Ever found yourself needing to shed those extra kilos — fast?
South Korean supermodel Lee Hyun-Yi knows exactly how that feels. Known for her stunning runway presence and candid personality on shows like My Little Old Boy and I Live Alone, she recently opened up about her own weight struggles.
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How She Lost 4kg in Just 12 Days Before Hitting the Red Carpet
Lee Hyun-Yi revealed that she gained 4kg after a family holiday filled with good food. After her holiday, she was supposed to make an appearance at the SBS Entertainment Awards.
However, the event got postponed by a month—giving her just enough time to shed the extra weight and get back in shape.
She shared her weight loss journey through her YouTube channel Walking Mom Lee Hyun, revealing that she was at 58.7kg after the trip. Thanks to a steady workout routine and diet, she shed those holiday kilos and refined her figure in just 12 days!
Here’s how she did it.
Burn Fat with Fasted Cardio — Football Style!
If you’re wondering what fasted cardio is, it simply means working out on an empty stomach—usually in the morning before eating. The idea is that when your body doesn’t have immediate food to burn for energy, it turns to stored fat instead, making it one of the most effective ways to burn stubborn fat.
That’s exactly why she took her workouts up a notch by hitting the football field on an empty stomach. Known for her active role in SBS’s Kick a Goal as part of the FC Tall Team, she used those intense football sessions to sweat it all out — non-stop running, kicking, and burning fat.
Of course, her teammates and fellow models Jin Jung Sun and Kim Jin Kyung reminded her that extreme weight loss like this shouldn’t be done for too long. Still, Lee Hyun-Yi stayed motivated and powered through to hit her target.
Super Simple Diet Menu — Cabbage Pancake
After sweating it out, she kept her meals light, clean, and surprisingly simple. One of her go-to meals? A cabbage pancake, recommended by singer Son Dam Bi.
Packed with fibre and super low in calories, it kept her full without feeling bloated, perfect for anyone looking to lose weight without starving.
It’s easy to make too: just thinly slice cabbage, mix it with eggs and pan-fry with no seasoning needed. She paired it with a dip of sherry vinegar, which not only added flavour but also helped regulate her blood sugar.
But that’s not all — Lee Hyun-Yi kept her meals balanced and protein-packed:
- Keto gimbap
- Shredded chicken breast with lettuce and cabbage, drizzled with olive oil, sprinkled with salt and cayenne pepper for an extra kick
- Seafood like sea pineapple and oysters on the menu too
She also made it a habit to eat vegetables first at every meal, a smart move to control blood sugar spikes and keep herself fuller for longer. Just sticking to this clean eating routine helped her shed 1.5kg almost immediately, bringing her weight down to 57.2kg.
Tightened and Toned with Strength Training
With the final fitting just around the corner, she knew her back had to look toned in her dress. Although she joked that her muscles were starting to resemble MMA fighter Choo Sung Hoon (known for his insanely broad back), she was determined to perfect her figure.
With two days left, she committed to intensive strength training, focusing on back exercises and body contouring sessions — all while continuing her clean eating and cardio.
Even after dropping the weight, she wasn’t done. When it comes to red carpet looks, it’s not just about being slim but it’s also about looking sculpted, especially from the back.
The Final Result — Red Carpet Ready!
After 12 days of discipline, Lee Hyun-Yi dropped another 1kg, bringing her total weight down close to 55kg. And when the night of the SBS Entertainment Awards finally arrived? She absolutely slayed the red carpet, showing off her sculpted figure and proving that hard work really does pay off.
Image credit and source: Instagram/lee.hyunyi
