Intermittent fasting key to Chinese actress Liu Yifei’s 6 kg weight loss

Chinese actress Liu Yifei. Photo from Liu's Instagram

According to Sohu, photos from behind the scenes of Liu’s recent advertising shoot for a jewelry brand have captured attention on the social media platform Weibo. In these photos, Liu is seen in a tight-fitting dress, displaying her full, sizzling curves and radiating charm.

Liu had a fuller figure during the production of her 2023 TV series "Meet Yourself." She admitted that she tends to gain weight easily, noting that eating without restraint allows her to put on weight very rapidly, sometimes in just a few days. She also described having a large waistline, broad shoulders, and sizable arms when heavier.

However, she is now celebrated for her well-proportioned, healthy figure, which has sparked the viral keyword "Liu Yifei’s weight loss method," amassing over 40 million views on Weibo.

To achieve this transformation, Liu reportedly adopted intermittent fasting to shed excess fat, which has resulted in a firmer body. Her diet regimen featured a variety of fresh vegetables and fruits, including apples, pears, and grapefruits, with a strong emphasis on limiting starch. She favored steamed, boiled, or raw food preparations while minimizing seasonings and avoiding processed foods.

Moreover, she engaged in aerial yoga and targeted exercises to diminish fat in the abdomen, arms, and legs. Through her consistent efforts in diet and exercise, Liu managed to lose 6 kg and completely revamped her physique.

Intermittent fasting is a strategy that confines eating to specific hours of the day to manage calorie intake, thereby creating a calorie deficit that facilitates weight loss. The widely practiced 16:8 method involves fasting for 16 hours and eating within an eight-hour period.

More extreme forms, such as the 20:4 (fasting for 20 hours, eating within four hours) or 23:1 (fasting for 23 hours, eating within one hour), are generally not advised. It is recommended for newcomers to intermittent fasting to start with less restrictive schedules, such as 12:12, then 14:10, before progressing to 16:8 to allow the body to adjust.

Research has further indicated that in addition to improving weight loss efficiency, the 16:8 intermittent fasting method also helps in managing blood sugar levels, enhancing brain function, boosting overall health, and extending lifespan.

Liu, 37, made her first TV appearance in 2003 with the period romance drama "The Story of a Noble Family," which emerged as the highest-rated series that year on the Chinese national broadcaster CCTV, propelling her to stardom.

She transitioned to film in 2008 and has since appeared in a variety of Chinese and Hollywood films, including the lead role in the 2020 live adaptation of the 1998 Disney animated film "Mulan."

Alongside her acting endeavors, Liu has made a significant mark in the fashion industry, representing prestigious fashion houses such as Louis Vuitton and Bulgari as a brand ambassador and the face of these brands.