When not flaunting his acting chops in front of the camera or spending quality time with his singer-actress girlfriend IU, Hallyu heartthrob Lee Jong-Suk is probably hitting the gym. With visuals and physique so perfect, he always catches the fancy (and envy) of many. Whether you’re a fan of Lee Jong-Suk or someone looking for some fitspiration to get their wellness journey started – let’s take you through the Pinocchio hitmaker’s workout routine and diet plan.
Did you know that Lee Jong-Suk gained about 10 kgs after returning from the military in 2021? According to Health Yogi, the actor revealed that since the gyms were closed because of COVID-19, he resorted to a strict diet and home training to shed those extra kilos. While Lee Jong-Suk didn’t share the exact details of his workout, multiple reports suggested that it’s a mix of weight training, cardio, pilates and even fencing. Moreover, the actor has even tried his hand at archery and underwent MMA training in 2017. This perfect blend of hardcore gym workouts, recreational activities and combat sports is what gets Lee Jong-Suk going.
Here’s a breakdown of his workout routine and diet plan.
Lee Jong-Suk swears by this workout routine to stay in shape
Cardio training
K-pop and K-drama stars swear by cardio to remain fit, and their exceptional dance moves are proof! A quick cardio warm-up is so important before diving into any workout routine. Cardio or aerobic exercises help blood pump quickly throughout your body, fuelling both your heart and lungs so that you can perform a continuous activity like a medium to high-intensity workout for longer durations.
Benefits of cardio training:
- Better heart, lung and muscle function
- Improves cholesterol and blood pressure levels
- Helps in completing everyday chores with ease
- Alleviates mood, thereby reducing stress and anxiety levels
- Boosts stamina and strength
To get started, here are some of the aerobic exercises you can try.
- Running/ jogging
- Biking
- Swimming
- Walking
- Hiking
- Rollerblading
- Cardio machines, like a treadmill or elliptical machine
- Stair climbing
Weight training
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Weight training is a crucial part of Lee Jong-Suk’s workout, given how lean and ripped his physique appears. The star said that he has reduced the intensity of weight training over the years, but it nonetheless remains an important component of his workout.
While cardio exercises strengthen your heart and lungs, weight or strength training increases stamina and protects the bones and joints from injury. Weight training basically involves using one or more muscle groups to perform a specific task, like squatting or lifting weights. According to Better Health, it is based on the principle that ‘muscles of the body will work to overcome a resistance force when they are required to do so.’ So, by doing weight training regularly, your muscles will become stronger.
For those of you who don’t know, lean muscle mass usually diminishes with age. If you don’t do anything to replace this lean muscle mass you lose over the years, your body fat percentage will start increasing. This is where strength training comes in. It helps you preserve and enhance your muscle mass at any age.
Benefits of strength training:
- Improves muscle strength and tone to protect your joints from injury
- Boosts flexibility, balance and stamina
- Improves cardiovascular health and increases bone density
- Increases self-confidence and improves your body image and your mood.
- Helps manage and lose weight
If you’re new to strength training, you’ll want to master basic movement patterns first. These include lunges, overhead shoulder presses, single-arm dumbbell rows, and floor presses.
Pilates
Another K-celebrities-approved workout, Pilates is a total body workout that gives you a long, lean, and sculpted aesthetic. And yes, it’s for everyone irrespective of gender, age or flexibility. Pilates movements are designed to target your core muscles, which are the abdominal muscles, hip muscles, gluteal muscles, lower and upper back muscles and inner thigh muscles. A Pilates session usually spans 45 to 90 minutes, consisting of variety of sequences that are performed in low repetitions, usually five to ten times.
Here are some benefits of performing Pilates:
- Increases core strength and improves posture
- Boosts your body’s natural ability to burn fat
- Prevents injuries related to muscle imbalances
- Improves physical coordination and balance
- Promotes mindfulness and body awareness
So, if you’re just looking to alleviate your mood, tone your body, or build muscle mass and bone density: Pilates can enhance the quality of your life.
MMA, archery and fencing
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Lee Jong-Suk’s Instagram is a testament to how much he loves trying new sporting avenues, fencing being his ultimate favourite. He’s always looking for fun activities to spruce up his workouts and has even shared glimpses of him doing archery and MMA.
For those unversed, Fencing is a group of three related combat sports, based on the traditional skills of swordsmanship. Did you know it was one of the first five sports to be played in the Olympics back in 1896? As for modern fencing, it is divided into three forms, each of which uses a different kind of weapon and has different rules. These are: foil, épée, and sabre. Most fencers choose to specialize in one weapon only.
As you can see from the clip above, the actor has quite mastered the art of fencing.
Coming to archery and MMA, both of these disciplines teach you precision, control, focus and determination. Whether you practice these indoors or outdoors, competitively or socially: they’ll get you active, help burn calories and boost your mental health.
Here’s what Lee Jong-Suk’s diet plan looks like
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To achieve a physique so admirable, one has to complement their workouts with a healthy diet. According to Epicstream, Lee Jong-Suk consumes a balanced diet and adds fruits to his meals.
For breakfast, the actor prefers a couple of boiled eggs and ends his meal with a bowl full of seasonal fruits. Moving on to lunch, he devours chicken, particularly a baked chicken breast with onion-mayo sauce alongside potatoes. Lastly, Lee Jong-Suk keeps his dinner light, consuming Kimchi fried rice with ham on the side.
Will you try out Lee Jong-Suk’s workout and diet plan?
(Hero and feature image credit: jongsuk0206/ Instagram)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What does Lee Jong-Suk do to stay fit?
Lee Jong-Suk’s workout routine comprises cardio, weight training and Pilates. The actor has also learnt archery, fencing and undergone MMA training.
- Are Lee Jong-Suk and IU married?
IU and Lee Jong-Suk aren’t married. The duo confirmed that they’re dating after being friends for over 10 years.
- Is Lee Jong-Suk in the military?
Lee Jong-Suk has completed his military service and was discharged in January 2021.
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Written by
Kriti Nayyar
Senior Digital Writer, Wellness, Culture, Astrology, Tech
Kriti is a stay-at-home dog mama, whose knack for telling interesting stories keeps her erstwhile monotonous life sane. A literature & journalism degree holder, you'll find her binging on Agatha Christie novels while critiquing the everyday state of affairs. On Kriti's seldom social outings, she's seen devouring coffee sangria with appetizing bread on the side.
