Fitness: Always in fashion
In 1999, I left for London to take up short courses in Central Saint Martin. I gained 20 pounds in three months. I felt awful, looked sluggish and was very unhappy that I let it happen
Living healthy and well is not easy, but it is doable and the benefits are immensely rewarding. In this Well-thy Pinoy Profiles series, let’s get to know Filipinos who have committed to lead healthy lifestyles, starting with fashion designer Michele Delgado Sison, who gives us an encouraging but realistic view of achieving your fitness goals.
When did you decide to live healthy? What sparked your fitness journey?
In 1999, I left for London to take up short courses in Central Saint Martin. I gained 20 pounds in three months. I felt awful, looked sluggish and was very unhappy that I let it happen. I was not willing to completely let go and give up. I wanted to be my best self and I knew it would take a lot of willpower for change to happen.
My cousin encouraged me to try boxing. I enjoyed it and it made me feel good. I joined membership gyms, lifted weights and joined group exercise classes, too.
Feeling good and losing weight and inches is addictive. Eating mindfully became a habit, then a lifestyle.
I used to look for serenity and calm in food when I undergo stress. Not anymore. Dopamine, serotonin, oxytocin and endorphins are the chemical quartet that I can intentionally cause to flow through exercise and it immediately makes me feel good. How I work out has a significant impact on my motivation, productivity and well-being.
How do you stay healthy? What physical activities do you typically do?
It took me six months to lose the 20 pounds I gained in three months. I felt great and continue to feel good every time I see myself progress in strength, flexibility, endurance, coordination and balance.
I lift weights three times a week. I progress with dumbbells and I regress with body weight.
I easily get bored on a treadmill or cardio machine. I prefer boxing to running or biking. I enjoy using the KettleBell, TRX, ViPR, stability ball, BOSU and lifting weights. I enjoy trying different fitness toys; it makes me feel like a kid. It drives my enthusiasm to keep discovering and continue playing. It gives me a surge of youthfulness. I feel old when I stop playing. Playing makes me feel young and makes me stronger.
Not all Pinoys have access to a home gym or gym equipment. What no-equipment, bodyweight exercises can you recommend for those who prefer those to weights?
I recommend the following: bench or chair dips for triceps; push ups for back, arms, core; planks and side planks for core; as well as commando push ups, burpees, jumping jacks, lunges and reverse lunges, curtsy lunges, side lunges, leg raises, mountain climbers, squats and high knees.
How have your eating habits changed? What are some of your diet staples and favorite indulgences?
I don’t believe in deprivation. The rebound is much worse than where you started. I prefer to commit to eating habits that are sustainable. I am mindful of portions, trimming fat and choosing lean meats. I learned to roll sandwich fillings into lettuce instead of bread. I discovered that anything I used to eat with rice can be eaten with diced vegetables or with a bed of lettuce. I refrain from eating too much carbohydrates and sweets. When there are gatherings, I eat what is served. I drink wine when it’s time to celebrate. I indulge and engage in parties. The following day, I resume with mindfulness.
Are there any challenges fiftysomethings face when working out? If someone who never previously cared about health is suddenly motivated to work out at 50, what would you advise to him/her?
At my age (51), I sometimes lack the motivation to work out. Laziness sometimes gets the better of me. There are days when I just want to sleep longer. There are days when I prefer to have a heavy breakfast than lift weights. There are days when I want to swing by a happy hour with friends instead of swinging a kettlebell.
When I feel lazy to work out is when it means I really need a workout. Luckily — because I found my motivation — I sometimes let go but I never give up. I exercise to feel good and look good. I am addicted to the potency of energy that fuels my mind and body from exercising.
Forty-five minutes to an hour per day is all I need to combine aerobic, strength and stretching twice a week. When I turned 50 last year, I noticed that my body just doesn’t recover as quickly as when I was in my 30s. I now need more than 48 hours of rest for muscle groups that I have worked on. I started taking maca and L-carnitine to help my recovery.
I don’t want to give up exercising because I know that lack of physical activity or exercise can lead to reduced muscle mass, strength and physical endurance, as well as to reduced coordination and balance. If you’ve been exercising before the age of 50, that’s great. It’s never too late to start a fitness regimen after 50.
How can individuals kickstart their journey to wellness? What advice can you give someone who is unsure of how to begin?
Before starting a fitness regimen, it’s best to consult a doctor especially if you have hypertension, diabetes or any medical condition. Explore what interests you: is it joining a class, engaging a friend to be a fitness buddy, hiring a personal trainer, working out at the gym or at home…?
Start slowly and commit to a schedule you can sustain your choice of physical activity. Commit to fitness activities that you enjoy. Enjoying them will make it easier for you to make it part of your lifestyle.
Don’t mind the weighing scales. Listen to your body. You can control how much you eat, sleep, rest, work and work out, even though our genetic composition is not under our control. Never lose your enthusiasm; it will never wrinkle your soul.
This is an updated version of Patricia Mirasol’s Well-Thy Pinoy series. The author wishes to thank Ms. Sison (Instagram @chelesison) for the interview and photos.