Tuesday, July 5, 2011

K-pop and picture perfect!

Just the other day I was reading the newspaper and this news report caught my attention "Make me a K-pop star". http://www.asianewsnet.net/home/news.php?id=19600&sec=48

According to the news, Singaporeans Ferlyn Wong (age 19) and Elaine Yuki Wong (age 23) passes an audition and sent to Korea for training (dance, language, etc)... Here is the exercise regime they were put on five days a week:

"Get up at 7am. Eat breakfast consisting of a few low-fat biscuits and lettuce.
Go for 21/2-hour gym session.
Swim for two hours.
Lunch, well, no lunch actually. Must count those calories.
Snacks (if the girls complain of hunger) - a banana or a few low-fat biscuits.
Dance class after lunch, for up to four hours.
Dinner - boiled chicken breast and salad.
Finish dinner by 7pm. After that, they are not allowed to eat or drink anything; apparently drinking will make them look bloated in the morning."

 Sounds CRAZY to me!

Why is this crazy?
1) Water intake may be insufficient - "After that [dinner], they are not allowed to eat or drink anything"

2) Food intake may not match energy expenditure
Conservative estimates assuming
*Leisurely swimming = 200 calories per hour
*Treadmill / stationary bike (depends on resistance level, etc) = 300 calories per 30 minutes
*Weight training =?

If these exercises were done on *separate* days, you can see that the exercise alone consumes about 300-400 calories...now add on dance class (presumably those with fast moves), and the energy expenditure continues...

Food intake - will the chicken breast, lettuce, salad, and biscuits provide sufficient energy intake? I really doubt it

3) Potential nutritional deficiency... As you can see, they are eating calorie-controlled diets, hence it is likely that some vitamin and mineral deficiency could occur.
Remember, when we eat food, we need to consider that we need nutrients and also for energy, repair of tissues (definitely need it if you exercise), other functions (brain power, organs to function, etc)...

I know bodybuilders have the habit of going on low calories, low carb, high protein *once in a while* to shock the body and get ripped (such as the advertisement above), but how long are  these two  persons going on such a regime? Their health will suffer and it is irresponsible if their gym trainers put them on this type of routine. Beware the curse of picture perfect!

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