Lee Ji-eun, better known as IU, is a South Korean singer, songwriter, and actress. She signed with Kakao Entertainment Corp. as a trainee in 2007 and made her singing debut at fifteen with her first extended play (EP), Lost and Found (2008). Despite the success of her follow-up albums, Growing Up and IU…IM, she did not achieve national fame until the release of “Good Day,” the lead single from her 2010 album Real. With the success of her subsequent albums, IU established herself as a music industry superstar.
Aside from music, IU has dabbled in acting and hosting radio and television shows. Following minor roles in many television series, she was cast in leading roles in You Are the Best! (2013), Pretty Man (2013-14), The Producers (2015), and Moon Lovers: Scarlet Heart Ryeo (2016). Her performance as a desperate office worker in My Mister (2018) earned her her first Best Actress in Television nomination at the 55th Baeksang Arts Awards. In 2019, she starred in the fantasy television series Hotel del Luna, which earned her a second Best Actress nomination at the Baeksang Arts Awards.
IU Workout Routine
When IU first made her musical debut, she was frequently chastised for her body failing to meet South Korean beauty standards. However, she worked regularly in the gym to lose those extra inches and achieve her dream body. During her appearance on MBC’s “Quiz to Change the World,” she revealed that she had lost 10kg as a result of her rigorous daily workout routine and that her weight has remained stable since then, ranging from 45kg to 48kg.
The singer works out for at least one hour per day, six days a week, constantly varying and changing her workout routine. IU enjoys activities like walking, jogging, running, and HIIT. One study found that high-intensity interval training burns 25–30% more calories per minute than other types of exercises. She also incorporates a few pilates, yoga, and strength training sessions into her workout to increase muscle mass, enhance bone health, boost cardiovascular health, and improve flexibility and mobility.
IU Workout To Burn Fat and Build Stamina
She Perform each exercise for four minutes, alternating 20 seconds of high intensity with 10 seconds of rest.
- Jumping Jacks
- Jump Squats
- Burpee With Push Up
- High-Low Plank
- Mountain Climbers
- Lunge Jumps
- Russian Twist
IU Diet Plan
IU did not lose the extra pounds solely through exercise because good nutrition can help you shed excess pounds — without food cravings or feeling hungry. She revealed in 2013 that she combined her workout routine with a diet that included eating one apple for breakfast, two sweet potatoes for lunch, and a protein shake for dinner. The South Korean claimed she lost 5kg in five days by sticking to this extreme diet.
In 2014, the singer opened up about her eating disorder on the talk show “Healing Camp, Aren’t You Happy.” She said that she became bulimic after feeling anxious, doubting, and hating herself, fearing her success would be taken away at any time. She admitted bingeing eating to fill herself up when she felt empty on the inside. For a time, IU stated that she was only eating, sleeping, and in between throwing up.
Fortunately, she started taking care of her mental and physical health by following a healthy lifestyle and writing a diary. On the same TV program, she stated that her problem was not completely resolved as she still overeats when stressed. Still, she is getting much better at following the new healthier eating habits she imposed on herself, such as eating after working out and enjoying healthy, well-balanced meals every day.
If you’ve been avoiding carbohydrates because you believe they cause weight gain, you should reconsider. Cutting out an entire macronutrient from your diet can make you feel deprived and tempt you to binge. It’s okay to indulge in sweets, but sticking to a diet of simple carbohydrates like pastries, sugary drinks, candy, and processed foods won’t help you lose weight.
Staying active and eating healthy meals are two crucial components for improving quality of life. However, one cannot exist without the other. To feel her best, IU eats well-balanced meals by getting enough essential nutrients. This includes getting enough lean protein, complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, and at least five portions of a variety of fruit and vegetables daily.
- Breakfast: scrambled eggs and rainbow veggie salad with lemon vinaigrette.
- Snack: avocado and almond butter.
- Lunch: grilled chicken breast, broccoli, and beans salad.
- Snack: mixed nuts.
- Dinner: steamed salmon with garlic, herbs, and lemon.
IU Supplements
While dietary supplements cannot replace healthy eating habits, they can provide adequate amounts of essential nutrients and help keep your body in good working order.‎ IU takes protein, zinc, selenium, vitamin D, collagen, multivitamins, and probiotics to increase exercise efficiency, boost her immune system, reduce inflammation, improve digestion, and maintain her health.
- Protein Powder
- Vitamin D
- Collagen
- Zinc
- Selenium
- Multi-Vitamins
- Probiotics
