How Gabbi Garcia manages having PCOS: 'Movement became my safe space'
Sparkle actress and singer Gabbi Garcia recently opened up about having polycystic ovarian syndrome, or PCOS, and how she is living with it.
In an Instagram post showing photos and videos of her working out, Garcia revealed she was diagnosed with PCOS in 2018.
"Movement became my safe space. My release. My stress reliever. My reset," she wrote. "I didn't start working out to chase a certain body. I started because I wanted to feel strong, healthy, and good in my own skin."
According to the World Health Organization, 6% to 13% of reproductive-aged women experience PCOS, a hormonal condition that includes symptoms like irregular periods, hormonal imbalances, cysts in the ovaries, and higher-than-normal levels of androgen (steroid hormones that trigger male physical traits, strengthen bones, and boost red blood cell production).
Garcia said having PCOS causes her to gain weight quickly and appear bloated on TV.
Although she initially kept her diagnosis secret, she decided in 2021 to do something about it.
"About three years ago, I finally pushed myself to move, to show up for my body and take care of it instead of fighting it," she wrote.
"And now, I'm at a point kung san basta strong and healthy ako, okay na ako. Kaya kong tumakbo. Kaya kong magbuhat. Kaya ko sarili ko. Being 'sexy' the way society defines it is honestly the least of my priorities," Garcia continued.
The Kapuso It Girl credited her diagnosis for teaching her to love her body unconditionally.
"This journey taught me body positivity in the truest sense. To be kinder to my body, to listen to it, and to appreciate everything it allows me to do," she wrote.
Wrapping up her post, Garcia encouraged her followers who also have PCOS to "be kinder" to themselves, and assured them, "you're not alone."
