Sarah Carlos posted on Instagram her inspiring fitness journey on September 21.
The Pangako Sa 'Yo co-star uploaded before and after photos showing her new figure after a year of living a healthier lifestyle.
"Nagsimula siya because my mom's friends were asking her if I was pregnant," Sarah recalled in an exclusive interview with PEP.ph (Philippine Entertainment Portal) last September 29, at the Belo Beauty Suite in Makati Shangri-La hotel.
Sarah said her mom uploaded a photo of her on Facebook right after her graduation dinner.
In the photo, Sarah was trying to get into a tight-fitting dress with her bulging tummy.
This piqued the curiosity of her mom's friends and asked if Sarah was indeed pregnant.
At the time, she gained over 25 pounds from her previous weight of 110 pounds after graduating in college.
Sarah said, "I graduated na kasi from college, Accountancy. Of course, pag graduate kakain kayo sa labas.
"And I was wearing a tight dress and kakakain ko lang din, admittedly.
"Pero when I saw the photos, I really had a bulging tummy as in like, mukha talaga akong buntis.
"At that time, I didn't look at the photos. I just heard that my mom's friends were asking her if I was pregnant.
"She even had to make album private 'cause I think she didn't want to put me on that spotlight which is kind of my mom to do."
Before that, Sarah didn't really feel insecure about her weight.
The "pregnancy" remarks, however, definitely alarmed her.
"I was conscious, but I wasn't hurt. It just made me think, 'Alam mo, I already graduated naman and I have free time. Magpapapayat nga din ako.'"
She added, "Na-conscious lang na people might think that I'm pregnant talaga but I'm not.
"Hindi naman ako na-insecure kahit papano, maybe because of the environment I was in. I was surrounded by loving friends, supportive family.
"Nung time na yun, single na ako, and I was really focusing on myself.
"I was going through a breakup din nung time na yun.
"I wouldn't say I was insecure but I was learning to love myself more than I already did back then.
"Now, more than ever, I had to love myself despite everything."
WORK OUT AND DIET
Sarah officially started working out in May 2017 under the guidance of fitness coach George Castro.
She also tried a diet plan.
"The stars just seem to have re-aligned because a week after I said that, I met my coach.
"That same week, my friend was starting Keto Living PH so pina-try niya ako.
"I didn't know anything about Keto. I did my research, and I saw na legit naman."
Since then, Sarah continued living a healthier lifestyle, shedding 15 pounds and gaining leaner and toned muscles in the process.
How long does her regular workout routine last?
Sarah answered, "An hour to an hour and a half. If I'm just doing cardio, 30 minutes lang.
"Each day, I dedicate a specific muscle group, for example, I have leg day, shoulder day, ganun."
For her core workouts, Sarah does weighted hip thrusts and planks.
GOAL SETTING
When asked for a fitness tip, Sarah advised that going to the gym is more than just about losing weight.
She explained, "I didn't think of it na, 'Dapat goal ko magpapayat!' 'Dapat goal ko ganito.'
"For me, I loved myself even when I was on that weight and I love my self even more right now.
"The only difference is I weigh less, but the love for my self didn't waver naman."
Sarah further stressed the importance of enjoying the fitness journey.
"I think that's the number one thing I want my followers to note that sometimes you shouldn't stress yourself too much with the goal na, 'Dapat magpapayat ka' or 'dapat ganito ka by this time.'
"Just start the journey, have a goal in mind, but don't stress yourself to the point na you're hating the process already.
"Just enjoy the process, kumbaga."