This November, Women’s Health shows you that there’s a lot to love and much you can do when it comes to being a woman and living your best life. In this month’s Feel Great, Look Great issue, learn how you can get a headstart on staying fit and living healthily by taking cue from some of the country’s best and brightest fitness professionals. Plus, take inspiration from cover girl Bianca King on how you, too, can reap the fruits of your labor.

Leading a lifetime of health and wellness only takes 11 steps. For fitness professionals like Reema Chanco, Mitch Felipe Mendoza, Mona Lisa Neuboeck, Nadine Tengo, Ani de Leon-Brown, Bam Mogato, Debbie Yabut, Joie Castillo-Viado, and Tessa Celdran, staying fit and living healthy is no joke. It takes a lot of discipline, patience and determination to become a better version of yourself. In fact, according to master trainer of Barre3 Joie Castillo-Viado, it’s a simple strategy of working smarter rather than harder. “It’s working out right and eating right. We [should] want to be truly healthy inside, which involves both mind and body.”

While Bam Mogato, Women’s Health columnist and personal trainer emphasizes that losing weight is indeed a process. Although women are now bombarded with quick-fix diet plans, women should keep in mind that hard work is key. “There is no shortcut to losing weight. It involves having a good diet and regular exercise” adds Tessa Celdran, Women’s Health columnist and certified yoga instructor. 

Speaking of hard work, cover girl Bianca King also shares with Women’s Health how she is able to reap rewards from years of hard work in the industry she loves. Describing her journey in the business as “taking the long road”, Bianca feels grateful for how this has built her character. “It’s not all about fame, money, lead roles, or endorsements. It’s also about being proud of the person you’ve become.” 

The actress even admits to Women’s Health that it’s her dream to portray physically demanding roles (read: Nikita or Alias) that’s why she sees fitness as a worthwhile investment. “I’ve been preparing myself for roles like that. That’s why I exercise and stay active, so you know, when the time comes that there’s an opening for those kinds of role, they’ll see that I’m prepared for it.” 

Aside from yoga, Bianca’s exercise regimen includes dancing, swimming, and muay Thai. A recent addition to her list of staple workouts is running, which she does twice to thrice a week. When asked what fitness tip can she give to those aspiring to feel and look great, she simply says: “Stay committed. There are people who start something, then procrastinate. It’s mind over matter. You have to psych yourself that once you get into something, it’s your goal to finish it. Try out an exercise for a month, if you really don’t like it, that’s when you move on to something else.”

Catch more fitness tips from both cover girl Bianca King and the experts by grabbing the November issue of Women’s Health. The November issue of Women’s Health is available in newsstands and bookstores nationwide. For more of Women’s Health online, become a fan on Facebook (Facebook.com/womenshealthphilippines) and follow them on Twitter (Twitter.com/womenshealthph).