Celebrity weight loss: How Dubai-born Filipina actress Jessy Mendiola and other stars lost weight and got fit

The flip side of fame and fortune is that it erodes privacy. The result: All your ups and downs are up for public display, often to mortifying results. This is especially true for stars who suffer from food disorders or who are always on a new diet for weight loss. However, there are some amazing success stories too – and if you are looking for inspiration to kick off your own journey, look no further. Here are some A-listers who’ve beaten the blues and are celebrating body positivity.

Filipino actress Iza Calzado may be one of the most sought-after actors in the country, but she’s gone through some major trials. She used to be an emotional eater, leading to fluctuating weight. She tried everything to drop those pounds, from starvation diets and weight loss pills to cosmetic surgery. But finally, after a stint on reality show ‘The Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition: Double’ she finally realised it would take a balanced diet and exercise to be healthy. Today the healthy star is a fitness buff and mulling an aquathlon.

Her weight gain and the trolling almost led Dubai-born Filipina actress Jessy Mendiola to quit show business. She also suffered from bulimia – the eating disorder that causes people to binge on food and throw up after. But Mendiola proved stronger than the naysayers. She followed a strict diet and exercise regime and got fit. She credits the change to her coach and trainer, beau Luis Manzano. In an Instagram post, she wrote that it’s important to “find what is best for you,” “accept your flaws,” and “love yourself.”

Filipina actress Aiko Melendez has never been fat. But the 44-year-old actress who wanted to be leaner than her size 10 frame. The quest led her down the path of calorie counting. For a month she consumed two boiled eggs and coffee only. The second month, she ate 1,000 calories, with a diet rich in berries and water with lemon cider vinegar. Soon she had dropped to a size 6.

Actress Melissa Ricks has been using machines to shed those pesky kilos. But she’s also been using diet and exercise to support her weight loss. She wrote on Instagram, “It’s also good to see what works for us, what helps and aids in weight loss, helps gain back our confidence and gives us that boost of encouragement with visible results.” In the same post she encouraged people to stay consistent. “Hoping that I help others to feel great about themselves and encourage a healthier lifestyle. Keep going.”

Pregnancy can be a tough time and leave a new mum a lot of excess weight. After Rufa Mae gave birth to her daughter, she found she had gained 38kg; she now weighed 84kg. She also struggled with post-partum depression. However, she worked hard on her diet and lost 18kg within one month. This would give her enough motivation to stick with it and lose more weight. Now, she even posts workout videos.

Former Star Circle Quest finalist Michelle Madrigal also gained weight when she was pregnant. She gave herself a goal however: she joined a contest sponsored by a muscle supplement brand and used it to push herself closer to her goal. In an Instagram post, she shares her take on how to have that toned, slim figure. “Ladies there is no secret to losing weight,” she said “You have to commit 100%, eat clean which is counting my macros (5-6 meals a day), hard work and exercise 5-6x a week. There’s no easy way in getting the body you want.”