5 Fitness Love Stories
We can find love everywhere we look. We just need to open our eyes. Every day we encounter beautiful, epic love stories whether we know it or not. Even in the most hardcore, gritty gyms.
What would possess someone to turn their life around to get fit? Why do some people get up three hours earlier than usual or give up going out and drinking just to train?
It must be love. Every single person has a different reason for getting fit — from falling in or out of love, to loving themselves or taking care of their loved ones.
These five individuals, in love with fitness, are all finalists in BodyCon 3.0 that will be held this Friday, Jan. 26, at the AFP Theater.
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Post me a note at mylene@goldsgym.com.ph or mylenedayrit@gmail.com.
Carlo Padilla
As a kid, Carlo was morbidly obese, addicted to soda, junk food and cartoons. It took a while, but he eventually lost weight and found the fun in fitness. Carlo got into playing sports and bodybuilding. He didn’t excel in either, though, and got discouraged.
Then, he realized that he was working out for the wrong reasons. “It took a while to develop some level of maturity and realize that vanity has no place in fitness,” he explains. “It dawned on me that I should work out not because I hate the way my body looks, but because I love my body and I want to take care of it,” Carlo shares.
“Today, I’m currently working as a manager and coach for an international gym chain. I quit my role as an engineer for a construction firm with one goal in mind: share my love for fitness,” he beams. “There’s nothing more inspiring than being able to do better than your previous self. And when that happens, the abs will follow,” he concludes.
May Chelle Baay
“I was always physically tired after I had a baby in 2010 — tired from work, driving and all the mommy duties. Most of all I was tired of looking in the mirror and seeing a person I didn’t like who was always weak and who always got sick,” May Chelle shares.
“But I am also that person who gets things done with grit,” claims May Chelle, who, aside from being the vocalist of rock band Moonstar88, is finishing up her MBA from the Bradford University School of Management. Shortly after giving birth, she started hitting the gym.
With her rock music career, it wasn’t easy. “Discipline was key. Science was even more instrumental,” she claims. May Chelle started out just doing cardio and now lifts weights, does HIIT and circuit training.
These five individuals, in love with fitness, are all finalists in BodyCon 3.0 that will be held this Friday, Jan. 26, at the AFP Theater.
Kirsten Zapata
Kirsten never went through a drastic physical transformation. For her, fitness was an escape.
“During the latter part of 2016, I really felt like my life was falling apart. It all made sense after I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder II,” Kirsten shares.
“One of the most important things that fitness has taught me is to always have the mindset that I have to come out stronger. You always have to push yourself to go beyond the limits that your mind has set for you and finish strong,” she adds. “I learned to face my thoughts and show that I am stronger than my illness,” Kirsten concludes.
Joseph Lansangan
Joseph was never fit. This all changed when he and his girlfriend decided to get married. He started lifting weights but didn’t improve his unhealthy habits. “In April 2014, I was diagnosed with liver and kidney damage. I was brought to the Intensive Care Unit and battled for my life,” Joseph shares.
“While I was in the ICU, I sincerely prayed to God to cure me and spare my life. I prayed I would cherish my life by taking good care of my health and the people I love,” he recalls. After a few days, he was out of the hospital. A year later, he started his fitness journey.
“I am a husband and a dad now. To this date, I am at my fittest and healthiest, all because of the love of God.”
Jazper Tiongson
Growing up in a foodie family, Jazper was fat until third year high school. “Then came that high school moment when I liked this girl. Her friends told me that I was cute but fat… It was life-changing,” he recalls. He dedicated the rest of his junior year and summer break to losing weight. From 185 lbs., he shrunk to 128 lbs.
Jazper didn’t get the girl but that year changed his life. He learned the determination that helped him for the rest of his life. “I got to finish school with flying colors with this determination. I got into my dream job as a media consultant, pursue my passion in performance (hosting, singing and dancing) and even push myself into new ventures like teaching Zumba and vlogging.”
“I believe that I work out to live. When you nourish your body and challenge it, it gives you more ability to take on more tasks in life with a lot more vigor and enthusiasm. I feel that I am limitless,” he concludes.
