"Bullying Because of Appearance"... Influencer Shares 'Life Turnaround' Story After Diet

Cutting Refined Carbohydrates and Practicing Intermittent Fasting
"I Want to Give Hope to Those with the Same Worries"

A story of an influencer who was bullied because of her appearance and now lives a different life after successfully dieting is gaining attention.

A story of a Japanese influencer who was bullied because of their appearance and is now living a different life after successfully dieting is gaining attention. Photo by Hiyaniki Instagram capture

The Japanese media Shukan Bunshun (Weekly Bunshun) selected the story of cosplay influencer Hiyaniki (33) as the most talked-about article of 2024. Last September, Hiyaniki revealed her story about her appearance. She stated that she reduced her weight from 64kg to 54kg and worked steadily for five years to change her appearance. She also devoted herself to studying fashion and makeup.

Hiyaniki said, "In high school, I was bullied by friends because of my unattractive appearance, but after losing weight and managing my appearance in my twenties, I have become an influencer with tens of thousands of followers." She cited 'intermittent fasting' and 'cutting carbohydrates' as her diet secrets. She explained, "I ate dinner early and skipped breakfast the next day to maintain a 16-hour fast. When I was hungry, I only ate boiled eggs and completely cut out flour-based foods like bread and pasta." Regarding why she cut carbohydrates, she added, "Because excessive carbohydrate intake can make the skin rough."

Hiyaniki said, "I had no friends during my school days, but gaining confidence made me no longer afraid to talk to others, and now I have many friends." She added, "People can change as much as they want if they try. I want to give hope to those who have the same worries as my past self." Currently, Hiyaniki has started a beauty consulting company to help people who have complexes about their appearance or body shape.

Intermittent fasting, a diet method that maintains a long fasting period, restricts daily food intake to within 4 to 12 hours. This method is known to have positive effects on overall health, including metabolism and weight management. By maintaining fasting for a certain period, it lowers insulin resistance in the body and promotes fat consumption by using ketone bodies produced from metabolizing fat as an energy source.

The refined carbohydrates that Hiyaniki cut out are actually known to affect obesity and skin health. When consuming refined carbohydrates, insulin secretion rapidly increases, repeatedly stimulating appetite and leading to overeating, which easily causes obesity. From the skin health perspective, refined carbohydrates increase the secretion of IGF-1, a factor that promotes sebum production, raising the likelihood of acne and inflammation. A study also showed that people who consumed foods with a high glycemic index were more likely to experience acne and other skin troubles.

However, excessively reducing carbohydrates, which are essential nutrients, can be harmful to health. Insufficient carbohydrate intake can easily cause lethargy and fatigue and increase the risk of muscle loss. It is known that consuming an appropriate amount of unrefined carbohydrates rather than refined carbohydrates is more helpful for dieting.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.