This post is part of a series of Queerty conversations with models, trainers, dancers, and, well, people who inspire us to stay in shape–or just sit on the couch ogling them instead.
Name: Nick Stracener, 29
Occupation: Professional DJ and Flight attendant
What city are you based out of? Dallas, TX
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What is your favorite gym for working out? LA Fitness. I like being able to be surrounded by a lot of people when I’m working out. It’s inspiring.
Do you have a favorite exercise playlist? I listen to a lot of circuit music. There’s a DJ named Enrico Meloni; I play a lot of his mixes, and Roberto Ferrari. They both have hour-long tracks, so I don’t have to change my music during my workout.
What’s the best food to eat prior to a workout? For me, a handful of nuts like pistachios or almonds. Something light.
What’s the best outfit for working out? I like show off my arms, so a tank top. Then shorts down to my knees, usually dry-fit like Nike. I also wear long, black, dry fit socks. I have some heel problems, so I need my feet to be comfortable.
How do you balance staying in shape and having fun? If someone invites me to a restaurant [I ask] to choose a healthier option. I also eat in moderation.
What’s a basic, if useful, work out tip you can offer? Don’t expect immediate results. Hang in there. Stick with it. Stay disciplined. Discipline will take you further than motivation.
What is it about DJ-ing that you find so satisfying? Sometimes I get nervous and can’t express myself with words. DJ-ing I can express myself emotionally through the lyrics from the songs I choose. I feel like I can tell a story. I love to see people smiling on the dance floor, especially if it’s a mix a put together myself. Honestly, it’s just to make people happy.
Everyone wants to be a party DJ these days. For you, how does a DJ arrive prepared? You double-check all your equipment and your flash drive. Emotionally, if I’m about to go to a gig, I have to get myself in the “zone.” I stay in my hotel room, take a hot shower, listen to soothing music. I have to be 100% focused. Sometimes you get a drama text from a friend; I ignore those. I deal with it later. Meditation has also been very helpful.
Related: Trainer Ian Armstrong on why you should take an edible before a workout
You’re someone that’s been very open about his battles with depression and mental illness. For you, how did they manifest?
I describe myself as an empath; it means I feel emotions a lot stronger than most people, be it negative or positive. I also take on the other emotions of people I’m around. To describe depression—whenever you’re sad or upset about something, it’s hard to get out of your head. We dwell on it. We let it affect our eating, sleeping, working out…our friendships and relationships.
How does depression interfere in your preparedness for everyday life?
Sometimes I’m not able to go to my flight attendant job. I do have FMLA [the Family Medical Leave Act] for my depression, so I can call out when I’m depressed or anxious. I can’t operate the door a of an airplane safely in my mental state. I’ve had to call in a whole month for depression before. I’m working on different ways to cope with that.
What kind of treatment did you seek?
I go to a therapist every one or two weeks. I also take an hour of “me” time every day. I make sure I get things done early in the morning. When I’m depressed or anxious, I do things to process my emotions. I work on music, my creative outlet. That allows me to express how I feel in a healthy way.
There is a stigma surrounding depression and mental illness. In your experience, why are people so unprepared to discuss it?
I think no one understands it. People are afraid to say the wrong thing. I think if people read up a little bit and were more informed about it, it would change. People are misinformed. We’re taught to have shame about or mental illness rather than reach out for help. It’s ok to ask for help. It’s ok to say “I’m not ok.” I’ve learned that often times, when we reach out to people for help, we do it as friends. Friends may not have the capacity to help. In those cases, it’s important to self-soothe. For me, music production is a creative outlet. It’s a way to be productive and have change in my own mind.
How does staying in good physical shape combat mental illness?
If I feel I look good, it makes me happier somehow. I suffer from body dysmorphia, and under COVID-19 I gained a few pounds, which can also worsen depression. It’s very hard for me to work out if I’m depressed about something, so I try to go to the gym in the morning before any sh*t can happen. I can feel the endorphins coming out after I work out.
What do you keep on your nightstand?
I keep a bottle of diet sweet tea, a night light, chap-stick a Vicks inhaler, and my headphones.
Bonus Pics:
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frapachino
Profound! He’s right up there with Nietzsche!
Chrisk
So he puts on a little weight and it sends him spiraling into a depression. Lord. Yeah, extreme vanity is so known to help depression.
I always got a kick out of the mythology that Circuit Parties were about the uplifting spiritual brotherhood between people. Yeah, it probably felt that way when you were high as a kite.
Liquid Silver
You say “high as a kite” like it’s a bad thing.
🙂
But…yeah.
WashDrySpin
When you place UNBELIEVABLE standards on yourself and you only interact with those who also embody and embrace these UNBELIEVABLE standard; all the while seeking money via your OnlyFans page due to your UNBELIEVABLE standards…NO WONDER YOU ARE DEPRESSED…
You are a perfect example of narcissism wrapped with insecurity topped with needing validation…
Liquid Silver
Over here in the real world, if you’re struggling with depression, reaching out to friends is perfectly OK, but please reach out for professional help as well. If you feel that balancing your diet and/or getting up the energy to get out of bed is completely beyond you because you’re depressed, this is normal. You may need a bit of rebalancing just to feel well enough to resume normal activities.
Therapy (which is mentioned in the article) and pharmaceutical help (which I didn’t see mentioned) are both available and you should never feel guilty or ashamed for reaching out.
You can start by reaching out to NAMI in your local area who will gladly help you locate a resource that will work for you.
Creamsicle
Let’s be real. This was a flimsy excuse for a queerty contributor to slide into and instagram thirst trap’s DMs.
DarkZephyr
You always make negative comments when Queerty posts about hot guys on a *GAY* vlog largely aimed at *GAY* men. It must suck to be threatened by male beauty. If you have a problem with it, stop coming here and go pick you up a copy of Sport’s Illustrated’s Swimsuit Edition.
IWantAFullBeard
As someone who has mental illness, I really appreciate him speaking to the issue. Exercise is not a panacea but It does wonders for anxiety. The only thing I would change in the story is removing the focus from appearance and “staying in good shape” – neither of which have a material affect on ones mental health – to encouraging movement in all people of all body types. Eating has far more effect on body fat than exercise. But exercise is far more important on mental health than strictly what one eats (of course it all plays a role to some degree). Because I don’t want people to feel if they are overweight they can’t work out or feel good about themselves. They can.
Yooper
“I describe myself as an empath”, what a load of manure. Shallow would be a more fitting moniker. Try putting on a pair of jeans and tee shirt, stop plucking your eyebrows, take a selfie break, and eat a plate of biscuits and gravy, you’ll be fine.