How Melissa Gohing maintains her fit and sexy body

Fitness has become a lifestyle for volleyball star Melissa Gohing since she rose to fame in the college sports scene as a libero for the De La Salle University Lady Spikers.

After winning four UAAP championships, she is now playing in the Premier Volleyball League.

Despite being a cutthroat athlete, Melissa also had her fair share of misconceptions and wrong decisions in the past when it came to her diet. She used to train every day but when she did not see results in her body, she realized that she had to change her eating habits.

"Before I really had a bad, bad diet. Sabi ko bakit ganon I train everyday but I don't have all the nice physique and other people na may mga abs,” Melissa told GMA News Online in an exclusive interview.

WATCH: Volleyball star Melissa Gohing teaches easy resistance band workout routines as the newest member of the Mega Tuna family. @gmanews pic.twitter.com/UTiAGTq13O

— Jannie (@jannieannb) January 29, 2019

She said there was point when she tried to starve herself but she realized it was not a healthy way to get the body that she wanted.

“I found out 80 percent of your body comes from your diet and then I started eating healthy then it really changed my body,” said the nimble libero known as “The Ninja.”

She said her secret is eating the right amount of nutrients her body needs and keeping everything balanced.

Melissa, who trains three hours in the morning for volleyball practice, watches her diet like a hawk to replace all the energy she burned in the gym.

"Specifically I need protein kasi I burn so much protein,” she said. “Carbs for energy and I need sugar a little bit, so 'yon chocolate.”

Melissa said that people do not necessarily have to deprive themselves of rice, but she suggested cauliflower as a good alternative. According to her, the vegetable has less carbohydrates than rice but is equally filling.

"Puwede siyang substitute for rice for me. Hindi ako nagke-crave ng rice kasi meron akong food processor so para siyang kanin talaga and then I have garlic and butter,” she said. “Sobrang sarap niya kahit anong pagkain puwede i-pair do'n, adobo, tuna.”

If 80 percent of the body comes from the diet, Melissa said the remaining 20 percent comes from sweating it out in the gym.

In addition to her volleyball training, she does toning and strengthening workouts. Even her boyfriend, Kapuso actor Rocco Nacino, sometimes could not believe the weights she lifts during her exercises.

"Minsan nagugulat 'yung boyfriend ko, same lang kami ng binubuhat so sabi niya ‘whoa’," Melissa said.

"It empowers you as a woman and also that's why I want to empower other women na muscles is good, it's good for you, for your body, and also it gives confidence," she added.

Melissa said she is also happy that society has become more open with women who lift weights and have a stronger-looking muscular physique.

"Kasi before 'pag may muscles ka kung anu-anong term, like kung tibo ka or something 'pag may muscles ka, but now at least people are open to being sexy," Melissa said.

The athlete added that having muscles is not all about physique, it is also about how it helps a person's overall health.

"It's long-term for me na okay magkaroon ng muscles kasi when you get older you need more muscles kasi humihina na 'yong bones mo so for me, muscles are good." —with Marisse Panaligan/JST, GMA News