Chinggay Andrada gets a kick out of boxing

She was at the height of her career as a sports-caster, radio disc jockey, and editor when she left without notice to start a family in the United States. She is back under ALV Talents and promises to surprise her avid fans with a forthcoming big project.

Her new show will feature her as an ambassador of fitness and even a lifestyle coach. We caught up with her and she gladly shared her insights:

THE PHILIPPINE STAR: How important is fitness to you?

CHINGGAY ANDRADA: Ever since I picked up my first set of dumbbells at the age of 15, I have always made fitness a priority in my life. Being fit and staying fit has and always will serve as fuel to my everyday schedule, especially now as a mom. But just like everyone else, we all encounter bumps when it comes to fitness. Back in 1998, as a TV host for The Global Filipino on The Filipino Channel, I saw myself balloon up to 120 pounds! I stepped up my workout routine, eliminated fried foods completely, and reached my goal weight within a month.

What is your current exercise routine? 

I try to do a different workout every week, considering my schedule and mood for that particular week. I’m currently into Bikram Yoga three times a week and CrossFit three times a week, with weight training in between these sessions. I really don’t have a regular fitness regimen, except that I aim to get my body moving six times a week. So my week could consist of three sessions of CrossFit (a type of training), three sessions of interval training with sprints, or low- and high-intensity cardio days along with functional training. I love Bikram Yoga and aim to do that twice a week as well.

What are you currently training for?

My fitness goal at the moment is to train for a marathon. When I aim for a fitness goal, I make sure that I am in the right mental state and have ample time to train and plan for it. Right now, I am training for the biggest challenge in my career yet!  It’s definitely life-changing, and I cant wait for everyone to see it.

What body part are you focused on?

The part of my body that needs improvement is my lower back. When I was pregnant with Alidela, I gained 42 pounds, mostly around my belly, while the rest of my body remained the same. So for my body frame, the weight gain was a little overwhelming, which led to lower back pain.     

Do you have a favorite exercise?

My favorite gym exercise is a leg workout being executed one right after the other — the lunge, the squat followed by a jump squat.

What sports are you into?

I love boxing. I love the training regimen, and I try to do it twice a week. But right now, I am trying a new sport at least once a month — if my schedule allows. Back in 2003, I was asked to teach at a local boxing gym, and from there my passion grew for the sport. Not to mention it’s a sport that Filipinos definitely excel in. At the moment, my three-year-old daughter loves to play soccer so perhaps it’s something that we can learn together.

Do you follow a certain diet?

I have never used the word diet in describing my food plan or even for my clients. Usually, when you encounter people on a diet, they are often cranky or feel deprived.  So the word I use to describe what I should eat is the word “fuel.” I will only eat what will fuel my day, and what will fuel my workout.  Therefore, sugary sweets, fried foods or processed foods are out of my food plan as I know such will not “fuel” my day and my workouts.

Can you describe your meal plan for a full day?

Breakfast consists of an oatmeal pancake. It’s cooked as a pancake but contains oatmeal and egg whites. I do vary my breakfast depending on what my workout will be on that day. Sometimes, I will instead have an egg white omelet, consisting of egg whites and veggies, and low-fat mozzarella cheese. Lunch consists of either a chicken salad or a turkey sandwich. It all depends where I am or where I will be on that day. Dinner consists of fish or chicken, along with a good source of carbs like brown rice or sweet potato with my preferred vegetable side dish for that day — broccoli, asparagus, etc. I definitely have snacks in between meals, sometimes yogurt or a piece of toast with peanut butter, a fruit with cheese, etc.

Do you have a cheat day? What do you indulge in?

Definitely coffee during the day. I definitely have a sweet tooth for any Pinoy dessert. You name it I love it, especially puto, puto-bumbong, and pichi-pichi! I usually cheat on Sundays, but somehow if I am out to dinner with friends or are at an event, and my favorite dish or dessert is being served, then I’m game and that day would be considered my cheat day for the week.

How many glasses of water do you take?

I take about 10-15 glasses of water a day. My workouts are pretty intense, and I definitely make sure that I’m always hydrated before, during, and after my workouts.

Do you take vitamins and supplements?

I take a multi-vitamin daily, along with my triple omega and vitamin E capsules. But for energy, nothing replaces what we should SEE we do every day. S-leep well, E-at well, and E-xercise well.

Do you get enough sleep?

I make sure that I get at least seven hours of sleep at night, if not I squeeze in a nap in the afternoon. The last thing I do before I go to sleep is thank God for an amazing day, and think of how I can be even more productive for the following day.  First thing I do when I wake up is to think of something positive, that way my day will feed off this positive feeling that I have and plan to have for the rest of the day.

Name three male celebrities with great bodies.

Three men with nice bodies — Ryan Reynolds, Rich Herrera, Tyson Beckford.

How about three sexiest female celebrities?

Three women with nice bodies — Jessica Biehl, Jennifer Aniston, Brooke Burke.

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Post me a note at mylene@goldsgym.com.ph or mylenedayrit@gmail.com.