Fabian Indalecio poses for a picture.
“HAFA talo si Fabian?” is a phrase well-known across the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands, where Fabian Indalecio has become a prominent voice on social media for his fearless political commentary and personal convictions. While many know him for his insights on local issues, this is the story of his remarkable journey to reclaim his health—a transformation that began with a single decision to give up soda.
Service and heritage
Fabian’s journey began with service to his country, including deployment in Iraq, where he served with distinction. After his military career, he channeled his passion for history and preservation into running a mini-museum dedicated to World War II artifacts, keeping alive the memories and lessons of the past for future generations.
A personal battle: The journey to health
Behind his high-profile presence in the CNMI’s social discourse, Fabian fought a private battle that would ultimately become one of his most inspiring stories. Growing up as a shy boy who found solace in long-distance running, he maintained an active lifestyle through his youth and early military career. However, life’s circumstances, including medical treatments and medications following his military service, led to significant health challenges.
The path to change: 2010-2020
By 2018, Fabian found himself at a crossroads. Despite having quit alcohol in 2010, his health was declining. “I was not happy with how I [felt] and my health habits,” he recalls. He was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure. His daily consumption was staggering: a half case of soda every day, lots of coffee with two sugars per cup, all kinds of donuts, chocolates, cakes, etc. “I didn’t limit myself in anything,” he said.
2020: The year of transformation
Fabian Indalecio eats a salad.
The turning point came in 2020. “If I can stop drinking beer, perhaps I can stop drinking soda,” Fabian reasoned. This simple decision marked the beginning of a dramatic change. After eliminating soda alone, his next doctor’s appointment revealed a drastic drop in his blood sugar levels from 400 mg/dL (milligrams per deciliter).
Encouraged by this success, Fabian took a bold step in March 2020: “When they told me that my sugar went down, I told myself, if that made such an impact on my glucose, then what else will happen if I stop all the sugary foods?”
He completely eliminated sugar, including rice (which is converted into glucose [a type of sugar] in the body), from his diet and adopted a one-meal-a-day approach. “I was conserving my energy not to do anything. I [felt] like I might faint if I move[d] a lot,” he recalls of those early days. Through that alone and without any exercise, his weight began dropping. By year’s end, he had lost 40 pounds.
2021: Adding movement
The dramatic weight loss caught the attention of his doctor. “Dr. Ada told me to watch my weight,” Fabian recalls. “She called me and said she’s concerned about my weight loss, and was concerned I might have cancer and all. I said, ‘Dr. Ada, I can prove to you I can gain my weight back. I don’t have an appetite problem; I could eat a horse.'”
The year 2021 marked a new phase in his journey. He began with modest walking sessions of 10-15 minutes every other day. Gradually, he progressed to running: “5 to 10 minutes only, 3-5 miles per hour. Slowly I was gaining speed. This time I’m running for health, not just fitness.”
2022: Building strength
Fabian Indalecio works out at his mini-gym at home.
In 2022, Fabian added another dimension to his wellness routine: weight training. “I have my own mini-gym at home,” he shares. His current routine alternates between treadmill running and weight training, starting at 4 a.m. “It’s not really a perfect world; sometimes I slack. I’m not doing this for competition and all.”
Today’s routine
Now at 64, Fabian maintains a structured yet flexible lifestyle:
Daily Schedule:
- Wakes up at 4:30 or 5 a.m.
- Begins with relaxing meditation
- Exercises early in the morning
- Follows a 16-hour fasting schedule
- Eats between 9-10 a.m. and 5 p.m.
- Maintains weight between 134-140 lbs
Diet changes:
- Eliminated rice and soda
- Prefers fish, boiled eggs, and chicken for protein
- Doesn’t avoid meat but doesn’t actively seek it
- Includes healthy snacks between meals
The results
Fabian Indalecio works up a sweat at his mini-gym at home.
The transformation has been remarkable. “I used to have high blood pressure and diabetes, and now both are gone, and I’m maintaining it,” Fabian shares proudly. “I sort of killed two birds with one stone. The only time my blood sugar shoots up is when I’m stressed or I don’t have enough sleep.”
Words of wisdom
Perhaps the most valuable aspect of Fabian’s story is the wisdom he shares with others. “I’m only a motivational speaker; once you conquer your psychology, you can do it,” he says. His philosophy about food and health is profound: “If you treat food as something you take for granted, you will eat anything. You won’t watch what you eat or drink. But if you treat food as something important, you will watch what you eat.”
One of his most powerful insights cuts to the heart of our relationship with food: “Remember, food alone does not give you life; you are already alive, but foods can kill you if you are not careful. We must do self-reflection.”
His message to others is clear: “I’m not a dietician [n]or [a] nutritionist, I don’t know exactly what to eat or not. I’m just saying, change your perspective.”
Impact on the community
Fabian shares his story because of his deep concern for the community. “A lot of people here have diabetes and a lot of heart problems too. They’re together,” he notes. His own victory over both high blood pressure and diabetes serves as living proof that these conditions can be managed and even reversed through lifestyle changes.
Life beyond health
Today, Fabian lives a full life with his wife and their 20 dogs, while being connected with his daughters, continuing his advocacy for both social justice and health awareness in the CNMI. His story reaches far beyond personal health transformation; it’s about the power of determination, the importance of community responsibility, and the impact one person can have when they choose to share their journey openly with others.
The legacy of change
What makes Fabian’s story particularly compelling is not just the impressive health transformation, but the holistic way he approaches life. From his early morning meditations to his social justice advocacy, from his historical preservation work to his health journey, Fabian shows us that meaningful change is possible at any age and that our actions can inspire others to take control of their own lives.
His journey reminds us that transformation doesn’t require perfection; it requires persistence, self-reflection, and the courage to make changes one step at a time.
