How Sofia Andres stays sexy and confident

We still vividly remember her as Kate Saavedra in Forevermore. While the romantic television series made the Enrique Gil-Liza Soberano tandem soar to great heights, the brief but memorable scenes involving Sofia Andres who played the third party gave her sufficient exposure to be noticed by fans and critics.

Her big break on the big screen also happened last year when she portrayed Athena Abigail Ticzon in the Kathryn Bernardo- Daniel Padilla starrer She’s Dating The Gangster. In the same year, she was paired with Iñigo Pascual in Relaks, It’s Just Pag-Ibig (Relax, It’s Just Love). The tandem won The Most Promising Loveteam for this film at the 46th Box Office Entertainment Awards given last June.

Her pretty face and acting maturity belie her young age of 17. A beautiful combination of Spanish and Chinese blood from her parents, Sofia has a charm that grows on you.

We got a chance to ask her a few questions after her workout:

The Philippine STAR: How different was your life before you started going to the gym?

SOFIA ANDRES: I used to eat like five cups of rice. My favorite food is meat, like porkchop! But when I started working out with my personal trainer Bench, who happens to be a nutritionist as well, I had to make changes.

What improvements in your body inspired you to continue working out?

My waist, and also my thighs, got reduced. When I started, my body was not proportioned. My thighs were big for my body.

Aside from the physical improvement, what were the other benefits or lifestyle changes you experienced?

I developed my discipline. After working out, my appetite increases. But I started choosing better food, such as red rice, steamed chicken, and steamed fish.

Who’s your fitspiration?

Kendall Jenner! I love how she has a small waist, small arms, small face, and long, slim legs. I like the contour of her face. I like it because my cheeks are chubby.

What do you think are some misconceptions about fitness that people should change their views about?

When you are thin, it doesn’t mean you are fit. It depends on what you do. You need to exercise and eat a balanced diet.

What are your fitness goals?

Going to the gym made me stronger. It made me more focused on my training, and then, with trainer Bench, I got to be sexier (laughs).

Do you feel sexier now that you are working out, compared to before?

I feel it now, definitely not before.  As in I didn’t care about myself or how I looked. I really enjoyed eating pasta, pizza, and ice cream. Now, I have to limit my food intake. One becomes 10 pounds heavier on TV. So when I saw myself fat on TV, I realized I needed to lose weight. I started to discipline myself. Proper food, proper diet, and training.

In terms of training, is there any specific workout you like to do?

Rapid fit is the program I do. (It is circuit training that involves an incline trainer, cable machine, and a vibrating plate.) Ever since I started, I’ve been going regularly for at least twice a week.

How did working out help you in your career?

I definitely became more confident, because I am sexy or fit. I am more at ease facing the public. When we gain a little weight, people judge us immediately as fat. When that happens, you get conscious and it affects how you project yourself.

What is your diet like?

I do not really have a set diet that I follow, but I choose my food carefully. It’s difficult to just eat what you see in front of you. It is easy to get tempted. I feast on Caesar salad, chicken, sweet potato, and lots of water.

As a young actress, you have a lot of fans but detractors as well. How do you handle them?

I block some of them. I still get hurt, I am still a person with feelings. Much as I just want to ignore them, I still can’t avoid reading some of their comments. I appreciate most comments — good comments, good feedbacks, I acknowledge with gratitude.  But others are so negative. But I understand, as a public figure, I know this comes with the job.

In terms of your career, let’s say 20 years from now, how do you want to be remembered by people?

Best actress. Yeah, I guess that. I’m just a simple person. Just a simple girl.

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