Super Junior member Ryeowook recently opened up about the intense dietary management he underwent before his debut.
In a video titled "Cartel, Everyone Get In Here" on the YouTube channel 'Saego_F5,' Ryeowook appeared alongside TVXQ’s Shim Changmin and SS501’s Kim Kyu-jong. The trio gathered to cook and chat around the theme of "memorable, tear-soaked foods from our rookie days." During the episode, Ryeowook visibly recoiled at the sight of ingredients for doenjang jjigae (Korean soybean paste stew), sparking curiosity among viewers.
"I got into SM Entertainment strictly for my singing," Ryeowook explained. "Before that, I ate whatever I wanted, and I didn’t really know what being a trainee entailed or how to manage my appearance. I arrived at the agency eating my usual favorites—tteokbokki, tangsuyuk, and jajangmyeon—but everyone else there was so skinny."
He continued, "At the time, the CEO, who was also Super Junior’s manager, told me, 'Starting today, Ryeowook is only going to eat soybean paste stew.' When everyone else ate jajangmyeon, I had to eat soybean paste stew by myself. I got so sick of it that I eventually stopped eating as much, and that’s how I lost weight."
A surprised Shim Changmin asked, "How much soybean paste stew did you actually eat?" Ryeowook replied, "After eating it for two months, I lost 8 to 10 kg," adding with a laugh, "If you eat this for two months, you don't even need Mounjaro. It's a natural Mounjaro."
High Satiety and Rich Nutrition with Lower Calories
Building meals around doenjang jjigae, as Ryeowook did, can be an effective weight-loss strategy because it provides high satiety with relatively few calories. The stew can accommodate a wide variety of nutritious ingredients—such as tofu, mushrooms, zucchini, onions, and radishes—making it an excellent vehicle for consuming dietary fiber and protein simultaneously.
For a diet-friendly version, it is best to pack the stew with these vegetables and opt for lean cuts of beef with minimal fat. Conversely, high-fat cuts like beef brisket significantly raise the calorie count and should be avoided.
Optimizing the Diet: Multigrain Rice and Sodium Control
Pairing the stew with multigrain rice rather than plain white rice is highly recommended for weight management. Multigrain rice is richer in dietary fiber, which helps maintain fullness longer and ensures that blood sugar increases remain gradual. Experts generally suggest limiting the rice portion to one-half or two-thirds of a bowl and balancing the meal with protein-rich side dishes like tofu, lean meat, or fish.
However, because traditional Korean soybean paste is high in sodium, consuming the entire bowl of broth can lead to excessive salt intake. This can cause water retention and elevated blood pressure. To optimize the health and weight-loss benefits, it is advisable to focus primarily on eating the solid ingredients and keep broth consumption to a minimum.
