Winning the battle of the bulge

Being aware that one is overweight and accepting that he/she is the only one who can do something about it are both prerequisites for a successful weight management.

Time.com reported that in a study involving close to 8,000 adults, only 45% of overweight and 66% of obese participants were told by their doctors that they needed to lose weight.

Out of those who didn’t even see their doctors, 37% of the overweight patients and 19% of obese patients did not even realize they had weight problems. .
This was the case with Francis Asis who was the second runnerup in The Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition. He grew bigger and bigger, not realizing he was already dangerously obese.

What was very admirable with Francis was he even shifted to a completely different field just to keep the pounds off. More importantly, he committed himself to a life mission of helping others lose weight.

We asked him about his weight loss journey. Excerpts:

THE PHILIPPINE STAR: At what age did you start putting on excess weight? What was the reason for this?

FRANCIS ASIS: I gained weight when I was in grade school because of one thing — I really loved sweets.  Also, I was not an active kid. I usually played street games, like agawan base, tumbang preso, and the like. But I was not really into sports and cardio.

When was the first time you tried losing weight? What motivated you lose weight? What did you do?

I tried losing weight when I was in grade 6 because others started teasing me that I was fat and big. I lost some weight because I didn’t eat. I always skipped dinner. So, I lost some of my excess weight the wrong way. Which I gained back after a while.

Why did you fail the first time? How many times did you try to lose weight and fail?

I failed the first time because it was the wrong way of losing weight. I had numerous attempts to lose weight, but I always said to myself I’d start tomorrow” or if it was a Tuesday or any other day before Monday, I would say, “Sa Monday talaga. Start na ako. Promise!”

Was there a time you lost weight but you gained more back after some time? Tell us about it.

The last time that I tried losing weight was when I was in second year college. I lost weight but did not maintain it because I was already satisfied with the result. That was one of my biggest mistakes because if you want to lose weight and maintain it, you really have to change your lifestyle. You can’t just starve yourself, then stop when you like the result. As soon as you start eating again, pounds start piling up. The end result: I gained back the 30 pounds that I lost and gained 60 pounds more.

What was the trigger that made you do something drastic about your weight? What made you join The Biggest Loser Double Edition?

When I was in fourth year college, my blood pressure would always go up and that limited me to do many things. It was also a wakeup call because I really did not want to die at an early age. So, I decided to join The Biggest Loser because I really wanted to change. All my life, I was a big boy and I thought it was time to change that image.

What were the disadvantages of being obese that you would never want to experience again?

One disadvantage that I experienced when I was obese was that I was prone to many diseases. I also got tired easily. It was because of the excess baggage I was carrying. Imagine carrying another person in you.

In the camp and all throughout your weight loss program, were there times you’d rather give up? What made you stick to it?

During my stay inside the camp the only time I wanted to give up was when I really missed my family. But instead of making it a reason not to work out and be lazy, I made it my inspiration and did every challenge in the camp for my family.

What made you shift from your food technology training in college to the fitness industry?

I shifted to the fitness industry because I really wanted to maintain the healthy lifestyle I learned inside the camp. I also want to pay it forward, teach what I learned inside the camp (what I learned from the coaches, my personal experiences, and what my co-contestants experienced).

What was your heaviest weight? When was this? What is your weight now?

My heaviest weight was 305 lbs. (April 2013) and my weight now is around 180 to 185 lbs. (present).

How many meals do you eat in a day? What is your diet?

I eat five to six meals a day. My diet is basically what we had inside the camp. Just eat the right portions of food and always eat clean food. No junk food and soft drinks.

Do you still have food cravings? Do you give in to them?

Yes, I still have food cravings and sometimes, I give in. But when I do, I make sure it’s just the right amount. Tikim lang, just to satisfy my taste buds and cravings.

What is your weekly exercise routine? Please describe your workout regimen.

My weekly exercise consists of body weight exercises and weight training: Monday (chest and triceps), Tuesday (legs), Wednesday (back and biceps), Thursday (body weight exercises), Friday (shoulders), Saturday (rest), Sunday (long runs or basketball).

What were the three biggest causes of your being obese?

For me one of the biggest causes was food, how much I ate in a meal. I had a very large input (food taken) and very minimal output (exercise). Also, another cause of my obesity was my lifestyle, what I did throughout the day. I just sat all day. Sometimes, I would just lie down and sleep. I rarely walked or did cardio. Every time I needed something from the grocery, I would ask our helper to buy it for me. Lastly was the fact that I was satisfied with what I was. I did not realize that my condition was that severe.

What are the three most important lifestyle modifications you have made to ensure that you keep off the pounds for life?

Three of the most important lifestyle modifications everyone has to make or do are:

1. Take control. I control my food intake, my time for workouts and family gatherings, and my duties in my work. If want I to make sure that I won’t “rebound,” I have to be in control of everything I do.

2. Never make excuses. Before, I had tons of excuses not to work out but because of the fear of gaining it all back, I always make sure I allot some time for exercise.

3. Try to improve every time. I always try to improve on my fitness goals and my goals in life. Also, find an inspiration or motivation that will make you reach your goals. Always be optimistic and keep in mind that even a tiny improvement is still an improvement.

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