A declaration of youth for the elderly: 52-year-old Kim Hee-ok challenges herself to lose weight in 100 days and achieves firm, beautiful skin.

Even though I'm older, I still want to lose weight. I'm a loyal viewer of "Gag Concert," and I was deeply impressed by Kwon Mi-jin's successful weight loss. One day, my daughter showed me a recruitment notice looking for a second "Slim Girl," and wanted me to take the challenge too. Kwon Mi-jin is still young, so it shouldn't be difficult for her to succeed; but I'm over 50, so it won't be easy for me. In the past, my upper abdomen protruded, making it quite difficult to go up and down stairs; my knees were also very painful, causing me to limp when I walked. Despite this, I applied with the determination to give it a try, and I was extremely lucky to be able to participate in the second stage of the interview. On the day of the selection interview, I was the first person to arrive besides the staff. Watching the challengers arrive one after another, all of them young people about the same age as my daughter, I immediately felt ashamed. At my age, competing with others for the "Slim Girl" title made me feel quite embarrassed. However, when the selection process began, listening to everyone share their weight loss experiences and motivations, I was deeply moved. It turned out that everyone was struggling with obesity and living such painful lives; listening to them almost brought me to tears. After losing weight, my face didn't sag; instead, it became firmer. When the results were announced, my number was skipped. More than feeling disappointed, I felt relieved, as exercising and losing weight with young people seemed quite difficult. However, at the last minute, they called my name and number, told me I had passed, and congratulated me. Perhaps the review committee was also struggling with my age! Although having this opportunity with younger friends made me a little apprehensive, the thought that it wouldn't happen again made me very happy. After getting married, breathing became my only form of exercise. Now, wearing workout clothes and standing in front of the instructor, I finally feel, "Ah, I'm really exercising now." Because I'm older than the others, I told myself not to cause them any trouble and to try my best to keep up. The first month involved following the diet plan in "I Lost 50kg - A Weight Loss Method More Effective Than Plastic Surgery," while also exercising. For someone who only ate one meal a day, the portions were quite large. While it's common knowledge that reducing calories during cooking is important, putting it into practice isn't easy. Reading the book and learning from Quan Meizhen's diet plans was not only fun but also delicious. Combined with exercise, I lost weight without even realizing it. I always remembered the advice of my coach and doctor, banishing my favorite kimchi from my diet and eating only unsalted food. Unlike other people, due to hormone deficiency, I mixed brown rice and estrogen-rich soybeans into my meals. At first, I thought, "Unsalted food? How can I eat like that?" But after trying it, I realized how much of a pity I hadn't been able to appreciate the original flavors of food before. When I first started dieting, everyone was worried because I'm older, and they worried that losing weight might cause sagging in certain areas, especially my face. But I was very lucky; my face didn't sag, and my skin even regained elasticity and became much brighter. This change happened just as my teachers said, "Losing weight isn't about starving yourself; you need to eat three meals a day, and you absolutely must consume protein." These are truly invaluable words of advice! I gradually adapted to strength training, and not only did I lose weight, but my figure also became slimmer. After about a month and a half, my friends were amazed by my transformation. During my weight loss journey, I created new and joyful memories. KBS's "Life Info" came to film me after my weight loss, and I felt incredibly excited and proud. After the program aired, many people who saw me on TV asked me for weight loss methods and tips. I have so many people to thank for this successful weight loss journey: thanks to Coach Ahn Jin-pil, Teacher Han Sang-hee, and all the coaches, I was able to get to where I am today; it was Director Kim Min-young who gave me advice, managed my health, and helped me adjust my mindset, leading me to where I am now. With the companionship and encouragement of other "weight loss girls," I was able to become the beautiful leader I am today. And thank you so much to reporter Do Kyung-ah from "Women's Joseon" and Kwon Mi-jin, the originator of this weight loss plan, the "Slim Girl." Finally, I want to thank my dear family for being there for me and accepting all my complaints and temper tantrums. A special thank you to my thoughtful daughter for encouraging me to take on this challenge, my handsome son for working diligently in the coffee shop for me, my husband for taking care of my meals and giving me courage, and my mother for her loving and encouraging gaze. I love you all. Although losing weight together as a "Slim Girl" was enjoyable and fulfilling, it was also quite tough. I don't want to go back to my old self. I want to maintain my current appearance and then lose weight healthily for the rest of my life. Even if I can't do the same variety of exercises and training as I do now, I will strive to develop a habit of exercising for more than an hour every day, eating healthy meals, and never forgetting everything I've learned so far. Regarding weight loss, Hee-ok said: What impressed you most about the "Slim Girl" plan? I've tried various weight loss methods and relied heavily on diet pills or foods; but this is the first time I've systematically adjusted my diet and exercise like this. Losing weight with other challengers is more motivating than trying alone; we can help and encourage each other, which is really great. Seeing myself gradually regain my slim figure makes me very happy. When adjusting my diet feels tiring, how do I control my inner glutton? When I can't resist the urge to eat, I watch food shows to satisfy my cravings and tell myself "what foods to be careful of" and "what foods I can eat," satisfying my appetite with just my eyes. How did you overcome the most difficult first month? During that time, my daughter took on the role of mother, helping me with everything; my son, after finishing work, would sacrifice sleep to continue helping his mother at the shop; my husband, not wanting me to be tempted by food, ate out for all three meals. Perhaps it was the encouragement and assistance of my family that helped me overcome each moment. What is the biggest change after losing weight? I don't know when it started, but I lived with a cumbersome body, forgetting about ease and freedom. At night, if I lay on my side, my stomach would go numb, making it impossible to sleep; but now, those feelings have completely disappeared. What unique techniques have you learned when facing difficulties? During my weight loss journey, I went to a buffet restaurant to celebrate my daughter's graduation. Looking around, I realized I could actually eat quite a few vegetables. The doctor was right: "No matter what food you eat, as long as you develop the habit of chewing slowly, you don't need to worry about gaining weight." Could you recommend some exercise or weight loss tips for those who say they "don't have time"? As long as there's space where you can stand alone, you can do squats, pull-ups, stretching exercises, etc. Because my neck often aches, I do a lot of neck stretching exercises whenever I have free time. Please cheer on all my friends across the country who are trying to lose weight! When you think, "I'm already this old, what can I still do?" that's a good time to start. Give it a try! You can do it! Coach Ahn Jin-pil's comments: Initially, because she was much older than the other challengers, her physical strength was limited, causing her to lose self-esteem and worry about causing trouble for other "slimming girls," resulting in a decline in her athletic performance. However, through the constant encouragement, advice, and support from coaches and partners, they gradually built up their confidence and ultimately achieved good results.