Oreo Vamenta is one of Cagayan de Oro’s most talented performers. I featured his story a couple of years ago in a website I used to work for. But while that was about his success as a singer (he’s a World Championship of Performing Arts or WCOPA multi-medalist), this one is about another journey – a very important one at that.   Aside from constantly finding ways to improve his performances, Oreo is also doing his best to pursue a fit and healthy lifestyle. Although this is not something new for him, he admits that it is the first time he is taking his goal seriously. According to him, his fitness routine used to be a “yo-yo” thing: he’d be working out religiously for a couple of months and then slack off and be lazy after that. It was his regular routine then.   The turning point came in September 2017, after he came home from a concert guesting stint in Manila. “That was the time I felt so insecure about myself; my weight. During the concert, I noticed that the artists I was performing with were all younger than me. And they all looked so fit! I had a good performance and the audience loved me, but the experience made me realize that I had to change my yo-yo lifestyle,” Oreo shared.   Although he had no problems hitting the high notes and delivering good performances, Oreo’s excess weight affected his self-confidence, and he was afraid that this would manifest while he was onstage. There was even a time when he didn’t accept any singing engagements because he was so insecure about his weight.   “Whenever I performed at Lifestyle District, I’d be extra conscious of how I’d looked. I always wore a jacket and made sure it wasn’t too tight for me. I made sure it hid my flabs. I didn’t close or zip it up because it would make me look like suman (sticky rice wrapped in banana leaves).” He also said that since he didn’t like to move around a lot – he was too conscious – he had very little interaction with the audience.   He also said that some people made him realize what he needed to do. They would comment on his yo-yo lifestyle and say something like, “Ah, that’s temporary. He’s always like that. He’ll be back to his old ways and get fat again!” He admits to getting hurt the first time he read the messages, but he eventually learned to just let go. “I also blamed myself because I gave them a reason to say those things to me.”   So Oreo decided to make a complete lifestyle change. He went back to playing badminton regularly and also found the time to box. He adjusted his diet and eliminated rice, soda, cakes, chips (his favorite), and sugar and other sugary stuff. It wasn’t easy, especially in the first few days but he willed himself to go on and survived the temptations.   “I conditioned myself to think and believe that I was diabetic – even if I’m not - so I won’t break my diet.” The first two weeks were the toughest because his family loved to cook and eat, and Sundays were always reserved for eating out. “But my family went all-out in their support for me and it helped a lot.”   Of course, there were times when he would ask himself why he was doing what he was doing. “Why am I punishing myself like this?” But he persisted because he saw all the positive effects of his new lifestyle. He wasn’t only healthier; he also looked and felt good. “I also realized that I’m not doing this for anybody else; I’m not doing this to increase my following or to fish for likes. I’m doing this because I owe it to myself to live healthier and to be constantly fit.”   Oreo also draws strength and inspiration from his “fitspirations” – mostly Kagay-anons: Ms. Vianncy Unabia, whose discipline he admires; Dr. Maxine Monasterio-Mejia, whose dedication to fitness is exceptional – not even pregnancy could stop her from working out; and his good friend Dr. Malik Benito, whose determination is unrivalled as he still finds time to work out even after one or two days of hospital duty.   Since he started working out last year, Oreo has lost around 35 lbs. He was at 190lbs in September 2017 and he now weighs 155lbs.   “LOOK HOW MUCH WEIGHT I LOST!”   Last February, Oreo’s fitness journey caught the eye of Christian Galaritta, Anytime Fitness CDO’s manager. CG invited him for a free trial in the gym and several days later, Oreo became part of the AF CDO family when he became one of the gym’s official endorsers. “I grabbed the offer because it came at the right time – just when I was thinking about going back to regular gym workouts,” Oreo revealed. “I also thought that AF would be a good venue for sharing my fitness story and inspiring others to work out.”   CAPTION: FROM 190 LBS to 155LBS   Oreo goes to the gym at least five days a week. He follows a program especially created for him by one of AF CDO’s coaches, Clint Jerry Nebria. Coach CJ regularly updates his program (based on his progress), which is focused on toning. “Working with Coach CJ has greatly helped me focus on my fitness journey. He constantly guides and encourages me. So I know that I’m going in the right direction.”   OREO WITH COACH CJ OF ANYTIME FITNESS CDO   These days, Oreo is busy preparing for a special event in July, which will launch him and Ms. Nicole Abas-Datayan as the official Anytime Fitness CDO endorsers.   In addition to AF CDO, Oreo also endorses Aruga Aesthetic Center and was recently chosen as one of the ambassadors/endorsers for Krunch, a premier health food restaurant here in CDO. He completed his first detox challenge this month and is now following a special daily diet created specifically to complement his workout program.   For Oreo, working out and keeping fit is already a part of his life. It is something he cannot live without. He decided to switch to a healthier lifestyle because he values his life. For him, working out is not about getting slim, building muscles, or developing washboard abs. It’s about loving yourself a little more. Being fit and staying fit is not a fad or a trend; it’s a lifestyle. And that’s what Oreo wants to prove.   Oreo Vamenta - singer, performer….your new fitspiration.   You can follow Oreo and his fitness journey through his social media accounts: Facebook – Oreo Vamenta and IG: @oreovamenta.   Anytime Fitness is at the 5th floor of SM CDO Downtown Premier. Aruga Aesthetic Center is at the 4th floor of SM CDO Downtown Premier, and Krunch is located at the Rosario Strip in Limketkai Center.   Next Saturday, I’ll share a story about family – something we can all relate with. In the meantime, please follow my social media accounts: Facebook: Maia Fortich Poblete, IG: @mimai1122, and Facebook: Scribblescdo (for my blog). Check out my blog, too, at www.mimaiscribbles.com.