Body Talk with Iza Calzado

Would you believe that the Miss Body Beautiful on this page used to weigh, hold your breath, 216 lbs.?

“Yes,” admitted Iza Calzado who is down to only about 128 pounds, “I used to be that heavy. In school, the guys wanted to be close to me not because they planned to court me but because they used me as ‘bridge’ to my friends na crush nila. I’m now working hard to shed eight more pounds.”

I know Iza to be a fruit eater. Everytime I stop at my favorite fruit stand along España Extension (near the corner of Gilmore Ave. in Quezon City), the vendor would tell me that Iza has just passed by to get her supply of pomelo which she would stack up peeled off in a big tupperware and bring to the set as baon.

Year 2008 has been a fruitful one for Iza. Besides several endorsements, she has never been without a TV/movie assignment. She starred with Robin Padilla in the GMA fantaserye, (Carlo J. Caparas’) Joaquin Bordado, and in three movies (One True Love and Desperadas 2), one of them the made-in-Hollywood The Echo, directed by Yam Laranas inspired by his own original work, Sigaw, for Regal Films.

In Desperadas 2, Regal Films’ 2008 Metro Filmfest entry again directed by Joel Lamangan, Iza co-stars with Ruffa Gutierrez, Rufa Mae Quinto, Marian Rivera and Ogie Alcasid (playing a woman, not a cross-dresser). Iza reprises her role in the first Desperadas, a career-driven lawyer now suffering from post-partum depression. (The movie’s male leads are Wendell Ramos again playing a gay, Jay-R, TJ Trinidad, Will Devaughn, Christian Vasquez and Be Bench discovery Carlo Guevarra as Ogie’s groom.)

Iza stands 5’6.5”, measures 36-28-38, and wears medium-size shirt and size-8 shoes. She was working out in the gym during the following “body talk.”

How often do you work out?

“I would love to do it every day but with my busy schedule, only two to three times a week. I also go to a dance class every once in a while. Or I box.”

What part of your body is most vulnerable?

“My heart.”

What part is your favorite?

“My eyes.”

And what part of your body still needs improvement?

“My skin. Why? Don’t ask me why. Basta, di ba I was huge before at nag-shrink ako, so...”

Did you resort to anything “invasive” or “incisive” to shed all those excess poundage?

“No. Nag-crash-diet lang ako. Later on, I realized that it was the worst thing you could do to your body. Very drastic kasi ang weight loss ko, eh.”

So now, what kind of diet do you follow?

“I eat three square meals a day but only in small amounts. In fact, I eat every three hours, pero small amounts din lang. They told me that it’s the ideal way of feeding your body. I eat a lot of fruits, nuts and yogurt. It’s a good thing that I endorse Nestlé Fruit Selection Yogurt so I get my supply from Nestlé. I’m semi-vegetarian. I have a sweet tooth so I try really hard to stay away from sweets. But on weekends, I pamper myself a bit and take ‘guilty pleasures’ like chocolate cakes.”

What’s for snacks?

“Usually, nuts. I buy all kinds of nuts from Santi’s — macadamia, pistachio, almonds, walnuts, etc. — and mix them. That’s my snack. Natutunan ko ‘yan kay Juday (Judy Ann Santos). Sometimes, I take the concoction as midnight snack when I get hungry.”

What vitamins do you take?

“Vitaminc C. And Liveraide which I am also endorsing.”

How much water do you take per day?

“A lot. I take my meals with water. I stay away from juices and soda. Too sweet!”

With your work load, are you able to sleep eight hours per night?

“Normally, six hours. But when I’m taping or shooting, I get only three to four hours, putol-putol. So I learned how to take power naps.”

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

“Drink a glass of water.”

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

“I pray and thank God for giving me another day.”

Favorite sleepwear?

“Loose T-shirt.”

Do you snore?

“I did...when I was bigger. But now, I don’t know. So far, I don’t hear any of my co-workers complaining.”

Do you talk in your sleep?

“I don’t think so.”

Do you sleepwalk?

“When I was a kid, I did but only once. I sleepwalked into the room of my dad (choreographer Lito Calzado).”

How many pillows do you sleep with?

“Three pillows and several stuffed toys.”

How do you cope with stress?

“I work out. I go to an adoration chapel.”

Any beauty secrets you want to share with Funfare readers?

“Lots of water. Good for the skin. Positive outlook in life. If you are at peace with yourself, you glow.”

How is your love life?

“Next question, please! Hehehehe! It’s Christmas! Merry Christmas!” (Note: There are rumors that Iza has broken up with her US-based boyfriend of a few years, Jerry Garcia, a band manager.)

Favorite hideaway?

“I want to go back to Batanes. I’ve been there to shoot a movie (Batanes). It’s the best place to commune with nature, to feel closer to God. I want to go there but at this time of the year, malalaki daw ang alon. But I will go, especially since I am in the process of discovering things about myself, figuring out a lot of things about myself.”

You are not hypochondriac, I suppose.

“No, I’m not.”

How often do you see your doctor?

“Not that often.”

Your dentist?

“I’m long overdue. My dentist is my kinakapatid.”

What about your dermatologist?

“I go to The Belo Medical Group at least once a month.”

Name three guys you think have nice bodies.

“Piolo Pascual. Brad Pitt. Marc Nelson.”

And three women...

“My three co-stars in Desperadas 2. Ang gaganda ng katawan nila, di ba? There’s Vina Morales. It’s obvious that she works out and I have a lot of respect for people who take time out and take a lot of effort to work out. Aubrey Miles, too.”

Using only body language, how would you make a guy know that you admire him?

“I look at him.”

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