Body Talk with Olivia Medina & Tom Esconde: What does it take to be a Century Tuna Superbod?

It’s more than just a state of body, it’s also a state of mind.

Every year since the search for Century Tuna Superbods search started in 2006, the two winners (one male and one female) have one thing in common ­— a sound mind in a sound body. “It has always been the vision of Century Tuna Superbods to encourage our consumers to get healthy by living right,” said Gela Gamboa, Century Tuna marketing manager.

This year’s winners, Olivia Medina and Tom Esconde, perfectly fit the bill.

It requires hard work, agreed Olivia and Tom, something to be taken seriously. It’s a stiff competition.

How did they prepare for the competition?

“Well, I definitely had to tell myself JUST DO IT and enter the first audition,” said Olivia, a first-timer in any contest. “I worked on breaking down my shy shell and once I made the finals, I started to focus more on strengthening my body by eating healthier and working out more often at the gym and understanding what were my strengths and weaknesses. Ultimately, your competitor should really be yourself because the whole point of being a Superbod is to enlighten or share the knowledge you have about being fit and healthy. It’s not just about being better than everyone, so you have to prepare mind and body.”

“Proper diet and training,” said Tom who has competed in various martial arts events. “The biggest challenge was preparing myself mentally by going to the competition with a good attitude of being a better version of myself.”

Olivia’s father is Filipino (born and raised in the Philippines) and her mother is Ukrainian (born and raised in Canada).

Olivia: I love my love life, I’m super happy, super in love, and enjoying the good times and learning through the not-so-good times.

About Olivia: “My father migrated to Canada where he met my mother; they worked in the same building. Six months after they met they were married and are still together to this day! My parents raised me in a Christian home so faith is very important in our family.

“I have one sibling. She is three years older than me, married and has a daughter. I’m very close to her and her family; we don’t like to keep secrets from one another. My parents raised me, always teaching me about the importance of each member’s role in the family, and that there should always be unity.”

About Tom: “My father was Filipino who went to Sweden in the late ’70s. He was in a band and they toured around a lot of countries, including Sweden. That was how he met my mom. He passed away in 2005.

Tom: Honesty is the most important thing in a relationship so a lying woman turns me off.

“I was brought up with two siblings; I’m the youngest. Tim, my older brother, used to work in the military and has been deployed in Yugoslavia and Afghanistan for a couple of tours. Sheela, the middle child, is a make-up artist currently working at a store in my hometown. My siblings and I were raised Christian in a town called Vasteras.

“We all went to the same preliminary school and we always hung out with each other, so I miss them a lot when I’m here. I also have more siblings in the Philippines, Canada and Japan. I guess my dad was a rolling stone.”

Olivia stands 5’8”, weighs 110 lbs., measures 32-24-35 and wears small-size shirt. She has a high school diploma (1991).

Tom is a six-footer, weighs 154 lbs., chest is 41”, biceps 16.5”, thigh 33.5” around both closed legs and waistline is 33”. “My vitals are all good,” he claimed. He wears medium-size shirt and (European) size-42.5 shoes. He’s an Aries (March 31). Educational attainment: Studied in a school of arts.

How do you take care of your body?  

Olivia: By being active. I love hiking, so every time I plan a trip to the beach I always try to find hiking trails. I really enjoy yoga; it’s such a perfect way to strengthen your core. Of course, working out in the gym, lifting weights and doing a lot of circuit training.

Tom: I treat my body as my temple. I love eating healthy and I love training. All types of training from running to yoga. And I always try to “feed” my mind with reading and trying new things that I think could be good for me.

How’s your diet?

Olivia: Eat healthy, not less. That’s what I always tell everyone! I keep a balanced diet and take note of my body. Knowing what your body can handle and not handle is also very important. I stay away from a lot of sugary products and I substitute things with natural sugars or sweeteners, etc.

