Actress Kim Nam-joo Reveals Her Unconventional Diet Strategy: "Choose Between Alcohol and Food"
The 54-year-old star shares her honest approach to weight management that helped her lose 7kg
Korean drama veteran Kim Nam-joo has opened up about her unique weight management philosophy, revealing a surprisingly practical strategy during a recent YouTube conversation. The actress, known for hit dramas like "Misty" and "My Husband Got a Family," shared her unconventional approach when asked about post-pregnancy weight loss.
During an episode on her YouTube channel featuring YouTuber Ralral, Kim Nam-joo was asked about diet advice for new mothers struggling with post-pregnancy weight. Her response was refreshingly honest: "I make a conscientious choice between two things - either I drink alcohol or I eat food."
When asked to clarify, she revealed her personal choice: "I chose alcohol" - meaning she allows herself to drink but significantly reduces her food intake when trying to lose weight.
Kim Nam-joo previously revealed that during filming for JTBC's "Misty," she maintained an extremely restrictive diet of just two eggs and three kimbap rolls per day for six months, helping her reach a weight of 46kg. This extreme approach contributed to a 7-kilogram weight loss but came at a significant physical and mental cost.
The actress has described "Misty" as her most physically and mentally challenging project, requiring her to embody a sharp, sophisticated character while maintaining this restrictive eating pattern.
Kim Nam-joo's insight about choosing between alcohol and food reflects an understanding of how alcohol affects weight management:
Fat Storage: Alcohol is quickly converted to sugar and promotes fat storage, particularly around the abdominal area. It also increases cortisol levels, which further encourages belly fat accumulation.
Appetite Issues: Unlike regular food, alcohol doesn't provide lasting satiation. The body processes alcohol first as fuel, leaving people hungry for actual nutrients, often leading to overconsumption of high-calorie bar snacks.
Empty Calories: Alcoholic drinks provide calories without nutritional value, making it easy to exceed daily calorie needs without feeling satisfied.
While Kim Nam-joo's honesty is refreshing, health experts warn against her extreme past methods:
Metabolic Damage: Severely restricting calories can slow metabolism and make future weight loss harder while increasing the likelihood of weight regain.
Muscle Loss: The body breaks down muscle tissue when it doesn't receive adequate nutrition, further reducing metabolic rate.
Nutritional Deficiencies: Limiting intake to just eggs and kimbap makes it impossible to meet basic vitamin and mineral needs.
For comparison, the Korean Obesity Society recommends reducing daily intake by just 500 calories to lose 0.5kg per week - a sustainable approach that preserves muscle and metabolism.
Now 54 and having launched her YouTube channel, Kim Nam-joo appears to be embracing authenticity over perfection. Her willingness to discuss the realities of weight management - including the less glamorous aspects - represents a shift toward honesty about entertainment industry pressures.
Her story highlights both the dedication required for certain roles and the importance of finding sustainable approaches to health. While her extreme methods aren't recommended for general use, her core insight about making conscious choices in weight management has merit when applied more moderately.
Kim Nam-joo's openness about her experiences serves as both inspiration for her commitment and a reminder of the importance of balance in pursuing health goals.
