I was originally from the Philippines and moved to the US back in 2014 to work as a computer programmer and to pursue the Hollywood dream. Though the pay was good, I couldn’t find the satisfaction and I felt like I’m growing old for nothing. In Aug 2017, I’ve decided to pursue my singing career since music has been my number 1 passion since I was a kid. I did a vocal polyp removal surgery which messed up my vocal range. I couldn’t get back to singing and be really depressed at that time. I was devastated because I was left with nothing. I lost my job, ended my relationship and all of my plans were ruined. I couldn’t find any outlet for my emotions since I’ve lost my voice that time until my co-worker invited me to the gym to work out. Since I love challenges, I fell in love with the training and the positivity it brought to my life. It completely saved me from depression and gave me a different perspective on life. Opportunities and different doors were opened for me which I never imagined having in the past. The best part is meeting new people who have the same goals and vision as me.
Age:
35
City:
I currently reside in Van Nuys, CA.
Occupation details:
I’m a Personal Trainer.
Relationship status:
Single.
Fitness Goals:
To reach more people around the globe to inspire and motivate when it comes to fitness, health, and lifestyle.
Transformation story:
I was feeling weak and intimidated by the people at the gym. I remember there was this one girl who looked at me from head to toe and judged me from the way I look. I couldn’t even do one push-up and my form was bad in any exercise. I’ve decided to get a personal trainer to help me correct my bad habits and since then, I’ve been training consistently and gain confidence in training. It wasn’t an easy route, there were days when I didn’t want to go to the gym but pushed myself because I needed it. I would always find an excuse, not to work out but I’ve learned self-discipline along the way not only at the gym but also applied it to my daily life. I’ve always devoted three hours of my time training at the gym to learn new stuff and even changed my training schedule from night time to early mornings. Training in the mornings at 5 am is the best as I feel energized throughout the day. Every day I’m learning new stuff and discovering new with my body. It takes time, sacrifice, a lot of patience, dedication, hard work to achieve the body’s maximum potential.
Training Plan:
- Monday – Back & Biceps & Abs.
- Tuesday – Legs & Glutes & PLYOs.
- Wednesday – Chest & Abs.
- Thursday – Rest Day.
- Friday – Rest Day.
- Saturday – Shoulders & Triceps.
- Sunday – HIIT exercises.
Thoughts on HIIT, Powerlifting, TRX, Yoga, bodybuilding, others?
- I am a big fan of HIIT. I love incorporating HIIT into my workout routine as this makes my metabolism faster and makes me younger from the inside out. I love doing bodyweight HIIT exercises the most as I find these more challenging than the usual bodybuilding route.
- Powerlifting is good but my fitness goal is not towards it. I’ve worked with other fitness trainers who are powerlifters and their strength is unbelievable. They tend to eat more as they needed to fuel their bodies which is the opposite for me because I build lean muscles.
- I’ve incorporated TRX on some of my workouts, and it’s very useful for strength training. People at the gym should also do TRX training once in a while to continuously confuse the body and not reach a plateau.
- I’m also a certified yoga barre teacher so yoga for me is the best for flexibility exercises. Yoga taught me good techniques on how to prepare muscles and stretch them before using them for exhaustion to prevent any injuries. I think most bodybuilders tend to neglect these flexibility exercises which caused them a lot of muscle tension and injuries.
- Bodybuilding for me is the best for people who want to sculpt their bodies the way they want to. It needs a lot of time, patience, dedication, and nutrition to achieve the best version of oneself. Whenever I compete, I would always go ALL IN. I would hit the gym twice a day and be consistent with my diet. Of course, having a personal trainer on the side will help big time
Nutritional & Supplements:
My diet would consist of high protein and low carb to stay lean all year round. I do cheat meals once a week to satisfy my cravings. I also take collagen, vitamin C, Zinc, Fish Oil, and Turmeric as my supplements.
Do you prefer to take all-natural (no sugar, no artificial colours/flavours/sweeteners) supplements or supplements with artificial flavours and sweeteners? And why?
I try to stay away from sugar or any colours/flavours/sweeteners on the supplements as much as possible. I’m more of natural supplements as this is healthier and doesn’t cause insulin spikes on my body. Staying away from sugar also helps me fight inflammation as I train 5-6x a week.
If you have 100 tokens in total and you could apply them to the following categories, how many would you apply to each?
- Fitness level: 50
- Health level: 50
I would say both. I feel like, I’m getting younger and able to reach my body optimization as I age. For me, age is just a number. As long as you keep on moving and keep on eating healthy, you can do a lot of things with your body. I’m always out and about and been exposed to people who got Coronavirus but luckily I tested negative. I’m really blessed and thankful that I have a strong immune system right now. Staying active boosts my health to the highest level!
