In a heartwarming and inspiring interview, Carlos Lanzona, renowned Philippine’s Strongest Man, sat down with Massy Pesito, a first-time powerlifter and mother. Their conversation delved into Massy’s unique journey, highlighting her determination, resilience, and the challenges she faced along the way. This interview not only sheds light on the world of powerlifting but also serves as a testament to the power of pursuing one’s dreams and defying societal norms.
1. Carlos: Hello Massy! So we’re here at Okada Hotel on a Saturday morning as they host the first ever Philippine Sports Expo. You’re here to compete at the ASEANA PHPL Powerlifting Open can you please state your name and your weight class?
Massy: I’m Massy Pesito and I’m competing under the 60kg category for Powerlifting.
2. Carlos: Nice! So how did you go on about discovering your passion for powerlifting and what pushed you to pursue it and how did it come about to you actually competing?
Massy: Actually, the plan before was just to be strong and lean. My current coach, Coach Allan is a family friend. When I started powerlifting It felt great to be stronger and at the same time seeing your physique getting better.
3. Carlos: So since starting have you seen any notable changes in your body and how long have you been training?
Massy: I’ve been training seriously for a solid 5 months but in the past I’ve always been working out on and off. One thing I noticed is the carry over to functional strength. I used to need help from my husband lugging around a 25kg sack of rice but now I’ve been doing it on my own.
4. Carlos: As you’ve said you’ve only been training for five months, what challenges have you encountered getting into this competition and just training for powerlifting in general?
Massy: Probably the nerves, I’ve never been one to have the mentality in competing with other people.. whenever I do my workouts It was always against myself. My coach encouraged me to try it out since it would be a waste of strength gains so this time it’s very different.
5. Carlos: You mentioned that you have a husband do you have any kids?
Massy: Yes, I have two kids one is 16 years old and the youngest is 7.
6. Carlos: Since you have kids, how do you work around a powerlifting training regimen while staying committed to your work, family and day to day life?
Massy: Well me and my husband we’re both enthusiasts of sports. He’s more into trail biking, he’s the one that was supposed to be getting into Powerlifting since he’s stronger than me but he really enjoyed biking and opted to pursue that instead. For me the challenges are I have to plan everything, I have two kids that need to go to school in the morning. During the time they’re away I make sure that all the meals for lunch and dinner are prepared and take a nap so I can have energy to do my job in the evenings. I work 8 hours with two jobs at night.
7. Carlos: Solid! That’s an inspo for sure. You’re stronger than the strongest people here in my book for that. So with exercise it’s always been said that it helps with mental health aside from the physical gains of weight training. Since the pandemic got us really down, Have you seen any improvements in your mental health since going down the barbell path?
Massy: Having two jobs is so unrealistic, having multiple sources of stressors, it can get to you. So instead of me worrying too much and overeating when I’m stressed, I shift my focus into powerlifting. With powerlifting all the noise goes away with the sole focus being getting your goal reps or weight. I go straight into work after training and I’ve found it energizes me going into my shift.
8. Carlos: Powerlifting is kind of meditative in that sense wouldn’t you say? I know your flight is about to start and you have to warm up and I won’t take up your time any longer, what advice would you give to moms, wives, people that are intimidated to start their weight training journey? And you also said you had problems with being nervous; How did you come to overcome that?
Massy: Right now i’m still nervous as hell but at the end of the day it’s YOU against YOU. You don’t actually have any external competition but yourself. For the moms out there, for single moms as well I would strongly suggest you try it. The interpretation of powerlifting is wrong, people think when you lift you’re gonna get big but it doesn’t work that way. It’s hand in hand with diet and also with exercise. With parents and women out there. Working out is a big factor in regulating your moods and getting your frustrated energy out of the household.
9. Carlos: HAHA Specially if your partner is all over the place and high energy playful right?
Massy: Yeah specially if your husband is being too much and it makes you feel you have an extra child in the house *laughs*
10. Carlos: Any parting words for people that might be reading this interview once it’s posted?
Massy: Feel free to enjoy if you’re gonna be competing. At the same time, learn something from it. Try powerlifting, believe me everything is hard at first. Everything starts as difficult but eventually lifting is super fulfilling once you get into it.
Massy Pesito’s journey in powerlifting has been nothing short of remarkable. From her humble beginnings as a first-time powerlifter and a dedicated mother, she defied societal expectations and pursued her passion with unwavering determination. Her recent achievement of securing 2nd place in the u60kg category at her first-ever competition is a testament to her hard work, discipline, and indomitable spirit.
With a 90kg Squat, 37.5kg Bench, and an impressive 115kg Deadlift, Massy showcased her strength and resilience on the platform. Her success not only adds to the growing roster of strong women in the Philippine Powerlifting community but also serves as an inspiration to other aspiring athletes and mothers.
Massy’s journey reminds us that it’s never too late to chase our dreams and prioritize our own well-being. By balancing her training and family responsibilities, she exemplifies the importance of self-care and the pursuit of personal goals. Her dedication and commitment to her passion have undoubtedly made her a wholesome role model for muscle moms and women everywhere.
