Anne before (left) and after (right) she started focusing on fitness

Anne Alvarez thought she would lose the weight she gained after giving birth, but the post-baby fat was only compounded by her love affair with food. "I couldn’t watch TV without a big bag of chips beside me," she says. And her refusal to participate in any physical activity caused her to get tired easily.

After deciding she had enough of feeling unhappy and frustrated because of her weight, Anne enrolled in a gym and got herself a weight management consultant and personal trainer. She started working out for at least two hours three or four times a week. She also changed her eating habits. Removed processed foods from her diet, reduced her sugar intake, went for lean meat, and ate more veggies and fruits.

Anna's efforts definitely paid off, and her new figure gave her confidence a big boost. In five months, she lost 56 lbs. Her singing career, which took a back seat during her heavier days, took off as well. She says, "I noticed that my voice range expanded and my air control improved. I can now project better than before because I'm confident." In fact she says that the only problem she has now is completely changing her wardrobe!


ANNE'S TIPS:

1. Don't wait.

"Take action once you are determined and ready. Don’t let time pass, start what you can do today."


2. It's mind over matter.

"I shut out negative thoughts. I took everything as a challenge and told myself I was in the process of learning."


3. Think long-term.

"Make it a long-term commitment to better health and not just to aesthetic appeal."



(First Published in Women's Health Philippines, Weight Loss section as "Designer's Haunt" in May 2009. Photos by Ocs Alvarez and courtesy of Anne Gecale-Alvarez; styling by Pia Rojas; adapted for use in Female Network)