An Awesome Transformation
Gary and I with Gabs and Alyssa at MYOH 2015
With NJ Torres of Marie France and mom blogger friends Shen and Nikki (above), and with more friends, including Mafae Belasco, Joy Mendiola and Shari (who I was happy to find out is expecting her second child! She's such a blooming mom-to-be!)I even finally got to meet Mafae's newest member of Team Belasco...
I’ve known her since our elementary years, when we both studied in Assumption Antipolo. We belonged in different sections but we knew each other because I would sell padded paper from our family printing press and she would buy from me because she was an artist. She would sketch and doodle all the time, and I distinctly remember her favorite theme to be horses. After the grades, she moved to another school and we would only reconnect years later when we were all grown up and she was already in show business. Admittedly, I was a bit surprised to learn that she had followed her calling and became an actress. Not surprised because she definitely had the looks for it, but pleasantly surprised because she was someone I knew to be more introspective, one who kept to herself or a small group of friends, but then she was talented, beautiful and smart and made a name for herself in both film and TV. As I would see her on the big and small screen and see her on the news, I was happy for her transformation, as if she was able to find her own spot in the limelight.She also later became known as the strong woman behind her hubby, Janno Gibbs. Again, our paths crossed because Gary was working in Primeline, a talent management company under Ronnie Henares and he became Janno’s road manager.
She was a doting mom to her (then) only daughter Alyssa, actively supporting Janno while maintaining a great career.After Gary left the talent management business, we didn’t see the Gibbs’ family for a while, only being in touch with them via social media. We knew they were doing okay, with loving posts by Janno and Bing of their family, and especially of their two beautiful, and now all-grown-up daughters, Alyssa and her younger sister, Gabs. Janno was doing well with his hosting and gigs, while Bing, though not as active in showbiz, seemed to have grown in her faith, seeing how she was using Instagram and Facebook to inspire her followers with positive posts and quotes. We would also finally meet their kids at our events, when we invite them as influencers on occasion.
We would always invite Bing to come but she never did, and I realize now, which she validated to me, that she had gone purposely incognito, and this was because of her physical condition. This is what I learned when I saw her during an intimate event last week at the Shangri-la Fort Residences. It was nice to see her again after so long. At this event, she revealed to me along with other members of the press and blogging community, that she had just come from a low point in her life and this was mainly because of her struggle with her weight. Through the years, Bing had apparently put on a lot of excess weight and this caused her to experience major rejection by the industry she loved, losing roles and projects specifically because of her physical state. She spiraled downward and it was a difficult time for her as her condition was aggravated by conditions like hypothyroidism which slows down metabolism as well as hypertension. She also felt bad when her daughters, who were now young women and well-followed fashion influencers, would go around shopping for clothes and she could not even shop with them because no off-the-rack sizes would fit her.But the woman before us was out of that desperate situation. She was no longer the Bing I knew from grade school nor the one I knew when Gary worked with Janno.
She had the demeanour of a person who just came out of a journey, and had an aura of renewed confidence and victory because of what she had gone through.Five or so months ago, while feeling downtrodden, she had, at one point, a moment of discernment and decided to take action. She called on someone who she thought could help her, and these were the people of Marie France.Marie France got us all together one afternoon andwe were all there to hear Bing's story and be inspired by her.
While Bing shared her story, she gave us these sketches she made, and we were all given watercolor paint and brushes..So Bing continued to tell us that with intensive consultations with Marie France doctors and nutritionists, they assessed her condition and discussed points of action. With her fully onboard, emotionally and mentally, she was determined to do whatever it takes, another transformation was set to happen.Marie France worked with her for non-invasive treatments, nutritional and lifestyle counseling. There was no need for dieting or drinking slimming pills and such. What Marie France did was to design a program using technology that has been available in its centers.Being part of the Marie France family myself, I knew she made the best decision of her life.Marie France took on Bing’s case and helped her slowly and surely get from where she was at to a point she wanted to be in, which came just a few months later.First she did the FMS elite treatments which was the cold wraps (read my post about FMS here), combined with machine-based treatments which I myself have tried and loved like Physique Inch-Loss and PDT, used to melt away and dissolve the fat.Physique Inch-loss just takes 15 minutes per session lying down, but is actually equivalent to 225 sit ups!
Bing says “Pumapayat ka nang nakahiga! O diba!” Then when she had lost a good amount of weight, she experienced the VelaContour to reduce cellulite, and PDT, among others. Forskolin online played a big part in her newly acquired knowledge and attitude.But this Thermo Magnetic Pulse (TMP) machine remains to be Bing’s favorite.It’s Marie France’s latest offering that uses 4D technology, combining multi-polar radio frequency and pulsed magnetic fields, which delivers 4 benefits in just 1 application — fat reduction, body contouring, skin tightening, and cellulite smoothening. She swears that you feel your skin getting tighter after every treatment.So that day, I saw an old friend but also saw a new Bing Loyzaga-Gibbs. here she was before us, speaking of hope and of gratitude, and hoping to share her story in order to inspire others.Then I realize some things never change/ She was still the beautiful, smart and naturally warm schoolmate I knew decades ago.Don’t let those taray eyebrows fool you, this woman is a caring, warm and funny human being.She’s still fearless and confident in taking a stand, and taking action towards a goal despite obstacles.She’s still the forever artist, expressing herself through pen, pencil, paint and paper.She is still ever evolving and growing, with a renewed sense of faith and fulfillment. I think we’re just all happy for her and looking forward to see her bloom even more and touch more lives.To know more about Bing's story, go to the Marie France website.