Back in February 2018, Sharon Cuneta showed on Instagram how she's managed to keep up with the weight loss journey she's taken on two years prior. That time, in January 2016, she didn't get to celebrate her 50th birthday because her father-in-law had just passed away.

"I want you to look at these photos. Because I want you all to remember that no matter how impossible something seems to be, you only need to believe that we can do all things through Christ who strengthens us," she captioned her post then.

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Fast-forward to February 2023: Sharon gave an update on her ongoing weight loss journey in an interview with Ogie Diaz. The actor/singer/presenter known as The Megastar described it her process "dahan-dahan" and "bawas kain."

She said, "Ang nakakatuwa o nakakatawang tanong ng tao lagi, na dati tinatanong ko rin, ‘Paano ka pumayat?’ Actually, dapat isipin mo, ‘Paano ka tumaba?’ Baligtarin mo. Tumaba ka kasi umo-overeat ka.

"’Yung imbes na ma-satisfy ka sa isang slice ng cake, inuubos mo ’yung kalahati o buong cake. Hindi naman pala kailangan. So natuto ako na magbawas. It’s gradual. Eh tamad ako. Minsan nagbi-binge din ako. Nagke-crave ako."

Sharon then recalled how she started her weight loss journey and why: "Inumpisahan ko ito no’ng birthday ko ng January 2016. Sabi ko, ‘Ayoko na, it’s for my health.’ Para abutin ko pa at makipagtakbuhan pa ako sa mga apo ko na parating. Oo [apo sa tuhod], kung puwede lang, hanggang talampakan."

To date, the children of Sharon and her husband, former Senator Kiko Pangilinan, namely KC, Frankie, Miel, and Miguel, do not have their own brood yet.

Sharon stressed why she felt the urgent need to lose weight: "Ang daming umaasa sa ‘kin, hindi ako puwedeng biglang magka-heart attack. Kasi ang taas ng blood pressure ko noon. I got very, very scared. Dinahan-dahan ko. Sabi ko, ‘Nagawa ko na ‘to ilang beses na.’

"Kaya lang nga puro crash dieting. So ang nangyayari sa metabolism, nasira. Kapag nag-crash diet ka, ang rebound weight, napakabilis bumalik, ’tapos doble no’ng nawala mo. So ’yun ang laging nangyayari sa ‘kin noon."

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Sharon explained why her current strategy works: "Ang ginawa ko, slowly but surely. Ang pinaka-effective sa ‘kin—kasi iba-iba ’yan sa iba’t-ibang tao—kapag ang tiyan mo, nasanay na ganitong kapuno," she said, making a round gesture in front of her tummy, "mahihirapan kang mag-dyeta."

She pointed out, "The minute na tiniis mo ’yung binawasan mo, ’ta’s naghahanap pa ang tiyan mo, ’ta’s nasanay na s’ya do’n sa nag-shrink s’ya, huwag mo nang pabayaan, kasi nagi-stretch, eh.

"Pag nasanay na ang tummy mo na konti lang, disiplinahin mo na ’yung sarili mo. It will really help. Parang pag nasanay s’yang konti lang, konti lang hahanapin mo.So ang effective sa akin, small meals kahit six times a day. Pero very small. Minsan nga, tikim-tikim lang ako. ’Ta’s mamaya, gusto ko ulit. Kain-ibon"

Sharon remembered thinking to herself, "Kahit gaano katagal abutin, basta abutin ko ’yung ideal weight ko. Wala pa ako sa ideal weight ko. Pero disente na, presentable na."

When asked how much she weighed when she began her weight loss journey in 2016, the mom of four said she tipped the scale at almost 250 lbs.

"So natakot na ’ko," she confessed. "Parang iba na ‘to, parang karumal-dumal na ‘to. Ayoko na kasi health ‘yung priority."

She added, "Bukod doon sa artista ka, nakakahiyang lumabas sa TV na hindi mo masuot ’yung gusto mong damit. ’Tapos ang pagkakakilala nila sa ’yo kaya ka nila minahal, kaya ka nila naging idolo kasi aspirational, eh. ‘Ay, ang ganda naman ng idol ko. Ay, ang ganda naman ng ayos ng idol ko.’"

"Parang I failed my Sharonians," she said, using her term for her loyal fans and followers. "So I felt a lot of guilt. After all the gifts that God and my fans gave me…So after my health, ’yun ang kasunod.

"So dinibdin ko lahat ‘yun. Sabi ko, I’ll start now. And I never stopped. Pinagbibigyan ko ang sarili ko minsan mag-binge, pero disiplinado ako."

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As for how much she currently weighs, Sharon said she hasn't weighed to give the exact number. "But I’d say I’ve lost between 70 and 80 lbs. Baka 90 na, eh."

She went on explaining why she's not fond of contantly checking on her weight: "Kasi pag nagwe-weigh ako, isa pa ’yan, parang nadi-discourage ako kapag nag-gain ako ng 1 pound, 2 pounds. So nag-stop ako mag-weigh.

"Pero nalalaman ko pag sinusukatan ako for a new gown or a new outfit, or pag namimili ako. Oh, from large, you’re medium na ang top ko. Do’n ko nakikita.

"Mas importante ang inches ’yung nababawas, ‘ta’s natutuwa ako kunwari may commercial shoot. Pagsuot ng stylist ng damit na kabibili lang n’ya based on my last measurements sa last shoot namin, biglang ‘Ang luwag na!’"

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