“The type of workout doesn’t really matter to me as long as I can lose myself in my work out and let my mind roam.”
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Being in peak physical condition is an important part of Selu Lozano’s life.
This also allows him to be fully present in the many ventures he is involved in: the Makati Football Club (MFC) as its CEO, owner, and athlete trainer; Selu’s Bar, a private sports bar and lounge; Z Salon Magallanes, a simple cut, color, makeup, and styling hub; and Be Fit and Healthy, a food delivery business.
He also has M Studio Magallanes, which is a versatile space for content shoots, rehearsals, fitness and dance classes, as well as private dining and intimate gatherings.
Natural development
But Lozano did not always look and feel strong. In fact, he used to be on the heavier side in his younger years.
“I was very big and overweight in the first quarter of my life,” he tells Lifestyle Asia.
His love for football naturally developed because of his father, Tomas Lozano, a former Real Madrid FC player and founder of MFC. The sport allowed the young man to shed the excess weight—not just to look good, but also to feel good.
Playing football has also allowed him to lead an active life like, as he describes, it’s “second nature” to him. “Working out for me is something that needs to be done every day,” Lozano explains. “[It is] just like when everyone needs to shower and eat every day, working out is just part of who I am.”
As with a lot of us, the pandemic caused many of the athlete’s businesses to suffer. But this only increased his training. The stress that came with trying to keep his ventures afloat has made Lozano turn to working out more, whether it’s his favorite sport, or strength and conditioning exercises in his own facility.
“The type of workout doesn’t really matter to me,” he shares. “[It’s fine] as long as I can lose myself in my work out and let my mind roam. Working out is my vice and my escape.”
At MFC, he has become a leader by example to football players by making sure that he continues to keep his physical condition at its best, despite local and international competitions being cancelled.
“We had to pivot [training] online during the lockdown like most other sports had to do,” he says. “The advantage I have is that we have our own strength and conditioning facility in Magallanes that allowed us to have the kids train even when all the other facilities had restrictions.”
Continuous learning
As a fitness coach, Lozano also recommends taking up a sport to tackle physical inactivity, especially since the pandemic-induced lockdown that was first imposed over a year ago now.
“I cannot stress how helpful the dynamics of sports can be for your life. I don’t have the words to articulate it,” he says. “All I can say is it should be part of your lifestyle, even if you are just a player in it for fun.”
Combine that with proper nutrition, which he likens to putting the right type and amount of gasoline in a car, as well as giving the body ample rest, Lozano guarantees good results.
“You can experiment with different diet and food approaches, too,” he adds, pointing out that one body reacts differently from another. “I usually go on different phases all year round. The only thing constant for me is my eating pattern, which is intermittent fasting.”
While the limitations of the pandemic are understandable in terms of access to gyms and equipment, Lozano says there’s one thing that can be done even at the comfort of one’s own home: “research, research, and research.”
“There’s absolutely no excuse not to have some idea of what you can do correctly,” he says. “Instead of wasting your time on social media, browsing other people’s lives, go to Google and type anything about what you want to know and start from there.”
