Warning: This article contains mentions of eating disorders.
Former matinee idol Aga Muhlach has revealed that his decision to stay away from the limelight in recent years was rooted in his struggles with weight and body consciousness.
In a report from GMA News, Aga spoke candidly about his journey to health and fitness as he was recently introduced as the newest endorser of Century Tuna Superbods, alongside fellow actor Richard Gomez.
The 55-year-old former matinee idol shared that he turned down multiple acting projects due to his weight, which peaked at 260 lbs.
“Parang ako na mismo, parang seven years ako nag-stop,” Aga admitted, explaining how his insecurities led him to decline offers.
According to Muhlach, his last acting project, “Seven Sundays” in 2017, was filmed while he was 210 lbs, and his weight continued to fluctuate over the years. The pandemic, he noted, further derailed his health journey.
“It was 2017 when I did the movie Seven Sundays, I was overweight then. Yung weight ko at that time was only 210 lbs. I was able to bring that down to 170 lbs. ‘Tapos, 2017, 2018, and dahan-dahan na namang slowly creeping back to 200 lbs. Then, pandemic, ‘yan ang sumira sa buhay ko talaga.”
“Ako na mismo ang hindi nagpapakita. May nag-o-offer talaga, ang daming offers. Ako talaga mismo ang umaalis. Sabi ko, ‘I cannot work. I cannot’,” he added.
He also admitted to experiencing binge eating, which made him more reclusive during his hiatus.
“Nagkaroon din ako ng binge eating for a while. So binge eating, binge eating… minsan hindi ako lumalabas,” he recalled.
Thankfully, his wife, Charlene Gonzales, served as his constant source of encouragement and support which helped him acknowledge the importance of taking control of his health.
This year, Aga took on the Century Tuna Superbods challenge, committing to a 10-month fitness regimen under the guidance of fitness trainer Mauro Lumba, reported GMA. From his highest weight of 260 lbs, Aga has slimmed down to 200 lbs, with a target of reaching 170 lbs.
“Siguro maraming makaka-relate nito, lalo na yung mga overweight. It was difficult. All these years, I was always in hiding. I would have been more busier if not for my weight,” he admitted. “Sabi ko nga kay Goma [Richard], ‘Ang ganda sana nito kung lumabas tayo nang nakahubad.’ Pero sabi namin, let’s save it for next year.”
Aga further emphasized that while he is serious in achieving a “superbod”, his main motivation is maintaining a health lifestyle.
“In all honesty, gusto ko siyang tanggalin na rin. Hindi dahil sa aesthetics, ha, kundi dahil sa health. Bonus na lang yung gumanda ang katawan mo. Pero yung lifestyle na ‘to of having good sleep, eating the right nutrition, exercise, na incorporated sa buhay, yung sa akin ang most important thing.”
Muhlach also highlighted the importance of not pressuring oneself with strict deadlines, “You know, there’s no deadline. You just gotta do it really. Mahirap magtago sa buhay dahil sa katawan natin,” he explained.
As Aga continues his journey toward better health, he hopes to inspire others who might be facing similar struggles, offering this advice: “Enough of those promises that next year you’ll start doing it. Start now. Tama na yung ngayong Christmas, ibibigay mo na naman lahat. It’s really a lifestyle change talaga.”
