A first-time mom shared her fitness journey and how it led her to welcome her “little miracle.”
From 137 kilos, Andrea Martinez- Fidelino was able to achieve a much lighter weight to 97 kilos.
She clarified that at first, her goal was just to become healthier since she had a hard time moving around.
“I was teaching that time. I realized, sobrang heavy ko na. Kasi hindi na ako makahinga. Mag-walk lang ako ng mga 10 steps from the faculty room to the CR. Pawis na pawis na ako, tapos hindi na akong makahinga talaga. Tapos ‘pag natutulog ako, parang nacho-choke ako. Kasi wala na akong leeg eh. Sobrang obstructed na ng airway ko na nagigising na ako sa sarili kong hilik. So natakot ako. So we talked about it at sabi niya [husband], ‘Sige, mag-stop ka muna sa pagtuturo. Let’s focus on your health,’” she told in an exclusive interview with The Philippine STAR.
After her health emergency, Andrea decided to consult specialists to alleviate her symptoms.
“We wanted to manage ‘yung PCOS ko. Hindi na namin iniisip. By that time, nag-give up na kami sa having kids. Pagpunta namin sa OB, tinanong niya kami ‘How old are you ba?’ ‘36 po.’ ‘Oh, pwede ka pa magkaanak.’ ‘Yun ‘yung first time na nagka-hope kami. Tapos hindi ko pa alam na fertility specialist siya,” she recalled.
At first, the couple was hesitant to decide right away on the possibility of hitting two birds with one stone—lose weight and trying to get pregnant.
“’Ano, gagawin ba natin to?’ Kasi ang sabi sa amin, it will take a lot of effort, especially on my part. Parang, 80% ng trabaho, ako ang gagawa. Tapos si hubby ko, 20% lang,” she noted.
They later decided to push through and consulted an endocrinologist.
“Doon lumabas mataas lahat. Cholesterol, sugar. May goiter pala ako. Hindi namin alam. Nag-enroll na ako sa Anytime Fitness. So, that’s when I started my gym journey na. Sabay-sabay na sila,” she noted.
Andrea made an extra effort to maintain her total health as she was diagnosed with PCOS, obesity, type 2 diabetes, nodular goiter, and dyslipidemia or high cholesterol.
She even underwent an ovarian cystectomy after getting married that became a game changer for the couple to immediately start their family.
“There’s a part of my left ovary na tinapyas, binawasan nila kasi na-damage nung, cyst. Tapos, we were already talking na, ‘Nako, sabi kasi nung OB, mahirapan ka na magbuntis, kasi nga, polycystic ka, ‘yung weight mo.’ We really wanted to have kids. Umpisa pa lang. We love kids. So medyo devastated kami ng time na ‘yun. Pero sige, think positive pa din. Ganyan. So, nag-ilang years na, seven years na, tapos wala pa rin,” Andrea narrated.
After months of taking medicines, gym visits and diet, Andrea was cleared by her doctor to go back to her OB but after trying several times, her pregnancy tests always came negative.
“Nagulat na lang ako. Sabi niya, ‘Sige, mag-aano tayo, ‘yung cycle mo, ganyan-ganyan,’ may pinainom siya. Ay, malungkot na kami. Tapos, sabi ng doc, ‘Sige, ulitin niyo ulit.’ After three days. Take ulit kami. Wala na naman. Ay, naggive-up na. Sabi ko sa kanya, kasi the whole process, nakakapagod. Masakit din siya sa bulsa. Huwag na natin ulitin. Sabi ko, let’s just accept na wala na,” she said.
Until their “miracle” finally arrived. Andrea got pregnant and gave birth to a baby boy on June 26, 2025.
“Sobrang worth it siya. Iba ‘yung feeling eh. ‘Yung nine months na ‘yun sabi nila di ba parang magiging nauseous ka. Hindi eh, ‘yung nine months na ‘yun ‘yung pinakamasasayang nine months ng life ko,” she stressed.
Adding, “‘Yung little miracle namin is because God wanted us to have him now, during this perfect time. So, huwag lang mawalan ng pag-asa. So, baby CJ, you are our answered prayer and we love you so much.”
Andrea said that her husband, Joseph, played a vital role in improving her total health and giving birth to their first child.
“Walang mahirap, basta maganda ‘yung foundation mo, ‘yung support system mo. Kasi hindi ko naman siyang magagawa if not for my husband, if not for my family. Si hubby talagang, he prepares the food, ‘yung meal prep, siya lahat ‘yun,” she said.
