No more shortcuts for Iza

MANILA, Philippines - Whenever she looks at old photos showing a heavier version of herself, Iza Calzado can’t help but feel a mixture of happiness and pride over the progress she has made in dealing with her weight issues.

The actress, who wouldn’t know that she tipped the scales at 220 lbs. had she not met an accident as a teenager, is now in such fine form at 130 lbs. And like any hard-earned achievement, it hasn’t been without struggle. 

“It’s no joke to maintain it after all these years,” Iza told The STAR and other reporters in an interview. “It’s a daily, weekly, monthly, yearly battle. It’s a constant battle that you have to face. You have to accept that it will be part of your life because once you let go of that, you will also let go of your commitment to stay fit and healthy.”

Iza said that it took her “30 years” to get to where she is now, and it came not just with a change in lifestyle, but also in mindset. “I’m already 31 and yes, I am more confident now… I’m very proud of my whole body. It’s far from perfect but I’m so proud of it. I’ve come to terms with my imperfections.”

But she does have her “weak moments” amidst the pressure of being in an industry obsessed with perfection. “Sometimes, I feel bad and I say, why I’m not perfect like them, then I remind myself that nobody’s perfect. Second, this is who I am and every battle scar that I have is part of my journey, and I have to embrace that because the first person that has to accept and love that is myself.”

Iza added, “I will always go back to where I came from and remind myself that I’ve worked so hard to (reach) where I am today. I have to be grateful for what I have.”

One thing is for sure: There will be no more shortcuts for Iza, and that she’s in for the long haul through healthy eating and exercising.

Apart from resorting to unhealthy practices such as starving and crash diets in the past, she also candidly admitted that “…I won’t lie and I’ve also mentioned this in past interviews, I had some cosmetic surgeries and proud na proud naman po ako na matagal ko ng nalampasan yung stage (na yun) ng buhay ko because I had to make a decision that there should be no more shortcuts like that.”

Right now, Iza is keeping off the extra pounds and looking to downsize, five pounds more, to get to her “optimal weight” (not stick-thin, take note) through gym time, swimming, some yoga, crossfit every now and then, and via running again soon. “After work, workout is really my next priority. I really have to make time for it. Sometimes, if it’s possible, I would request for an adjustment in my call time so I could work out.”

As for her diet (in her case, she said, it has to go hand-in-hand with her workout), she cuts back on carbs and practices portion controls. “I really love food, but I’ve learned to control my appetite. I no longer eat as much as I used to. There are food items that I have taken out completely from my diet, then there are stuff that I still eat occasionally.”

Iza will be sharing more of her weight-loss success story as the new host of ABS-CBN’s Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition (Doubles), which premieres on Feb. 3. As a host, she’s having her fill of lessons since this is her first reality-TV program and her first show of this scale, but as an individual — because of the interaction she has had with the 14 pairs of overweight contestants (she gets to see them twice-a-week) — she has learned to become a more “listening person.”

Iza said, “I really empathize with them. Iyak din ako ng iyak dito that it’s like I’m also doing a teleserye because sometimes, they suddenly say things that touch you, and you really understand where they come from, sometimes it’s about their weight, or sometimes, even about like, their father. I can relate and empathize with them, of course, with their weight issues, but it’s not only (because of) that.”

As a prelude to Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition (Doubles), you can also catch part of her story in the Feb. 1 episode of Maalaala Mo Kaya. â€œ(It tells about my) journey and struggles ko kung bakit ako naging malaki. At times, the physical (aspect) is only a reflection of what you’re going through inside. There was a reason why I kept on eating. It’s a story of change and I’m a work-in-progress, so change is something I continue to work on.”

Asked for tips for those who want to finally make that crucial change in their health and fitness, Iza advised, “You have to make the decision... like anything in life, that decision has to come from you because no matter how many people try to encourage you or even dictate on you, it doesn’t work because it has to come from a person.

“Then you set goals. Maybe you want to lose five or 10 lbs. or you want to do a 5K run, or it could be health-related or fitness-related or beauty-related, it’s up to you — set goals. Even lovelife or heartbreak (can be a motivation)! Before when I was heartbroken, I got into crossfit. It really depends on you. Whatever works for you, that’s good.

“That’s what I’ve learned, if I don’t have goals, I tend to relax on whatever I set myself to do. But the minute you set goals, you will have the motivation.”