From 200 lbs.: How Binibining Pilipinas candidate Rosantonette Mendoza successfully brought down her weight to 132 lbs.

Binibining Pilipinas 2018 candidate Rosantonette Mendoza may not have won a crown in this year's pageant but she did serve a bigger purpose — she became an inspiration to everyone who's going through the same path she went through.

In an episode on "Front Row," Rosan shared her journey from weighing 200 pounds to achieving her dream to become a Binibining Pilipinas candidate.

Rosan admitted her love for food — sweet treats and rice especially — was really what led her to gain weight.

"It was literally love for food. Wala na akong ibang maisip na dahilan eh, 'yong ibang tao iniisip nila ay baka na-depress to baka naman na-heartbroken to, [pero] wala na talagang ibang dahilan, happy ako everytime nakakain ko 'yong gusto ko," she explained.

Rosan has always been joining pageants but it was in 2007 that she joined her first real pageant, as Miss Bacoor where she won her very first crown, complete with a cash prize. It was a "significant" moment for her that motivated her to join more pageants.

But in 2013, something happened. After graduating from college, Rosan joined a provincial pageant that posted the candidates' photos on the official Facebook page. Hers was flooded with fat-shaming comments.

"I was wearing two piece, actually 'yong mga bilbil ko I don't have to lie talaga namang naglalabasan, pero dahil nga feeling ko confident, 'di ko talga narealize na ganon na ako kalaki," Rosan admitted.

"I was not really depressed because of my weight, mas nadepress ako the fact na 'yong mga tao sa social media ganon na lang 'yong pagbabatikos nila sa the way I look," she added.

Rosan quit pageants after the incident, deciding to work in a retail company instead. There, she gained even more weight, clocking the scales at 200 pounds.

That's when she started noticing the changes in her body. "Sobrang bilis ko mairita, kapag mainit, kapag naglalakad ako ang bilis kong mapagod. Nahihirapan din talaga akong huminga."

When she caught Miss Canada slaying the Miss Universe 2016 pageant, something clicked inside her. 

"Nakita ko nga doon si Miss Canada si Miss Siera Bearchell, medyo malaman siya, [but] she represented herself well. So doon ko sinabi sa sarili ko na hala puwede  pa pala, sabi ko noon sa sarili ko, if I really want to join, kailangan buo 'yong sarili ko, kailangan i-compose ko 'yong sarili ko na I have to make myself healthy again," she said.

How her weight went down from 200 lbs. to 132

Rosan said she did her transformation the  "natural way," trying Intermittent Fasting and working out regularly.

One of the hardest challenge she had to go through was eliminating her favorite food from her diet to achieve a healthier body.

"Tinanggal ko lahat ng pagkain na alam kong nakakataba sakin, ninneglect ko 'yong sugar, cakes, chocolates, imagine kung gaano kahirap 'yong sobrang mahal na mahal ko 'yong pagkaing ganito and then one day nagdecide ka na lang na ay hindi 'to tama. Talagang mahirap siya at first, pero kung nakikita mo 'yung changes mas doon ka kasi ginaganahan."

It took her a year to go from 200 pounds to 132 pounds. On International Women's Day, her brother posted about Rosan online, which quickly turned viral. 

Rosan ended her Binibini journey at the Top 40, which, she says was enough for her. "The reason why I wanted to join was to inspire people, and nagawa ko naman na siya even without the crown," Rosan said.

Her advice to those who want to lose weight is to work hard, have discipline and determination.

"'Pag may gusto kang bagay kailangan paghirapan mo hindi naman puwede na ay gusto ko maging sexy, instant agad, talagang pinaghirapan ko siya para ma-achieve tong body na to," she advised.

"Dati pangarap ko lang 'to, ngayon nagawa ko na, and I'm sure a lot of people can do it too. Basta disiplina lang determinasyon, I'm sure kahit sino pa 'yan kayang kaya gawin 'yong ginawa ko," she added. — LA, GMA News