#ProjectBringBackTheAbs: Starting a Low Carb Program with Lunchbox Diet PH
Once upon a time, I had abs—back in college when I was training every single day for softball and Ultimate, and part of the training was doing tons of core workouts, which resulted in a rock hard stomach. Eventually, my body evolved and when I started working in the corporate world, had less time for sports, and got sick often because of stress and unhealthy eating habits, it morphed into its origin of being skinny and lanky—and it sometimes became somewhat a concern among family and friends, because I was too thin for my height (102 pounds at 5’3).
Fast forward to when I flew to the States last March and stayed there for a couple of months—indulging in all the fresh milk, guacamole, and Korean BBQ my belly could take. I gained 10 pounds with most of the weight concentrating on my stomach, creating a pouch that made me a little bit insecure. And if there’s one thing I hate, it’s feeling insecure about my body—especially because I have full control over what happens to it.
I shared this story on Instagram and in a previous post, but while I was there, I started running 4 miles every other day. It helped a lot in getting me back in shape, but it wasn’t doing anything to the problem area, which was my tummy, and I knew I had to really cut back on all the eating.
As soon as I got back from the States, I set a goal for myself that I was going to work on toning my body instead of just shedding off pounds. I wasn’t really concerned about the number on the weighing scale—my mission was really to tone and strengthen everything, to prevent myself from getting sick and frail as compared to before. I’ve been working out consistently (mostly cardio, yoga and Plana Forma), and I started planning my meals and counting the calories through an app on my phone—which was sometimes a tedious task, especially when you’re always on the go.
Thankfully, the diet part of my mission was made easier with the help of Lunchbox Diet PH—through their Low Carb Meal Plan. I started with them today, and I just love how convenient it is because I don’t have to think about what I need to eat or how many calories I’ve consumed for the day. Lunchbox Diet does everything from counting the calories, to cooking and planning the meals, to delivering them to my doorstep fresh. Mind you, the meals are really delicious as well!
Their Low Carb Meal Plan really makes it easier to cut down on carbohydrates by substituting rice, bread and pasta with healthier, fiber-rich options like quinoa, lentils, and beans. Based on research, low-carb dishes make it faster for people to lose weight as compared to low-fat dishes. In my case, because I want to lessen my body fat and work on toning my muscles, Lunchbox Diet PH’s Low Carb Meal Plan definitely complements my workouts.
It’s a great way to re-introduce my body and ease it back into healthier eating habits (and then sustain it)—something I neglected precisely because I was on an extended vacation. At the end of the day, aside from my short-term goals, I want myself to get used to eating and living right—and it all starts with the kind of food I feed my body.
Join me these next two weeks as I attempt to accomplish my goal of bringing back the abs with the help of Lunchbox Diet PH! I’ll be posting updates on Instagram, so make sure to follow me at @gretchengatan. For more details on Lunchbox Diet PH, visit their website here.
