A lifestyle commitment

October 8, 2011. I could still vividly recall that moment when Sharon Cuneta announced my final weight, I was only a pound short of becoming the first Home Contestant Winner of the Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition.

But I did not let that one pound stop me from continuing my journey and pursuing my dream to complete a half-marathon and to be an Ironman finisher. As what I've learned from our Biggest Loser trainor Coach Jim Saret, Host Sharon Cuneta and Nutritionist Nadine Tengco, it's not how you lose, but how you rise and face the challenge. Michael Jordan once said, "I've failed over and over and over again in my life and that is why I succeed." For me, it's not about winning the top prize of that fitness-centered reality television show for it was just a bonus. What mattered most to me was my transformation from being fat and obese to a fit and healthy individual and how I was able to help others nurture a healthy physical well-being.

Inside the camp, I was treated like the 'Kuya' to everybody. But the hardest part was being away from my loved ones. Thus, the other contestants became my family and we would push each other to exercise harder. I stayed for almost three months inside the camp and lost a total of 61 lbs. after being voted out. However, my quest for a better and healthier lifestyle did not end there. I even used my stint in that life-changing show as a springboard to my newfound mission in life which is to be a fitness ambassador. Testament to that, I invited most of the contestants who were also voted out at that time to come over to Cebu to continue training. That idea yielded a positive outcome as after a few weeks of hard work, we were able to run and finish 5K, 6K, 7K, 10K, 12K, and finally a 15-kilometer run!

Five days before the final weigh-in, we all went back to Manila. It was the greatest challenge for all of us. I was 195 lbs. at that time.  I manage to lose 11 lbs. in four days. My teammate Eric Limatog also managed to lose a staggering 16 lbs. in that short span of time. We did everything in the last few days doing various workouts from metafit, hot yoga, spinning, swimming, dancing, running and even to the extent of working out inside the sauna. In the end, I lost a total of 125 lbs. (from 309 lbs to 184 lbs.)

What I learned inside the camp was a once in a lifetime experience that I will always cherish. It's a priceless treasure that can't be taken away from me. I have always thought that losing weight was the hard part and maintaining it was easy. But almost three years has passed, and I realized that nurturing our ideal weight is as hard as losing weight. It is a lifestyle commitment. You also need a lot of motivation, hard work, and discipline. You still have to set goals and always have a plan. Having a support group like friends and family is very important as well. For me, my greatest supporter is my wife, Caroline. She was and is still there every step of the way.

To date, I have already completed  several 21-kilometer half-marathon, finished the Xterra Off-Road Triathlon twice, and completed the 70.3 Ironman Triathlon two times.

I run two Metafit Fitness boot camps in Cebu to help people jumpstart their own fitness journey. Athletes also join to get stronger and faster. In life, every second counts as much as every pound counts. Make the most out of it for we only live once.

Next week, I will be writing about the four-minute Metafit workout of Coach Jim Saret.

SIDELINE:Please watch and support the Biggest Loser Pinoy edition 'Doubles' from Monday to Saturday at primetime on ABS-CBN.

You can visit my website www.alanchoachuy.com or check out metafit FB page www.facebook.com/metafitcebu.For comments, you can reach me at [email protected].