Body Talk with Dawn Zulueta

Three days after she gave birth in October last year to Jacobo, her and husband Anton Lagdameo’s first child, Dawn Zulueta recalled crying and crying uncontrollably. Post-partum blues?

"Partly," said Dawn, "but mostly because Jacobo was born premature (at seven months and a half). He was in an incubator for two weeks."

With Jacobo now healthy at seven months old, Dawn is paying attention to shedding avoirdupois she had gained during her pregnancy. From 118 lbs., she ballooned to 155 lbs. and shrank to 146 lbs. after she delivered Jacobo by Caesarian section at the Makati Medical Center. She’s now down to 133 lbs. and fast losing more poundage, thanks to Marie France which came to Dawn’s rescue just when she was on the brink of, well, "crying uncontrollably" again.

She’s now a Marie France poster girl, proudly showing off to the world her drastic loss of unwanted poundage.

And she’s back at work, taping for the GMA soap Now and Forever where she plays Adea, love interest of Mateo (played by Ariel Rivera).

At the time of this "body talk," Dawn was taping somewhere in Tagaytay, 10 minutes away from the Lagdameos’ vacation house.

What sort of treatment did you have at Marie France?

"Iba-iba. Marie France has different treatments and I was able to try many of them. But the one that I had regularly was the FMS (Fat Mobilization System), the cold-wrap treatment, which helped me drastically lose weight. FMS speeds up the metabolism. What they do is wrap the areas which need some trimming down and you wear the FMS for about 25 minutes. They did it on my thighs, my arms and my waist."

No workout involved?

"I could not work out because I delivered by Caesarian section. One month after I went home from the hospital, I still felt depressed because of my excess weight. I guess all women go through that period after delivery – post-partum blues. I was breast-feeding and they told me that I’d lose weight because of that. But I was struggling with my breast-feeding because my milk was not abundant."

You could have asked the help of a wet nurse.

"The trouble was that some of my sisters and I gave birth almost at that same time. I couldn’t get milk from them because they were feeding their own babies. I was due in December last year but I delivered two months ahead of schedule."

How long did you undergo the FMS treatment?

"Up to now, I’m still going through it, and for as long as I still want to lose some weight. I’m a work in progress. I won’t stop until I’m down to 118 lbs., my pre-pregnancy weight which is just right for my height (5’6.5")."

Is FMS recommended just for women who have just given birth?

"No, it’s recommended for anybody, male or female, who wants to lose weight. If your weight is okay but you want to firm up some parts here and there, Marie France has other treatments for that, too."

Are there medications that go with the FMS treatment?

"None. Neither does it involve any injection or diet pills."

How long have you been going to Marie France?

"Oh, I’m a first-timer. Marie France invited me end of November last year to try its treatments. I couldn’t exercise due to my Caesarian section and I couldn’t go on a diet because I was breast-feeding, so I said, ‘Why not?’ I wanted to lose weight at once because I wanted to get back to work."

How do you feel when you see the Marie France advertisement, especially with your picture (the "before") on the right side?

"I’m proud, of course! It’s such an achievement. I couldn’t have lost so much weight in so short a time considering the circumstances I am in. There couldn’t have been any other way."

Did you recommend the treatment to Anton?

"Well, he could have some use for it, kaya lang he’s not as vanidoso as I am."

Normally, what sort of workout do you do?

"Before I delivered, I did mostly cardio workout. I did boxing and Pilates. I also played badminton. But I couldn’t do them now because nga of my Caesarian section."

And what sort of diet do you follow?

"I used to follow the South Beach Diet. Now, I just avoid meat and eat mostly vegetables. But from morning until 2 p.m., I can have carbo (bread or rice). But eight hours before sleeping, usually at 10 p.m., I avoid eating, although if I get hungry I take very light snacks."

Any favorite food?

"Wow, mostly Pinoy food. Nilaga, sinigang and sinampalukan are my all-time favorites."

How much liquid do you take per day?

"I’m a water person; I take more than eight glasses a day. I don’t drink sodas; I rarely have juice, but if I do it has to be freshly-squeezed."

How much sleep do you get per night?

"Now that we have Jacobo, irregular na ang tulog ko. I’m a happy camper now, dozing off whenever Jacobo is asleep."

Don’t you and Anton alternate in changing Jacobo’s diapers?

"No. It’s the yaya and me. But Anton helps with the feeding at night. Jacobo sleeps between us. Jacobo is so easy to handle. Hindi iyakin. Mana kay Anton, it seems. Mabait."

How do you divide your time between Davao and Manila?

"Since I’m doing Now and Forever, I’m in Davao only on Tuesday and Wednesday. But once we’re finished with the tapings, I’ll be staying in Davao most of the time."

Which is more relaxing for you, Davao or Manila?

"Davao, definitely! My life there is very laid-back. But my work is in Manila so I also have to stay in Manila. But when I need peace and quiet, I go to Davao. It’s a clean and peaceful city."

How do you cope with stress?

"Just reading a book relaxes me."

What kind of books do you read?

"Whatever I fancy. I like true-to-life stories, biographies."

Any favorite hideaway (aside from Davao)?

"Our resthouse in Tagaytay. I commune with nature. Or, ikut-ikot lang ako sa village."

No more nightlife?

"None. I said goodbye to nightlife years ago."

How do you and Anton socialize?

"We have lunch or dinner with friends. Hindi na uso sa amin ang clubbing. Hindi ko na kaya to stay out late at night."

By the way, what beauty regimen do you have?

"Healthy living. I quit smoking when I got pregnant and I haven’t smoked since then. I don’t want to smoke anymore. Actually, what’s important is simply following a healthy diet and exercising regularly."

Are you afraid of being in the sun?

"I try to avoid it. Otherwise, I apply tons and tons of sunblock and moisturizer."

How often do you see your doctor?

"I have an executive check-up every year."

And your dentist?

"Twice a year."

Are you vain like most good-looking women?

"I think yes, to a degree but not naman to the point na para akong luka-lukang palagi nakaharap sa salamin. In fact, sometimes I don’t look na lang in the mirror so I won’t get disappointed."

What’s the last thing that you do before going to sleep?

"Besides checking on Jacobo...yes, I apply lip balm. I have chapped lips."

And the first thing that you do when you wake up?

"Besides checking on Jacobo...yes, I wash my face."

Name three women you think have nice bodies.

"Dyan Castillejo. Her body is so firm; there’s hardly any fat! There’s also Christine Jacob. I like her legs. And Nicole Kidman. I like her lean and shapely legs. That’s what I notice first in a woman – her legs."

What part of your body do you think needs improvement?

"My legs. I have chicken legs."

And what part is your favorite?

"My face. I think it’s very well put together."

And name three men you think have nice bodies.

"I can think of only two – Eric Bana and David Beckham. I’m not attracted by muscles. Basta proportioned ang katawan, okay na sa akin."

And the first thing you notice in a man?

"His legs. I am a legs person."

(E-mail reactions at [email protected])