Kdrama Stars And Their Sometimes Questionable Diets

The life of a kdrama star may seem charmed but there is a downside to it. Maintaining those long lean frames and sharp cheekbones means you always have to watch what you eat and how much you exercise. And that's true for both actresses and actors.

However, some actors seem to have more sensible plans than others.

For example, So Ji Sub, the star of "The Master's Sun," knows that he gains weight quickly, so he avoids certain foods and works out.

"Exercise is important, so I wake up at a set time," said the actor. "I regularly exercise two to three hours daily. If I break this pattern for even a day, I gain weight." 

He does not eat anything special, just skips calorie-rich foods.

"I just eat small amounts of the food that I eat normally," he said. "It's better to not eat something than to be distressed after eating it."

Song Hye Kyo, star of "That Winter The Wind Blows" also takes a sensible approach. She doesn't eat fast food or drink soft drinks. She prefers fish and vegetables to meat. A favorite dish is pumpkin soup, which is rich in vitamins and has diuretic properties. She also exercises.

"I stay in shape by regularly hitting the gym," said Song. "I've adhered to a workout routine since my debut. I exercise more than 4 days a week. What I like most is the 20-minute stretching exercises before and after the workout."

Also she drinks lots of water.

It took Seo In Guk a while to find a healthy way to lose weight.

At his initial audition for JYP Entertainment, they told him to slim down.

 "From that point onward, I became obsessed with weight loss," said Seo. "After every meal, I'd vomit so that I could lose weight."

It was not a smart plan as he developed bulimia and damaged his vocal chords.

Since then, he has learned more about healthy eating and the benefits of working out.

For his role in "The Master's Sun," he easily lost weight with a healthy approach.

 "I worked out with a trainer, and I adjusted my diet. I lost 22 lbs. over three months."

Stars have different approaches and some must get awfully hungry. For example, IU, who starred in "You're The Best Lee Soon Shin, diets by eating as little as possible.

"I eat an apple in the morning, some sweet potato and water during the day, and I drink protein in the evening," she said.

It does not seem like a lot of food for someone who has such a grueling acting and singing schedule.

Kim Yoo Mi lost weight for her drama "Cruel City" by having detox juice for breakfast, rice for lunch and no dinner. If she became hungry she ate a banana.

Kim Sun Ah, who can soon be seen in the film "The Five," once had to lose a lot of weight for a role. She only ate rice once a day but that's because she was playing a dying woman in "Scent of a Woman."

When people asked her the secret of her weight loss, she was reluctant to say anything.

"It was painful and intolerable," she said of her diet. "More than anything I was afraid of people following me because the diet was not a healthy one."

Before starting a weight loss plan, it's always smart to discuss your approach with a doctor. A healthier approach will deliver better results in the long term.