Here’s to making our 2022 health resolution happen!
“New Year, new me.” That is the mantra that we hear a lot every year as people write away the things they want to leave in the past, the new habits they want to do in the present, and their strategy toward a better future. We hear it so much, we even say it to ourselves, that it becomes a premonition of a plan that is going to fail. And, as much as I want to deny it, I am one of those “new year, new me” people.
On top of the list that I wanted to achieve every year is to have a good relationship with food. I gave up on the thought of losing weight for years, although, this issue has its way of coming back to my life through outside forces. But this time, this 2022, I have set myself to conquer those challenges. I’ll be in better shape and I’ll have a positive and better understanding of what I eat this year. To make it happen, last January I braved a 21-Day Keto Challenge. For three weeks, I consumed keto and low-carb dishes crafted by keto experts from one of the top diet delivery services in Metro Manila, Ketos of Manila. It wasn’t easy, but it’s definitely what I needed to give my “new year, new me” mantra a strong beginning.
What did I get?
In every delivered food package, I get meals for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and a snack for unexpected cravings. As someone who doesn’t really cook, even at home, this has been a lifesaver. For many who are working from home, sometimes, the line between work and leisure becomes blurry. Having these prepared meals not only allowed me to have some tasty eats but also helped me avoid binge-eating after starving myself due to hours-long sitting in front of a computer.
It was also an exciting moment whenever the delivery guy came to my doorstep to bring me my meals for the next day. It’s like unwrapping gifts for Christmas. Week one was an oriental journey with Korean dishes. Hobakjuk (pumpkin porridge) and Chicken Bulgogi were the standout of my first day doing the challenge. I was a tad worried for my first week in the challenge as my birthday falls on that period (shoutout to all our Capricorn readers!) and that I might be tempted to cheat on my diet. Luckily, Ketos of Manila also sent a box of keto and sugar-free treats and a drip coffee set courtesy of The Sugar-Free Bakery that saved me from my cake cravings.
My second week was a worldwide exploration with flavors from international to local cuisines. It was the first time I’m introduced to shirataki noodles. While they are good on stir-fried dishes, it was a revelation to me how delicious they also were when turned into putanessca, carbonara, other pasta dishes. Also deserving of an honorable mention were that week’s chicken chao fan and Thai seafood curry. Just *chef’s kiss.*
The final week was all about healthy feasting. Protein-rich meals, such as smoked pork ribs, chicken inasal, and baked fish, were matched with a fresh serving of veggies, from creamy vegetable pesto salad, sesame bokchoy, and salad batons. The keto fish and chips dish was also my favorite during that week. With this Aussie original menu, the 21-day challenge, for me, ended on a note that left me wanting more keto and low-carb dishes.
What were the challenges?
Of course, this was not called a challenge if it was just a walk in the park. The battle for me here was first to be satisfied with the food portions. Remember, these meals are designed by experts and provide people with the right amount of nutrition and calories they need throughout the day. I am a self-confessed binge-eater. Whenever things didn’t go well, I turned to ice cream. A stressful day at work called for a fries-pasta-burger-pizza combo for dinner. I am also a sweet tooth, making desserts part of my daily consumption.
Fighting hunger and cravings in the first week was tough. As much as I tried to remain faithful to the meal plan, I find myself hungry and, at some point, “hangry.” So I indulged a little by snacking on some peanuts, cashews, among others. As some may say, what I did was dirty keto. But I did try to find better alternatives than just to eat a bag of potato chips.
Another thing that was hard for me to deal with was eating pork and beef. I know what you’re already thinking, If I am not much of a meat eater then I should have opted for something that’s pescatarian. Part of the challenge for me was to also widen my experience with food, particularly with pork and beef dishes. I may not be that converted by the end of three weeks, but I am happy with the pork and beef meals I got throughout the process. If someone like me adored the food, then big-time meat lovers will definitely go head over heels for them.
What did I gain?
Doing something repetitively for three weeks can help make something become a routine. In this case, Ketos of Manila’s 21-Day Challenge enabled me to create a healthy habit when it comes to eating. It made me become more conscious about the food I eat by looking at the labels and thinking of the long-term effect of each meal that I consume. I began to make informed decisions on what to skip and what other provisions I should have instead. Another great element of the 21-Day Challenge is the brand's Ketometer Test every Thursday to help you track accurately your keto diet state.
There is also instant gratification when you follow it. I may not have done it religiously but stepping on the scale and seeing digits go down per week can boost your motivation to build a much better lifestyle. After the first week of losing a pound, I enrolled myself in a gym, which I wouldn’t have done if not because of the challenge. Cravings are always there, and as a 231 lbs. food journalist who is tasked to eat for a living and share the experience, it made writing about dining more purposeful. Currently, I’m at 226 lbs. and I can’t wait to see what more I can lose and gain this 2022.
To know more about the 21-Day Keto Challenge, visit @ketosofmanila on Instagram and its website www.ketosofmanila.com.
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