Hong Yoon-hwa reveals why she regained weight after 40kg loss

Comedian Hong Yoon-hwa has revealed her dramatic dieting experience in which she once lost 40kg. While the numbers suggested a successful weight loss, her body sent a series of warning signals during the process. Experiencing tinnitus, dizziness, and nutritional imbalances, she ultimately chose to regain the weight for the sake of her health.

Appearing on MBN's 'Dongchimi' on the 15th, Hong spoke candidly about her experiences involving weight loss, the yo-yo effect, and health problems under the theme 'Are you not going to lose weight?'

During the broadcast, Hong brought clothes she had actually worn in the past to demonstrate the difference between her weight then and now. The clothes that once fit her perfectly felt significantly large now. While the visible change would be admirable to anyone, for Hong, that period was not remembered simply as a 'time when she became pretty by losing weight.'

Recalling the period when she lost 40kg, she said, "Based on that time, I lost 40kg, but then my health failed."

There were positive changes, such as improved blood pressure as her weight dropped significantly. However, unexpected problems arrived shortly after.

"I thought someone had left the TV on while I was sleeping. Was it the TV sound? The refrigerator sound? The microwave sound? The tinnitus was so severe that it woke me up from sleep," Hong recalled.

She further disclosed that she even experienced dizziness when standing up after sitting down.

She essentially experienced firsthand that simply lowering the number on the scale does not constitute a healthy diet.

Above all, Hong revealed that she suffered from nutritional imbalances during the excessive weight loss process. Ultimately, she decided that returning her body to a normal state was a higher priority than continuing to reduce her weight, leading her to increase her weight again for her health.

This is not the first time Hong's dieting history has been revealed. Having challenged weight loss several times through broadcasts, she has shared her diet and exercise experiences with her signature witty remarks. However, this time was closer to an account of how excessive weight loss can burden the body rather than a simple story of diet success.

In particular, Hong shared her experience of attempting extreme diets to lose significant weight in a short period.

She explained her diet at the time, saying, "I would lose 7kg in one week. One apple in the morning, eggs for lunch, and a sweet potato for dinner."

However, her trainer at the time reportedly discouraged her, saying such a method was not suitable for her.

Hong even used a funny metaphor to explain this.

"They told me not to put light car fuel in a dump truck. People who weigh 50kg or 60kg do that, but since I am a dump truck, I have to eat a lot of protein."

While she meant that she needed to consume sufficient nutrition considering her physique and activity level, the studio erupted in laughter due to her unique sense of humor.

However, Hong experienced firsthand that excessive protein intake can also be a problem.

She shared an anecdote about receiving 20 extra-large abalones, each the size of a palm, as a birthday gift. To Hong, who was dieting at the time, abalone seemed like an ingredient that could fill her with protein while reducing carbohydrates.

Deciding to steam the abalones with her husband Kim Min, Hong thought, "Let's not eat carbohydrates and fill up on protein instead," and revealed that she ended up eating 11 abalones by herself that day.

The result was unexpected.

Hong surprised the cast by saying, "After that, I was bedridden for three days and lost 7kg."

Although she focused on consuming protein for her health, it actually placed a massive burden on her body.

She described the pain at the time as being among the top three most painful experiences of her life. She added that the problem was not the abalone itself, but consuming an excessive amount in a short period.

Ultimately, Hong's experience paradoxically shows that the most important thing in dieting is not 'how fast you lose it' but 'how healthily you maintain it.'

In particular, people with higher body weights are more likely to feel pressured to create dramatic changes in a short period. Due to the professional nature of being a celebrity, this pressure can increase further when combined with evaluations of appearance and the public eye.

Hong had also drawn attention through various weight changes in the past, and her changed appearance whenever she succeeded in losing weight garnered interest.

However, just because the number on the scale went down did not necessarily mean she became healthy.

Rather, the 40kg weight loss became a turning point for her to recognize the warning signals her body was sending. While experiencing positive changes like improved blood pressure, she also faced side effects like tinnitus, dizziness, and nutritional imbalances, realizing that 'weight loss' and 'health' do not always move in the same direction.

The reason she regained weight was the same. It was not a desire to return to her former self, but a choice to protect her body.

This differs from the typical weight loss narratives often consumed on television that focus solely on the number of kilograms lost. When weight loss is viewed only through the binary of success and failure, the physical changes and individual health status are easily erased. Hong's story highlights exactly that point.

Furthermore, Hong has used her physique and appetite as a source of humor throughout her career, having debuted as a comedian in 2006 via SBS's 8th special recruitment and appearing in various programs like 'People Looking For Laughter' and 'Comedy Big League.' Operating a YouTube channel with her husband Kim Min to communicate with fans through mukbang and daily life content is an extension of that.

To the public, Hong's physique and mukbang have long symbolized laughter and friendliness. However, behind that image lies the constant pressure to manage her weight and the trial and error she experienced from real physical changes.

The experience of losing 40kg and then regaining weight might not be a failure for Hong, but rather another step toward self-understanding.

More difficult than losing weight is recognizing what one's own body needs. The reason Hong can now speak about her extreme dieting experience with a smile is likely because she realized that 'how to protect my body' is far more important than 'how many kilograms I lost.'

This confession goes beyond a simple dieting episode, prompting a reconsideration of the social pressures surrounding weight loss and the standards for a healthy body.