In this episode, Richard Alvarez, Ohizua Russel and Sergio Lopez make the case that your body is the first investment, not the last: Richard shares the jiu-jitsu medals and 40-pound weight loss behind his year, and the three compare notes on the habits that actually stuck. Along the way they explain why discipline in the gym tends to show up in business, and why the goal is something you can sustain for life, not a six-week sprint.
Get Rich or Rent Trying is usually about money and Long Island real estate. This week the hosts step back to the thing that makes the rest possible. Richard arrives wearing silver medals from jiu-jitsu competitions. He started training in March, has competed twice, and says he has lost about 40 pounds in the past year while adding muscle. Now a father, he frames it plainly: money is one part of life, and when he is not in shape and not feeling confident, it shows up in his business and at home.
Ohizua, who says he has taken care of himself since high school, cites a statistic he has seen that there are more millionaires than people with a six-pack. His point is not about abs: if you are not taking care of yourself now, the money you make later ends up going to the hospital. Sergio adds that you cannot build a business if you are always sick.
Three takeaways
- Put something on it. Richard’s weight loss started with a goal of three gym days a week and a bet with Ohizua: miss the three days, pay $100. Ohizua admits he collected $200 to $300 a month at first, with photo check-ins from the gym. Then the payments stopped, because Richard kept showing up. Find an accountability partner; it was never about the money.
- Start smaller than you think. Richard says five days a week should not be the goal; three or four, something you can keep for life, and you will go more because you like it. Ohizua goes further: start with one day a week, and make new habits tiny. His reading habit began with a timer and 60 seconds a day. One host shares an audiobook story about a woman whose life changed starting with a single 10-minute walk a day.
- Discipline transfers. Ohizua brings up a podcast guest Richard had mentioned who refuses to do business with anyone out of shape. Richard calls it extreme, but partially true: if you cannot follow a protocol on your own time, why would anyone trust you to follow one in business? Pushing off your health usually means other things are being pushed off too.
The conversation also gets honest about why eating well is hard: a family trip to the Bronx Zoo turned up chicken fingers, fries, hot dogs and burgers and little else. The three compare notes on fasting and mindset, and are quick to say they are not doctors. The payoff they describe is practical: clearer mornings, less reliance on coffee, and a lead text that gets a call back now instead of “later.”
In their words
“Money is just one part of life, right? But if I’m not looking my best, if I’m not in shape, I’m not feeling confident, all right? That affects my business and my personal life.”
— Richard Alvarez
“It’s not about the money. It’s more about, you know, having that accountability, having someone to push you.”
— Ohizua Russel
“You give your body that time to reset itself and recover. It’s just amazing. And it has had such a good positive effect on my business.”
— Sergio Lopez
Frequently asked questions
What does a fitness episode have to do with buying or selling a home on Long Island?
Stamina. A house sale here typically runs 60 to 90 days from accepted offer to closing, longer for a co-op, on top of the prep and showings before it. The hosts’ rule of one easy step a day is how clients get through it without burning out.
Does it matter how quickly my agent or loan officer responds?
Yes. In August 2026 the median Nassau County home went under contract in about a month, and more than half sold above asking. The hosts tie their own energy to response time: a lead that gets a call now, not later. Ask any agent you interview how fast they return a Saturday text.
I am busy. How do I get a house ready to sell without it taking over my life?
Treat it like the three-days-a-week rule, not 75 Hard: one closet, one room, one contractor quote at a time, starting four to six weeks before you want to list. We will tell you which items buyers actually notice.
Should I get my finances in shape before I talk to a lender?
Talk first; a pre-approval conversation costs nothing and shows you exactly what to fix. Episode 3 covers the credit card and car payment side: Ep. 3: Personal Finance Tips Credit Card Companies Don’t Want You to Know.
Watch the full episode
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qDE68usajMg
Thinking about your next move?
Start with the number: get a free home value estimate at https://teammodernx.com/how-much-is-my-home-worth/, then contact Richard at (631) 316-3654 or through teammodernx.com/contact. English and Spanish.