‘Exercise less, eat more’

That is not a typographical error.

That is the mantra for losing weight of fitness guru Edward Mendez, who has transformed himself into a Pinoy Apollo by exercising for about 30 minutes maximum a day and by eating frequently — about every three hours.

Yes, “Exercise less, eat more.”

Sexy Solutions, the non-surgical arm of Belo, launched last Tuesday Edward Mendez’s Your Dream Body Come True, a book that explains the latest and most effective fitness and health principles. Edward, with his 10 years of studies and experience, joins Sexy Solutions in promoting a holistic approach in lifestyle change that combines technology, nutrition and fitness. The book features fitness tips and programs that mainly follow the “Eat more, Exercise less” principle and how one can make one’s metabolism function at its best.

Dr. Vicki Belo, her ex-husband Atom Henares and their daughter Cristalle are disciples of Edward. Vicki set modesty aside and asked those who were gathered at Edward’s book launch to look at her, “Would you believe this is the body of a 57-year-old?” Yup. Vicki turns 57 this month.

She swore that in all the years she has known Atom (they got married while she was in med school during her early twenties), this is his best body yet.

And Cristalle, who revealed she has tried every fitness regimen under the sun, proudly proclaimed she was  wearing a skin-tight dress without Spanx underneath. And the dress clung to her body without folds and creases and bumps.

The 6-ft.-1-in. Edward, who was born in the Philippines but raised in Maryland, saw his form swing from 160 lbs., to 120 lbs., to an almost skeletal 105 lbs. before he achieved his desired build. He says he doesn’t weigh himself anymore. His gauge, I guess, is how he looks. Then he rests his case.

Aside from Vicki and Cristalle, Edward’s disciples include broadcast journalist Ces Drilon, who was wearing a figure-hugging wrap-around dress during the book launch with much confidence.

The book will be available in National Book Store and Fully Booked branches on the last week of January. Read it and see for yourself if Edward knows whereof he speaks.

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It wasn’t only Edward’s book that was launched at Vicki’s house last Tuesday. The best-selling, and uhmm, magnetic Belo 2014 calendar was launched, too, with revealing photos of its calendar boys (the photos of the ladies like Anne Curtis and Lucy Torres-Gomez were sexy but not too revealing). But the men virtually bared all they had to flaunt — except for one major asset.

Of calendar boy Derek Ramsay, who we (STAR Lifestyle editor Millet Mananquil, Cosmo editor Myrza Sison, STAR columnist Pepper Teehankee and Inquirer’s Alex Vergara), were privileged to have in our table, Vicki said; “He has something so hard in his body you could play chess on it.”

Did you know Derek wears a scapular around his neck and has a tattoo of the crucifix behind his right ear? He ate two bowls of the cinnamon crumble that was served for dessert because, “I have a bed scene later.” Sweets before the spice? “Oh, the scene just takes too much energy I have to have something in my stomach,” he replied. His New Year’s resolution is to save more money and spend more time with his family.

Also gracing the event were some of the hottest and most beautiful Belo babies featured in the sought-after and controversial Belo 2014 Calendar: Andi Eigenmann, Ruffa Gutierrez, Tom Rodriguez, Matteo Guidicelli, Alden Richards and Angeline Quinto. Each month of the Belo 2014 calendar features a Belo baby in a very sexy and stunning photo that will surely make you want to try their favorite procedures.

Vicki’s Top 5 beauty bets for 2014 are:

1. Belo Vitamin infusion, a procedure that delivers vitamins straight into the blood stream for extra vigor and enhanced immunity, anti-aging and whitening.

2. Regenlite, a laser treatment that provides fast, effective treatment for all grades of acne vulgaris and vascular problems (like warts, spider veins, birthmarks), as well as skin rejuvenation.

3. RevLite + Acupuncture facial, a breakthrough formula introduced by Belo. Revlite addresses pigmentation problems while Acupuncture stimulates and improves underlying muscle tone to prevent facial sagging.

4. Embedded Protein Threads restores volume loss on the face and addresses problems like loose facial skin and jowling.

5. Stem Factors, the active component of stem cells, which can be applied directly to skin for skin rejuvenation.

Interestingly, Vicki’s New Year’s resolution is to have a “faith lift.” “My New Year’s resolution is to read the Bible every day and spend more time growing spiritually.”

(You may e-mail me at joanneraeramirez@yahoo.com.)