Is weight loss more of a fitness issue or a health issue in your opinion and why?
For me, it’s more of a health issue. Not all people who go to the gym are really fit or trying to lose weight. Some people especially the old ones are there to just stay active and keep moving. They don’t go to the gym to lose weight. But for those people who are not active and don’t do anything but stay at home, eating unhealthy foods, sitting on the couch for hours have more issues with weight loss. They aren’t motivated enough to exercise thus losing weight is a huge problem and causes sickness. It may be heart problems, or they’re more prone to injuries since their bodies are not used to moving. Nutrition is a big factor in health. When I was younger, I thought it’s normal to just grow old, gain weight and get sick but as I get knowledgeable in fitness & health, I became aware that being fit, staying active, and fueling my body right can fight this aging process thus staying and feeling young can be easily achieved.
Special skills?
I am also a singer, dancer and can play sports like volleyball and basketball.
What do your parents mean to you? What did they teach you?
I’m very family-oriented and grew up with their supervision. They’re my strength and inspiration. They taught me to be nice, kind, humble all the time. Treat people good no matter how they treat you back. And be strong and courageous in every struggle I face.
Can you describe the Status Arnold model search? What was that like?
I love the experience! That was my first time attending Arnold’s event and I met a lot of amazing people with the same vision and goals! I’ve learned a lot from that experience and inspired me more to do better with my fitness.
How did it differ from regular physique events? Would you do it again?
I love it because it’s like a pageant and lets me showcase my personality and creativity on the stage. I had the freedom to express myself more showcasing not only my physique but overall. And yes I would definitely do it again!
Having Status involved in the Model Search how big of the addition was that?
I think Status would give a better opportunity for the people who joined the competition like me to be known and reach more people in regards to fitness and health and to be able to share inspiring stories on how they started with fitness and how they choose to continue to do it despite obstacles that come in the way.
What separates Status from other fitness magazines?
I never knew Status until I joined Arnold Model Search last year. I got excited and had wishful thinking of being featured in the magazine. Dreams do come true. Now I’m filling up these Q&As with a wide heart open. I love the people behind it and the success/transformation stories of the featured athletes. It’s not just showing how to fit the models are but the stories of how they achieve the look and struggles behind it. It’s more relatable to people and inspiring to read.
What would it mean to you to become the next Status Fitness Cover model?
This will be a big milestone in my fitness career! Been having this wishful thinking ever since I’ve started on my fitness journey. This will show that with perseverance, dedication, and hard work, anything is possible.
If you meet Status Editor-In-Chief, Rodney Jang, what question would you ask him?
I met Rodney last year in Columbus during the Arnold Model Search photoshoot. He is full of wisdom and this guy is very humble despite his achievements. If I’ll ever meet him again, I would ask him what’s his secret for success.
6 things people would not know about you?
- I’m fighting my demons every day because I always overthink and have high anxiety towards everything which makes it hard for me to sleep at night.
- I’m hopelessly romantic.
- I’m a very lovable person but I can also be a monster in just a snap when I got triggered.
- I easily laugh at any jokes.
- I choose people who to hang out with because I value my time.
- Most of my friends are gays because I feel secured with them.
Who inspires you?
My family inspires me the most
Who do you wish to inspire?
People who think that their life is over, that there is no hope for a better life.
Life goals:
My goal is to own a big gym that I can be branched out to different parts of the world. Have my own fashion/fitness clothing line and to be able to reach more people to inspire and motivate.
5 lessons you have learned?
- Your time is very valuable, choose wisely who you spend your time with.
- Always be open to learning new stuff. Hang out with people who are more experienced than you because they give good advice.
- Be stubborn about what you want to achieve in life, don’t stop grinding until you get it.
- Sometimes, you have to let go of what’s not meant for you. People or things that are meant for you will stay. Do not chase for it because it’s a waste of time and energy.
- Money or Power is nothing if you aren’t healthy. Health is still precious wealth.
Music and artist you listen to while training?
I listen to different Spotify playlist, most of the genres I listen to is hip-hop or something upbeat.
Favorite books and authors?
Managing Your Mind. The author is Gillian Butler, M.D. & Tony Hope, M.D.
5 most important attributes you see in a person?
- Trustworthy
- Reliable
- Persistent
- Positive Mindset
- Goal-Oriented.
Favorite Quotes:
- Don’t look for motivation. Find your WHY, then no excuses will come between you and your goals.
- Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.
- Be fearless in the pursuit of what sets your soul on fire.
- Great things never come from comfort zones.
Photograhper: Joe Mikoli
