participated in the Spanish for Health Care Certificate program, which helped her learn about health literacy in Spanish and better educate Spanish-speaking families.
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