Keto Survival tips on the Filipino Dining Table
while your relatives and friends eat rice and other carbs (Travel Tip #06)
When I went to the Philippines in 2017, I was carrying a lot of excess weight. I discovered intermittent fasting and Keto (low-carbohydrates, high-fat) diet the following year and lost 45 pounds and regained my health. When I went back to the Philippines in 2022, I was concerned about the usual high-carb Filipino meals and delicacies. How can I maintain my Keto diet? In this post, I will share what I did while still enjoying the company of my Filipino relatives and friends during meals.
Disclaimer: I am not a health professional. My post is only for informational purposes. Please consult a health professional before you change your diet. Some links are affiliates but I only recommend products I personally use and love.
Sauna-Like Heat Helped
I love walking under the sun. What I don’t like is the Philippine heat that made me heavily perspire. I stayed in Hop Inn Hotels and the security guards there discretely commented, “Ate, ang haba ng lakad mo ba? Basa ka lagi.” They presumed I walked a lot because my shirt is always wet. I finally ditched my cotton shirts and just used my Merino wool shirts - it was perfect for Philippine weather. It remained cool and dry. Moreover, the hot weather made me crave halo-halo, a sugary and carbohydrates-filled icy mixed dessert. But then, my walking shorts became looser. And looser. Why? My California-based Fil-Am friend told me it is because of the sauna-like Philippine heat. Maybe she’s right. Instead of gaining weight, I lost some. But remember, I also walked a lot.
Ditch the Rice but Enjoy Local Delicacies
Like most Filipinos, I grew up eating rice. When I started Keto, the easiest way to start a low-carb diet is to not eat rice. First, I replaced it with cauliflower rice from Trader Joe’s. Afterwards, I just ate meat and vegetables without rice. So when I went to the Philippines, it was easy for me to just ditch the rice. My friends and relatives thought it was weird but then moved on to our table talk. I knew buko pies, lanzones, turon, pan de sal and other Filipino food were high in carbohydrates but I just ate them and then checked if my pants still fit. Surprisingly, they fit me well. Again, it might be because of the weather and my long walks.
Intermittent Fasting while having Breakfast with Friends
I usually eat a late brunch and early dinner. Sometimes, I deliberately miss meals to get the health benefits of intermittent fasting. I stayed with a friend near a LRT (Light Rail Transportation) station and she expected me to eat breakfast with her. Instead of missing breakfast, I just drank black coffee or tea with her. It was harder to miss breakfast when I was with my aunt for she insisted that I eat. I did but I made sure I minimize carbs. They were all so worried I will get sick by not eating breakfast. They did not seem to get that I became healthier because of it. I love them so I just smiled and ate something.
Solving Lack of Protein and Healthy Fat
I noticed that my relatives eat minimal protein and vegetables. I knew they have budget to buy more fish or meat but it was their habit to have more rice, noodles and other carbs on the table. My body was craving for healthy fat so I just ate more whenever I stayed in hotels. (Read my previous post about my experience with Hop Inn). During my alone time, I ordered via Grab Food more protein like the Peri-Peri chicken shown below.
In the morning, I just drink black coffee from a nearby 7-11 and finish some online work. If I am outside, I just eat burgers, with or without the buns or get something from the 7-11 store like the breaded chicken and other carbs shown above.
Carbs at Home has a Different Effect
When I weighed myself at home, I was shocked to see how much lost! I ate all those carb and lost weight? Well, I needed to gain back some pounds so I ate more carbs at home. In a week, I gained what I lost. After another week, I gained more. Carbs has a different effect here in the USA for my body! I weaned myself from more sugar (fruits) and carbs and my weight went back to normal after a couple of months. That is my carb travel story. Next week I will share how you can financially plan for your next Philippine trip without breaking your budget.