Christian Bautista: Pop idol gets buffed

I see him occasionally walking past with his gym bag casually dangling by his side. There was no pattern though to his workouts, he didn’t seem to have the time.

That’s why I was pleasantly surprised to know that he transferred to a smaller location of the same gym chain he has been a member of for eight years now and there he got a personal trainer.  I don’t think he got less busier as his career is on a mad upswing in Indonesia and other Asian countries.  I believe his priorities have changed. Maybe he has matured?

Fans loved the pop balladeer the way he was, but with his shirtless Bench billboard celebrating his new look and another upcoming endorsement, people can’t help but notice how he has turned into a hunk of a balladeer. Find out how hard Christian worked for this metamorphosis in this one-on-one interview with the pop idol. Excerpts:

PHILIPPINE STAR: You have been in and out of the gym as a member for eight years now and you are even busier than ever, what gave you the motivation this time to take your workouts seriously?

CHRISTIAN BAUTISTA : I had a wonderful problem. I was eating all the food I wanted, but because of my fast metabolism, I wasn’t able to gain weight. I remained skinny most of my life. This time, I decided to do something about it seriously and committed to going to the gym and getting a trainer.

What part of your body are they most proud of? Why?

I would say my arms. Our goal is to just stay lean but mean!

What part of your body do you think needs further improvement?

I would need to work on my lower body more, legs, calves, etc. so I won’t look like Johnny Bravo.

What is your fave gym exercise?

My fave exercise is the bench press. I always try to break my last record every time I work out.

Do you follow any strict diet?

I have a low-carb, hi-protein diet.

How much sleep do you get every day?

With this schedule, it really depends. It varies, but as much as I can, I try to get a good sleep. Sleeping is important in every workout plan. It’s the time when the muscles repair themselves.

Any vices?

Yes. I sing too much.

Any cheat days when you forget about your diet?

Sometimes, when I just got to have ice cream and chocolate after lechon, but I work out the next day right away.

What food cravings do you succumb to?

Steaks ... meat...

What is your current fitness goal?

Right now to stay lean, not too small, not too big.

What is your regular exercise and diet regimen?

I work out at least twice a week, one hour each time. As for the diet, regular balanced low-carb, hi-protein diet.

Do you take supplements?

Yes, for my case, I do. I need it to boost my muscle building.

Do you have any sports? How often do you play?

I know how to play basketball, badminton, bowling, table tennis, wakeboarding, paintball, golf, rollerblading, swimming, volleyball, sipa, and syato. I play basketball almost twice a month; as for the other sports, only when I have time.

What physical benefits do you get from sports?

Sports challenge you, make you compete with others and yourself. They’re a fun way to get fit.

Do you get any other benefits from engaging in sports?

It helps you in building mental awareness, strategy, teamwork, goals; celebrating victory, and even accepting defeat.

How did your sport help you cope with different moments in life?

Sports give you a temporary break in everything. They even give you the clarity and focus to get back on track and face life’s challenges.

How do your exercise and sport help you in your career?

They build my stamina. They make me stay fit and last longer in concerts and tours.

We asked the personal trainer of Christian, Ariel Reynoso, a few questions regarding his regimen as a rejoinder to the answers of Christian. 

Ariel reveals, “Christian’s training regimen is basically for muscle toning or for his cuts. He is blessed to have a small to medium bone structure. Being an ectomorph generally, he is a hard gainer so we need to be brief, short but intense during our workout in the gym. We took this as a challenge. I designed a program which focuses on growing lean muscles in the right places. Christian has all the winning attributes, discipline, focus, and dedication. Despite his busy schedule, he still finds time to work out in the gym.”

He adds, “Technically, I was given three months by his manager to build his body. I advised Christian to just eat sensibly, get enough protein especially from fish and chicken, cut down a little on salt and sugar so that we can keep his body lean. He takes two servings of protein shake, one after the workout and one before bedtime for his recovery.”

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Post me a note at mylene@goldsgym.com.ph or mylenedayrit@gmail.com.