Cutting down on carbs

SHARON Cuneta wants to lose more weight for a new movie. ARNOLD ALMACEN

Sharon Cuneta says her stint as host of ABS-CBN’s “The Biggest Loser Pinoy Edition” heightened her awareness of the importance of healthy living.

“The program gave us useful facts on how to fight obesity,” Sharon told Inquirer Entertainment shortly after the first season’s grand finale, which she cohosted with Derek Ramsay on Saturday night at the Ynares Stadium in Pasig City. “It would be very sad kung papayag kang magkasakit [as a result of an unhealthy lifestyle], when you can easily avoid it.”

Sharon believed the show succeeded in showing viewers that one need not go through an extensive workout to lose weight. “You just have to cut down on your food intake and be consistent with your exercise,” she said.

She claimed to have shed off a few pounds herself. “I didn’t come out on TV for quite a while to give my Sharonians, my followers, a little surprise. I haven’t had the chance to weigh lately, but I feel that paluwang na nang paluwag ang damit ko at pasikip na nang pasikip ang mga tinatahi namin.”

Her secret to weight loss? “It’s still good dieting,” she said. “I don’t deprive myself, I just cut the carbs (carbohydrates) from my diet. I also have regular treatments with Marie France. I do it as often as I can, when my full schedule permits.”

It’s a continuing process, Sharon said, adding that she intends to lose more weight in time for the filming of her Star Cinema project with director Lauren Dyogi before the year ends.

Healthy tips

“Because of ‘Biggest Loser,’ viewers became more aware of things like fats and bad cholesterol,” she pointed out. “It’s easy to be healthy—magbawas sa ibang bagay, magdagdag sa iba, and combine this with exercise. Little by little you will see changes in your body.”

The show is about overweight contestants struggling to lose the most weight for a cash prize. Larry Martin, 36, a former police officer, won the grand prize, losing 101 lbs. from his original weight of 255 lbs. He battled with Art Mendoza, 35, Angela Chico-Lupangco, 26, Hazel Chua, 22 and Raffy Tan, 22, for P1 million.

Winners all

“All the five finalists deserved to win, but Larry really worked the hardest since day one,” explained Sharon. “While the other contestants were already asleep, he was still working out. What really hit me was when he said the show not only made him fit enough to return to the police force, it also helped him regain his self-respect.”

Sharon’s message to Martin? “I’m very proud of you. Nagbunga lahat ang pagod mo. You’re an inspiration to many.”

Sharon said the show’s next season will feature contestants in tandem. “There would be siblings, best friends, and a mother-daughter pair. I hope to still be a part of it.”