Style ID: Body-licious

Summer is here and many women are heading to the gym to shed their unwanted pounds. Working out is suddenly a priority in order to sport that new bikini in the beach. But more than just gaining booty-licious bikini bodies, more and more women are joining sports and other activities to stay fit and keep a healthy mind and body. Thus the increase in the number of spas and gyms. Classes such as belly dancing, capoeira, Pilates and yoga are also held in the gyms. But before thinking about looking good at the beach, the first challenge most women have to face is to look fabulous while sweating and panting at the gym. These sexy women tell us how they keep fit and still look great while working out.

Carmen Delgado

Carmen, though she is often seen in society pages of lifestyle magazines, is certainly not just another pretty face. Not a lot of people know that she is a graduate of an Ivy League school – Brown University in Rhode Island, New York. She used to be the brand manager for L’Occitane in Rustan’s but recently decided to be more involved in her store, Aura Athletica in Rockwell. She is the founder and marketing director for the company she co-owns with sister Lia Delgado-Infante, and friends Cindy Delgado and Jon Syjuco. When not too busy with work, she finds time to play tennis and attend aerobics and Pilates classes. When she’s at home, though, she tries as much as possible to run on her treadmill, thus, keeping it from gathering dust. When working out, Carmen chooses clothes that are mostly relaxed loungewear in fruity colors. Of course, she likes activewear that are stylish and functional – clothes that move with her body, absorb her sweat and are tailored perfectly without hindering her movements. Her passion for wellness extends to her business and lifestyle. For her, aura means living with an educated mind, healthy body and a peaceful soul. She definitely shows those traits.

Chinggay Andrada

Chinggay is a household name when it comes to sports and fitness. She’s the host of Sportstv and a sportscaster for Newscentral on Studio 23. Aside from these TV stints, she’s also been a DJ for RX 93.1 for almost six years now.

Chinggay has tried a lot of different sports since the age of 15 – gymnastics, track and field and volleyball. She makes it a point to try a new sport every month and is currently addicted to Plyometrix at Plyosports at the Adidas Sportskamp and playing sports at a gym she co-owns with her boyfriend Victor Consunji. She is also often seen at the Red Corner gym as a kickboxing instructor. Because she has a very active lifestyle, she need not have to watch what she eats and does not mind satisfying her cravings because she knows she can easily burn the calories the next day. Since Chinggay is a celebrity, it is also important for her to look her best even when pounding the stuffing out of punching bags. For her workouts and physical exertions, she prefers to wear Adidas sports bras and adores her Adidas inuviks running shoes. Because of her deep love for and obvious involvement with sports, she now endorses lots of brands such as Adidas, Sinutab and Squibb Vitamin E. Just watching this girl work out makes one feel as if one is already losing weight.

Faith Lavarro

Faith is another familiar face in the party scene and at the beach. She has the hair and abs most women envy. Her arresting features make her the first runner-up (and winner of Carolina Herrera Miss Sexy Award) at the latest Hawaiian Tropic competition. She believes that joining the pageant empowers women regardless of their status or age. You wouldn’t think she’s in her thirties, married and has a lovely son, named after her idol Michael Jordan. Faith used to live in Charlotte, North Carolina for 13 years and was once a cheer dancer for the University of North Carolina varsity team. When she came home to the Philippines to try living here, she just got hooked and fell in love with Manila. Faith used to be a dance choreographer but is more active nowadays in American football and combat classes. Other things that occupy her days are being a DJ for 89.9 TM in the mornings and working out at the gym in the afternoon. Since her sister, Ana Amigo Antonio, owns Chocolate Clothing Company, she has access to all the Diadora, Grab, Earth Angel and Endless Spirits outfits and "models" these when working out. Another brand she loves is Nike, especially for dancing. If only all moms can look this hot!

Tracy Pamintuan

Tracy decided to move to Manila after living in Davao for most of her life. Her family used to part-own a gym and so it was easy for her to be able to combine work with working out. These days, she keeps fit by swimming every time she gets a break from her busy schedule as an event organizer at Studio 23. Aside from exercise, Tracy also makes sure she only eats healthy food and weeds out the fatty ones in her diet. But that all changed when she moved to Manila, where fast-food is just more convenient. Good thing she’s one lucky girl who doesn’t have to try too hard to stay trim. In fact, she eats anything sweet after every meal, be it a slice of cake or a piece of candy. Maybe staying up late for open-air concerts, wild parties or lounge events burns up the juicy burgers, French fries, sodas and sweets she consumes. No doubt about it, this girl looks sizzling hot in her bikinis and swimsuits while she burns all those calories doing laps in the pool.

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E-mail the author at karriebitanga@yahoo.com