Raymond's turn

"I was in denial. I guess you don’t really think about it when you’re in that phase,” said Raymond Gutierrez, or Mond to his close friends and family. “I guess I knew it all along, but I didn’t do anything about it,” he confesses.

Mond is talking here about the F word we are all afraid of: Fat. It’s the first thing a relative or former workmate tells you at a reunion, the direct assault disguised as a friendly reminder that says “Hey, you ate a lot of lechon over the holidays!” It’s the first thing a televiewer says about their idols when they turn on the TV for their dose of Sunday showbiz scoops.

 Mond is very much aware of all this, being not just a commentator, but a very keen observer at that. He grew up in a family that breathed show business, and he’s just more than Richard’s twin, Ruffa’s bro, and Eddie and Annabelle’s son. He is his own person. He is pretty aware of what is reality. In fact, it is safe to say, in my opinion, that Mond is the sharpest in the Rama-Gutierrez brood. He’s just not showing it. Not yet, at least. Not until now.

The turning point for Mond to say goodbye to his old self came when he got the Esquire style director job. “Man at his best” is what the glossy mag preaches, and so Mond took a good look at himself and decided he wanted to be the best Mond he could possibly be. “I needed to step up my game. I had to do something about it,” he says.

Mond’s Sexy Re-Solution

Despite being misunderstood by some sectors, Mond is one of the most well-loved people in the industry, surrounded by a plethora of “It” girls and boys, all of whom are fit and lead such active lifestyles. “All my friends super work out, except me,” he admits. This changed his year though, and 2012 saw not a bigger, but a brighter Raymond Gutierrez. “My friends have been so influential. They really encouraged me, they worked out with me. Georgina (Wilson) took me to core kinesis, Liz (Uy) took me boxing, until it became a habit.” He also gave up on alcohol, save for a glass of wine or two every now and then. A lifestyle change, if I may put it at that.

One day he was shooting Dr. Vicki Belo for Esquire, and Vicki immediately volunteered her services to improve Mond, saying “I wanna help you. Will you allow me?” The next day they met with a nutritionist, and started Mond’s journey with Sexy Solutions, Vicki and Cristalle Belo’s nutrition and weight loss center that specializes in making you a smaller, tighter and happier version of yourself.

“You don’t realize you’ve gone that far. When I was big, I didn’t realize it. I woke up one day and realized I had to do something about it,” says Mond. He set his mind, worked his body, and in turn, calmed his soul. As a friend, I have noticed that Mond is healthier (in a good way) and happier. I congratulate him for his passion and determination to make himself better. We all have something to learn from him.

“This year marks the brand-new me. I am starting the year on the right foot,” says Mond, version 2012. 

And oh, did I tell you that today is his birthday?

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Greet Mond and tweet me at twitter.com/officialTIMYAP. Here’s to a healthier you this Year of the Dragon!

Raymond On His Sexy Time

How soon did you see results after your treatments?

The first day I tried Sexy Solutions, I already saw results! Instantly, I lost a couple of inches from my mid-section. Of course, it’s up to you (on) how to maintain it. For me, I balanced a proper diet and exercise regimen with regular treatments at Sexy Solutions.

How happy are you?

Extremely happy and grateful to the whole Sexy Solutions team for being so supportive, thoughtful, and accommodating. Throughout this process of losing weight, they served as my support group. I told Cristalle (Henares) and Vicki (Belo) that I feel like I have my old self back, and that’s the best Christmas and birthday present I could have.

Can you sum up the experience in one sentence?

Sexy Solutions made the process of losing weight a breeze!

What is the best thing about Sexy Solutions?

The treatments are painless because of the amazing new technology that they have. But more than anything, it’s really the people behind it. It’s so easy to lose momentum when you’re trying to lose weight, but the staff really took care of me and encouraged me. I feel like I’m part of this new family and I’ll be forever grateful.