Tom: My diet is basic. I track my fats, carbs and protein. If I ever eat “unhealthy,” I go harder on my running to burn those calories.

What’s usually for breakfast, for lunch and for dinner? Any snacks between meals?

Olivia: For breakfast, usually stick fruits. Each morning is different so if I’m in a hurry, I make a shake. If I have time to sit down, I’ll prepare a bowl of mixed fruits with nuts and cereal. Lunch and dinner are always different depending on my time schedule. But I usually take black or brown rice, grilled mixed veggies and I eat a lot of spinach. For snacks, I usually have something light because I like eating something heavier during meal times, so I stick with veggie chips, fruits or salad.

Tom: Here’s how I eat…Meal 1: Oatmeal. Meal 2: Vegetable omelette without the egg yolk. Meal 3: Turmeric rice with Century Tuna. Meal 4: Whey protein and a fruit. Meal: 5: Tumeric rice with Century Tuna or chicken. Meal 6: Vegetable omelette without the egg yolk. I eat every three hours from waking up until I go to sleep.

What vitamins do you take?

Olivia: I don’t really take vitamins every day. I believe that if you are eating healthy, you get the vitamins your body needs. But every now and then, I take multivitamin or biotin because it’s good for the hair skin and nails.

Tom: I get all the vitamins that I need from my meals.

How much water do you take per day?

Olivia: I should be drinking two liters a day but let’s be real. I don’t do it every day, hahahaha! But on average my intake of water is about one-half liter a day.

Tom: Around two to three liters per day. 

What workout do you do?

Olivia: Circuit training so it’s a lot of things you can do at home and or in a park near by. It requires very basic materials that are easy to substitute or can’t go to a gym, such as dumbbells, medicine ball, yoga mat.

Tom: I do cardio and abs workout every other day. And gym five days a week.

Your body looks perfect. Any part that needs improvement?

Olivia: I think there is always room for improvement, perhaps not to the extreme. But whether it’s the inside or the outside of me, I always strive to improve all areas of myself.

Tom: I always strive to become better in all parts of my body.

What part is your favorite?

Olivia: My waistline. I work hard to keep a slim waistline. I also like my abs.

Tom: My shoulders. My favorite part to work on is my legs.

What part of a man’s/woman’s body do you notice first?

Olivia: His arms.

Tom: Her eyes.

What kind of man/woman turns you off?

Olivia: Negative personality turns me off big time. I like a person who is positive and open-minded, someone who can enjoy the simple things in life. Someone who empowers others rather than putting them or things down.

Tom: Honesty is the most important thing in a relationship so a lying woman turns me off. 

How much sleep do you get per night?

Olivia: I try to get more than six hours. On average, I’d say five to six hours.

Tom: I strive to get eight hours but I usually get only six hours.

Favorite sleepwear?

Olivia: Lace or silk night slips.

How many pillows do you sleep with?

Olivia: Three. One for my head, one between the legs because I am a side sleeper and I hate it when my knees touch, and one against my back so it feels like someone is snuggling me. But since I’m in relationship, I transferred it to my chest so I can hug it! 

Tom: Two pillows.

Last thing that you do before you go to sleep?

Olivia: Look at my phone; either check my Instagram or set my alarm clock.

Tom: Wash my face, brush my teeth and do my night prayer.

First thing that you do as soon as you wake up?

Olivia: Say good morning either to my boyfriend or my cats or dogs.

Tom: Focus on my goals, eat breakfast and then go to the gym.

How’s your nightlife?

Olivia: Netflix and chill. I’m a homebody.

Tom: I work a lot and I don’t party so my nightlife is pretty much just to sleep as much as I can. And when I have time off and not working out? Netflix is my friend.

How’s your love life?

Olivia: I love my love life, I’m super happy, super in love, and enjoying the good times and learning through the not-so-good times.

Three women that you find sexy?

Tom: That’s a pretty personal question, but I have a girlfriend and I think that’s all you need to know.

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