A pastry chef by profession, Christopher Pangilinan has been managing his own home-based business. He has been baking cakes, cupcakes, and all sorts of breads for over three years now.
The eldest of five children, his father died when he was just 52. He was 200 pounds at his heaviest with a 40-inch waist. He is now 40 years old but has never looked better. He is down to a trim 30-inch waistline and wears a small-size shirt.
Aiming to be an inspiration to people who think they can’t lose weight when they are older, Chris joined the recently concluded Bodycon. We asked him to tell us more about his fitness journey.
THE PHILIPPINE STAR: What was your biggest fitness challenge?
CHRIS PANGILINAN: I was 200 pounds at my heaviest and I’ve been overweight for 15 years starting right after college.
Were you athletic as a child?
No! I was fat. Not really that fat, but I was chubby. It runs in the family.
What convinced you that it was time to lose weight?
I was diagnosed as hypertensive at a young age. My father died young at 52. When my dad died 10 years ago, it was a very rough time for us because death in the family happened monthly. My uncle passed away a month before. And then in the middle of the month, another uncle died. That triggered the resolve to lose fat, to undergo a lifestyle change. Hypertension and heart problems run on both sides of my family. That’s why I’m into fitness. Plus I was always teased by family and friends.
Do you follow a specific diet?
I don’t follow a crash diet. I don’t do that, because I’m a pastry chef. I just have to control my food intake. I just have to balance all activities because of my hypertension; I cannot overwork, or extend to my limit, because I have to maintain my blood pressure.
Any specific workout routine?
First, I do my cardio for 30 minutes. And then I do my sets. On Mondays, I have to do chest, triceps, shoulders, and group exercise. And then the next day, I do the back and biceps. And Wednesdays, legs. And so on. I just have a one-day rest for the whole week because I have to do my daily cardio. I can’t miss my cardio.
What are the three biggest benefits of your weight loss?
First, I got rid of my maintenance medicine. I’m not taking anything at all up to now for many years. Second, I get to travel more even locally. Travel takes a lot of walking. With my current fitness level, I don’t easily get tired from the tours and still have energy for nightlife wherever I go. Third, I can now wear any clothes and I definitely do not have second thoughts if the clothes will look good on me.
What do you consider your greatest achievement?
The greatest achievement is I don’t use maintenance drugs at all now. Because of fitness, because of being a health buff, I have no maintenance, just proper control of my exercise and food intake. That’s the biggest achievement that money can’t buy.
How do you maintain or keep the lost pounds off?
I am very strict now with my daily cardio workout. I do at least 30 minutes and if I splurge on food, I make sure I add more time exercising. On weekdays, I am always careful with my food, portion control, no specific food to eat, but I always watch the size of my intake. Then on weekends, usually starting on the night of Friday up to lunch on Sunday, I do eat buffet and attend most parties. There is no weekend that I don’t eat the food I crave for. But still, I double my workout time on weekends, no matter how busy I am.
What are your other interests?
I love to cook, of course. The family really cooks. I usually always go out of town, during holidays, or every long weekend. I usually spend it in our resort or I visit my family back in the south.
How can you be effective as a pastry chef and still be at your best shape? Do you eat your pastries, too?
Yes, I love to eat my products, I am a dessert person, it’s my gift to myself for hard days of work and, of course, I need to taste my products for quality assurance. One bite is enough for me to check my pastries (Booch Cupcakes & Cakes). Exercise is my daily routine. It has been a habit before going to work, that’s how I balance things.
What is your current fitness goal?
I just want to maintain my current weight and body tone. I am already happy with the result I have now. My next step will be just to maintain. I just have to maintain the healthy lifestyle that I’ve been doing right now.
How do you keep yourself from not working out because of too many excuses?
Well, I just drive to the gym even when I’m too lazy. Once I see members working out, it invites me to do the same. So I just have to go to the gym even when I’m too lazy to work out. I just hang out, talk to the PTs, and then after a while, I just see myself working out as well.
Any tips on surviving the holiday feasts and buffets?
Always make time to balance with physical activity. If you are not a member of any health club, go for social media tutorials, look for home exercises you can follow. You can also attend morning community classes like zumba and aerobics. As for food intake, please listen to your body. When you feel full, please stop. Take green tea after a meal. If you have time before an event, try to visit the gym or jog first to boost your metabolism. Better yet, join a gym because you can never imagine all the health benefits you get from being fit.
* * *
Post me a note at mylene@goldsgym.com.ph or mylenedayrit@gmail.com.