Tips from Balitang America’s Steve Angeles
As the New Year approaches, we tend to jot down a list of resolutions, whether it’s staying organized or saving more money. One resolution that continues to top individuals’ lists is to lose weight, leading to lofty plans of joining a gym and eating healthier. However, how many people stick to that goal beyond a week or even a month? Or if some lose weight, how many manage to keep the pounds off? Steve Angeles, a correspondent for The Filipino Channel’s Balitang America, shares his inspiring journey of losing 80 pounds and adopting a more active routine. But beyond losing weight, Steve can attest that the road to a healthier lifestyle means transforming one’s outlook and behavior in the process, which has helped him keep off the weight years after.
Asian Journal: What was your original weight before you began your weight loss journey? At what point did you decide you would change your lifestyle?
Steve Angeles: I use to weigh 240 pounds in 2007. After some doctor visits, a few dares, as well as on camera workshops encouraging me to lose weight, I decided why not? I’m only young once, there’s nothing cool about being fat, and I’m probably not going to play football again, so around 2007 I started experimenting with exercise and diet.
AJ: What was your strategy/were your goals for losing weight? How did you find the right routine for you to stick with?
SA: I knew weight loss was going to be a lifestyle change. I had discipline from the high school football days, so I figured I just need to make it a routine. I figured food will be a compromise, but as you get older you begin to discover that some foods taste good, and you don’t need some of the junk food to survive. I saw the Beachbody informercials, and saw that 10 Minute Trainer can give you a workout in 10 minutes, so I started on that and built up and I’ve been on different version P90X for the past 7 years now.
AJ: What were the hardest parts of the process?
SA: Starting is always the hard part, but once you begin the routine and make it a part of your lifestyle, it becomes auto pilot. Learning foods and memorizing calories can be difficult to begin with, but once you have an idea of what’s good then it becomes easier figuring out what to eat. Having good faith in God helps, I tell myself he’s put me in a high visibility position so I need to present myself well. There’s times I fall off and gain a few pounds here and there, sometimes a reality check, having people call you fat every now and then helps scare you back on track.
AJ: What motivated you? What continues to motivate you to maintain your current weight?
SA: Just trying to be healthy and look like superheroes made me want to lose weight. I never did it for my on-cam work, news broadcasting is all writing, but I see that it’s had a positive impact on my career. So I have to maintain, I don’t want to be known as the fat guy that lost weight that got fat again. My girlfriend is an aesthetic nurse so she sees how people spend money just to lose weight and try to look good, I’m blessed that I can do it all natural and I don’t have to spend thousands to try to look good, so I have to keep it up.
AJ: What tips/ advice can you share for keeping off the weight or even starting the process itself? How do you continue to do so with a busy schedule?
SA: Start at your own pace. You can start slow and ease your way into it. People quit because they try too drastically from the start, both with food and exercise. It’s all about consistency, and it’s a lifestyle change so this mentality of being healthy will be with you for the rest of your life. Technology has made it a lot more easier. There [are] a few apps there from calorie trackers, to exercise timers and pedometers that can make your workout into a fun game. And even if you’re busy or will have a long day, people need to realize that exercise and eating right will make your work and busy day a lot easier. When I start my day with my workout, my metabolism is clicking, and my mind is alert. When I was in the NorCal office [of ABS-CBN] I use to have a desk bike in my cube and I would cycle while writing. It’s a good way to burn calories without even knowing. There [are] a lot of ways to sneak in exercise like parking far, or taking the stairs or walking to the store. It’s also a numbers game. Average person needs 2000 calories. If you eat less than that you’ll lose weight, if you eat more, you’ll gain weight. If you exercise you will lose weight faster, and gives you “extra credit” so you can splurge on your calories a little without gaining weight.
AJ: How has your life changed now that you’ve lost weight?
SA: I didn’t realize I would get attention when I first lost weight, but in the TV world, aesthetics [are] a good thing, so it’s helped me in that sense. I do a lot of the sports stories, and in LA there’s also lots of entertainment stories, so I have this weird mindset where I feel I need to look like I can compete with the athletes or act with actors. I have better energy now, and discipline. I’m a lot better at my recreational sports now that I’m more fit.
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Midweek December 24, 2014 MDWK pg. 2)
