Stream K-Dramas at OnDemandKorea

Keeping Celebrities Fit

Bae Yong-joon's Fitness Trainer Gives Health Tips Through Book

By Han Eun-jung
Staff Reporter

After having expertly sculpted the bodies of Cha In-pyo, kwon Sang-woo, Rain and Bae Yong-joon, celebrity personal trainer Lim Jong-pil (JP) reveals the secrets to his fitness miracles in his first book "Design Your Body."

The book goes over exercise tips and shares personal experiences working as a trainer. He devotes the fifth and final part to detail the three-month workout program he designed for Bae.

Bae, dubbed Yonsama by Japanese female fans who fell for the prim and baby-face actor deliver a touching performance in the miniseries "Winter Sonata", went through a physical makeover prior to the launching of a 200-cut photo book last year.

But the book isn't meant for those in hope of learning the latest in "get fit quick" programs, as the fitness guru wastes no time in saying that he eschews such schemes.

Rather, the message Lim, who also goes by JP, is trying to get across is that the objective of working out should be a healthy sustainable lifestyle, not working out as a virtue in itself.

When The Korea Times met with JP at a fitness center in southern Seoul earlier this week, JP said flat out that the secret to building up, sculpting and then maintaining a fit trim body is that there really is no secret.

`Having clients face reality is the first thing a good personal trainer does", the 29-year-old trainer said.

"They should be able to help clients set realistic goals, so that it is easier to follow through with it, and make it a part of your lifestyle".

In Part 1, JP discusses ways to design your mindset, divided into seven chapters that go into topics such as "Image Training", "Exercise Only When You Feel Up to It" and "Make Exercising a Daily Affair".

Part 2 goes into the basics of running up the ideal diet. There he advises his readers to cut down on the salt, how to maintain healthy eating habits and what to do in sticky situations when trying to shed the pounds.

Part 3 describes the exercises that can be done at the fitness center and Part 4 offers simple workout ideas for home or the office.

The concept of a personal trainer, which is still relatively new here, refers to a private instructer who designs a specializes an exercise regimen and healthy meal plans to maintain one's optimal physical condition.

JP was one of the first local professional personal trainers when he began his career as one two years ago at a mammoth fitness center in Apkujong.

However what set him apart from the rest was the weight he put on the importance of becoming much more than an instructor, "a private instructor should be a mentor", he says.

"I value the feedback I get from clients during a session. I let them know that their needs are important and I'm attentive to them".

And it is no surprise that JP soon had a star-studded list of clients filling his eight hour day at the center back to back.

Because he was in demand from so many celebrities, Bae sought him out to be his personal trainer last year.

Though he knew it was risky to tie himself down to one person, looking back on that decision now, he believes it was one of the best thing he has ever done in his life. One of the other important decisions he made was deciding to become a personal trainer when such an occupation was virtually unheard of here.

"I know becoming the first trainer specializing in celebrities was a smart move. I intend to keep it smart by further developing myself and programs", he said.

Advertisement

❎ Try Ad-free