There are several reasons why people go to the gym and sweat it out. To build up muscles, get rid of unsightly flab, lose weight, gain strength. Being fit is more than physical appearance.
For the health-conscious lot, it’s always a good feeling to rise in the morning, face the new day and its challenges. Looking good is a satisfying bonus.
Bodybuilding is an exceptional kind of discipline. There are absolutely no quick fixes. You sweat at every barbell thrust. You grunt at each squat and lift. The tendons hurt. The hamstrings get pulled. The teeth gnash. You curse when the going feels rough.
And then comes the eureka moment. That instance you look at yourself in the mirror and realize that you are looking at an Mt. Olympus god. Macho-looking men are “oglable”—prominent jaws, bushy eyebrows, very impressive chest, larger-than-ordinary mortals in overall size. You know, the near duplicate of Sylvester Stallone stuff that is supposed to exhibit virility.
To the participants of the ANB Universe Pro-Am International, a recently held fitness event at the Circuit Makati, the event was the nail-biting climax to all the rigid workouts they have undergone to be in the competition.
Each competitor appeared to have a commitment to see results, to win; the stage was the arena where the final survivor would stand, fists punching the air in a blaze of strobe lights.
Everybody was hyped, including the audience who whooped as their favored athlete, in a non-adversarial stance, dashed and flashed and did their bit of grandstanding for the judges.
A few eager beavers almost jumped out of their seats and high-fived as the winners were announced.
Mico Resurrecion was easily embraced by the crowd. He had star quality and a mix of good looks and confidence—displaying the kind of swagger that certifies a winner. He won the Male Fitness Model Under 173cm and the Male Fitness Model Under 35.
Sarina Wing, who won the Swimsuit Model Novice and the Swimsuit Model Under 35 categories, shared her workouts helped develop her perseverance and tenacity to achieve such grace and flawless form to which the judges, some of them from Las Vegas, saw and gave their nod.
Despite the glorious feeling, the title does not cap the pursuit of becoming a healthy and fit person. It’s a never-ending self-discipline. No “yo-yo” dieting. It is sticking to a regimen of good eating habits.
When the urge to be a couch potato beckons, be deaf to it. Sleep at night instead of spending it indulging in happy hours. Go for the natural bodybuilding routine. That’s the healthy way to make the victory stick.
Photos by Diana B. Noche