Pedro Bosque

Dietary Department Porter, Sodexo

Being proactive about his health has always just been part of who Pedro Bosque is. He grew up in Puerto Rico, and as a teenager, he and his friends watched the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie Pumping Iron. The movie inspired Pedro and, unlike his friends, he began a health routine that he still follows today. “Everyone else said they would too. But I was the one who stuck with it,” he said. “Now, all these years later, I have no health conditions. I’m not a bodybuilder, but because of healthy living, I’m in better shape than a lot of people I know who are much younger than me.”

When Pedro first started working out, he realized pretty quickly that he genuinely enjoyed it. So, when he moved to New York, he brought that routine right along with him. These days, he exercises five days a week. Four of those days, he heads to a nearby gym after work to lift weights and then walks the 30 minutes it takes to get home. Once a week, he skips the gym and goes straight home to focus on aerobic exercises instead.

Pedro likes to make sure he hits every muscle group, so he works on two body parts a day. That way, he covers everything from head to toe. He saves weekends for rest, so he can stay energized during the week. And he’s excited to check out the Benefit Funds’ YouTube channel as a new source of inspiration. “Even though I’ve been exercising for a long time, I’m always looking for videos online to motivate me,” he said.

Listen to Pedro’s story.

Pedro recently turned 64, and he’s spent an impressive 43 years working as a Dietary Department Porter with Sodexo-SUNY Downstate. He’s proud to help provide meals for hospital patients and staff, and he’s just as committed to paying attention to what he eats. He loves protein shakes and enjoys steaming chicken or fish—especially tuna and salmon—with his girlfriend of 21 years, Rebena.

Many of Pedro’s relatives have struggled with obesity, so he made it a priority early on to stay in control of his eating habits. Still, he’s not overly strict. “On the weekends, maybe I’ll have a slice of pizza or a burrito,” he said. “But then it’s right back to healthy eating!”

He likes to stay informed about nutrition, so he reads as much as he can about what foods to choose and what to skip. He also keeps track of his calories and brings homemade meals to work to help him stick to his plan. “It’s a small sacrifice,” he said. “I’m 145 pounds, and I want to keep it that way.”

That’s why Pedro is such a big fan of the Benefit Funds’ Healthy Living Resource Center. “Being healthy makes me feel young,” he said. “Once I got started, it just became a part of my routine. I encourage my fellow members to check it out and try it too. You don’t have to be extreme—even 30 minutes of exercise a day instead of watching TV, plus some healthy eating, can make a big difference.”

Because of the lifestyle he’s built, Pedro can keep enjoying the things he loves, now and when he eventually retires and starts making the most of his 1199SEIU pension benefit. He’s also grateful to have the energy to support his girlfriend, Rebena, who’s a recent cancer survivor. “We have fun just walking around and traveling,” he said. “And when I’m here for her, I can help make sure she stays in remission. We don’t have to go far, but we always have a good time together.”

In the meantime, Pedro loves getting out on the water at Liberty State Park in New Jersey when the weather’s warm. He also enjoys riding his bike, which he says does wonders for his mental health. “Riding my bike relaxes my mind,” he said. “I play some music on my headphones and go. And now that it’s spring and the weather is nice again, I can’t wait to get out there. Healthy living—that’s what it’s all about!”