Filipino International Triathlete, August Benedicto on Health and Fitness

August Benedicto, a Filipino International Triathlete, talked about health and fitness in an online seminar entitled “Exercise and Healthy Diet During the COVID-19 Pandemic” on August 15, 2020 via Midway Colleges Facebook Livestream.

As an international triathlete, Benedicto has already bagged plenty of awards and recognitions.

Some of his awards include:

· Alveo Ironman 70.3 Davao Asian Elite Champion 2019

· ALVEO IRONMAN 70.3 DAVAO ASIAN ELITE CHAMPION 2019

· 4x Cobra Ironman 70.3 Cebu Filipino Elite Champion 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012

· 4x COBRA IRONMAN 70.3 CEBU FILIPINO ELITE CHAMPION 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012

· 4x Cobra IRONMAN 70.3 CEBU Filipino Elite Champion 2016, 2015, 2014, 2012

Months in quarantine did not stop Benedicto to continue his training and workouts at home. With the tournaments and races postponed until further notice, Benedicto stayed on track of his goal to stay fit and healthy.

He shared tips to students and faculty members on how one can achieve health and fitness goals even at the comfort of their homes. He discussed the benefits of having an active lifestyle such as more energy, less stress and anxiety, and lower risk of having heart disease, diabetes, and high cholesterol to name a few.

Having a healthy lifestyle consists of a good workout activity and a balanced diet. Benedicto shared pictures of himself showing different home workout activities that can easily be done such as lunges, planking, and high-knee exercises. He also shared meal plans and foods that help in adapting a healthy eating habit. This includes eat fruits as a snack mid-morning and mid-afternoon, eat a fiber-rich diet, and eat nuts, soy, fish, egg, lean meats such as chicken as source of protein.

His discussion stirred questions on how he became an international athlete. He then told his story on how he started his journey in biking.

As a young child, Benedicto used to work as an ice delivery boy riding a bike. This experience has led him to cycling. Eventually, he became a member of the Philippine Duathlon National Team. He met Chrissie Wellington, professional triathlete, and four-time Ironman Triathlon World Champion.

Benedicto married Anna Stroh, a fellow international triathlete. They now live in Germany with their two kids.