Strength of a woman

MANILA, Philippines - Powerful is a woman who knows what she wants and what she needs. Powerful is a woman who respects her body. Powerful is a woman who carries silent confidence that brings out the best in her and the people around her.

Powerful is a woman who knows how to take care of herself. Powerful is a woman who is able to choose what’s best for her. Powerful is a woman who is passionate in what she does and excels in her craft.

Therese Yupangco and Luzviminda “Mama Luz” McClinton, both multi-awarded professional bodybuilders, are simple-moms-turned-passionate-women who swear that their “anything-is-possible” mantra works not only with their amazing physique but also in every aspect of their lives.

Work of the heart

Raising her kids kept Therese Yupangco busy before she went through a total lifestyle shift. A mother of four — Monica (22), Gabby (19), Claudia (17) and Danielle (14) who are all into sports — Therese admits that it was her husband Gary who pushed her to hit the gym for health reasons. “Before, I couldn’t even enter the gym. I would say, ‘I don’t want to work out.’ Initially, I only went to the gym once a week,” recalls Therese.

An architect by profession, Therese’s impeccable sense of vision brought a lot more of what life had to offer her. She discovered the world of bodybuilding through magazines she read in the gym. She started joining competitions “only for fun.”

“It was only when I took the competitions seriously that I found out that there was another life outside of what I had before I joined the competitions. I got a sense of my own life,” Therese shares.

Achieving a “look” is very important in bodybuilding. And just like the architect that she is, Therese drew a plan in her mind on how she wanted to achieve the “look” that was needed for the competitions, and it was not easy. Aside from the physical and intense workout that she endured every day, a strict “no salt, no oil, no sugar” diet was implemented. It consisted of grilled fish or chicken, boiled camote and banana, steamed vegetables and salads (minus the dressing). Even during family dinners, Therese would bring her own packed meals. For some, it might sound like the ultimate sacrifice, but for Therese, it became a lifestyle.

Determination, discipline and dedication pushed Therese to succeed and become the first Filipina to bring home a Universe Body Building trophy in 2005. In the same competition, she also bagged silver overall in 2005 and 2007, and placed third in 2006.

“From these experiences, I learned that going the extra mile to make something work is a work of the heart. I learned that sincerity of one’s soul is a beautiful thing,” says Therese.

Now, she focuses more on being a successful architect, but the discipline and dedication that she developed in bodybuilding never left her. “When I do something now, I want to do my best. With this discipline that I have, my character is developed that when I get into something, I make sure that I give my best.”

Passion and confidence

Luzviminda McClinton, who gained popularity from the reality TV show Pinoy Big Brother in 2011, admits that she wasn’t as sporty before she got into bodybuilding. Like Therese, Luz was inspired by her husband  Leeric to get into fitness. She lived with her husband in Kuwait where she worked as a waitress. “I married a man who is a fitness buff. That’s his lifestyle. I have to work out with him every day. Because he had high cholesterol level before, he learned to eat healthy stuff. I had to keep up with him. To this day, we eat healthy food. It has become a lifestyle,” shares Luz.

After competing worldwide for six years, Luz, also a mixed martial arts practitioner, admits that bodybuilding gave her the discipline that she can apply in every aspect of her life. “Aside from the discipline, you cannot explain the fulfillment and the happiness that working out brings in your life. It’s a good kind of addiction that gives beautiful results in the end.”

To Luz, “confidence makes anything possible, if you choose to do it.” She shares that physical training really is a lifestyle. “You will not develop muscles overnight. You have to work hard on it, and you really have to love what you are doing because if you love what you’re doing, it creates happiness and positivity around you.” This positivity has been passed on to her daughter Jaymie, 14, who is a fitness enthusiast herself.

“At first, I didn’t think that I would win in a bodybuilding competition. Therese and I joined just for fun. Then, when we started placing in the competitions, that was the time we became serious,” says Luz, who is now on her ninth year in training. She already has three world titles (she won in bodybuilding competitions in Germany, Las Vegas and last December, in Oklahoma). She is the first Filipina to win the Pro Fame Figure World Championship in figure bodybuilding. She also plans to venture more into mixed martial arts.

Being a personal trainer, she gets to share with her clients the lessons she learned in the competitions she joined in. “I cannot change anyone but I can help improve them. I always tell my clients, that ‘while investing for your fortune, might as well invest on your health. And find your motivation’.”

Therese advises women to give no excuses in finding time to exercise. On the other hand, Luz emphasizes that women should maximize their potential.

For them, the strength of a woman lies in the fact that she chooses to stay fit and healthy — for her and for her loved ones.

Photos by JOVEN CAGANDE