You may have seen her face on national TV lately. Darlene Cay is one of the freshest faces in Philippine broadcast news.
Apart from constant chasing of breaking news from crimes to tragedies, GMA News viewers are seeing a slow transformation on this neophyte newshen.
Cay shared to her Facebook friends and followers that it was a five-year weight loss battle.
From 178.5 lbs, she is now 130 lbs.
“I had no problem growing up fat. I was a happy kid, no matter how I l looked like back then, even if I did not fit society’s standards of beauty,” she wrote.
The Filipino Times spoke with Cay and she revealed that her her health condition prompted her to lose weight.
At a young age of 16, she was already diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome — a hormonal disorder common among women of reproductive age that causes prolonged menstrual periods.
“The doctors made me take Metformin and pills. I did not have my period po for six months. Tapos I gained more weight because of the pills tapos lagi masakit ulo. So tinigil ko na. So irregular lang ang period ko for four to five years. Tapos I gained more weight, because of stress na rin sa school,” she related.
Still, having PCOS is not enough reason for her to lose weight.
“Naiinis ako dati kapag sinasabihan ako magpapayat ng family (member)… My body, my rules ang peg ko noon hahaha,” she laughingly recalled.
However, sometime in 2014-2015, she did not experience a period for year.
“So nagpacheck ako and naging wake-up call po yun sa akin. Kasi baka raw kailanganin ko magundergo ng operation in the near future or mahirapan ako magkababy if and when I decide to have one,” she said.
So while working as a segment producer then for GMA News in 2016, she set her mind to weight loss. With the help of her colleague at the GMA, here’s her diet regimen:
I never followed any type of special diet or eating pattern.
What worked best for me was a low-calorie diet.
I ate whatever the hell I wanted (carbs, sweets, fats) but I limited my calorie intake to 1,200 – 1,400 per day. But, whenever I can, I chose healthier food options like vegetables and fruits.
I ate rice only once a week (except during vacation, special occasions, or out-of-town assignments).
“It was really hard at first. But when I started seeing results, I kept going. The progress was gradual, but sustainable. I eventually got the results I was satisfied with,” she wrote.
After seeing good result from this diet, she started doing workouts.
“I finally found the motivation to have a more active lifestyle. I started working out. I am doing circuit training, (light) weight training, and boxing,” she said.
Cay admitted that despite losing 48 lbs in five years, she is still a work in progress.
“My new goal is to be stronger and to become more fit and toned. I have yet to see results, but I enjoy doing these. So, I do not (yet) mind waiting,” she added.
What keeps her from going, if the temptation to eat less healthy or to skip on her workout training sessions?
“Whenever I think about giving up, I always remind myself of what I have gone through already. Iniisip ko po, “sayang naman,” she said.
The most important part in this journey, the GMA reporter intimated, is that in her recent visit to the OB-Gyne, her PCOS is already gone and her period is now regular.
Cay quickly clarified though that she is just sharing her fitness journey to inspire others who are still struggling, and not to endorse in any way her diet or workout regimen.
She also appealed on people to avoid as much as possible to pressure their obese friends and loved ones into losing weight.
“To those who have friends or loved ones whom you want to lose weight or look a certain way: We get it. You are coming from a place of love. But. Please. Stop. Pressuring. Them. This never helps. In my case, I just ate more. ? The motivation to undergo these kinds of things must come from the person him/herself,” she said.
