82 kg woman loses 22 kg in one year after ex-boyfriend's "photo fraud" jab

Body-shamed by her ex-boyfriend, a 25-year-old woman diligently trained and dieted for one year, losing nearly 22 kg and successfully transforming into a slender physique.

A video documenting a young woman's remarkable transformation through diet, exercise, and a change in makeup style, after being disparaged by her ex-boyfriend as an "online photo fraudster", is garnering significant attention on YouTube. The video quickly surpassed 160,000 views, accompanied by numerous comments praising the protagonist's perseverance and effort.

The video was posted on a channel managed by hair stylist Matsukawa Ryudo in Aoyama, Tokyo. He, along with makeup artist Hayakawa Yukari and photographer and videographer Ishikawa Shotaro, founded the "Cinderella Works Hard" transformation project. This initiative supports women who feel insecure about their appearance in regaining confidence by improving their physique and hair.

The subject of this video is Aya, 25, a nail technician who endured emotional distress from her ex-boyfriend's body-shaming remarks, such as "you're just a photo fraud" or "I prefer you when your photos are edited." Standing at 1m56 and weighing over 80 kg, Aya constantly felt self-conscious, often resorting to photo editing software to avoid her insecurities. Her busy work schedule trapped her in a cycle: she couldn't eat properly during working hours and often overate at night.

Aya before (left) and after her training and diet adjustments. Photo: NetLab

Determined not to rely on editing technology her entire life, Aya enrolled in the project to transform herself over one year under the guidance of coach Junya Utakawa. At the start, her body metrics were: weight 82,4 kg, body fat percentage 44,6%, and waist circumference 94 cm.

Her journey began with barbell squats, designed to boost metabolism and establish a foundation for easier weight loss. Alongside online training with her coach and independent workouts before work, Aya drastically altered her diet, ending her habit of skipping meals during the day and compensating by overeating at night. She transitioned to a full breakfast rich in protein, including natto rice, grilled salmon, stir-fried asparagus with mushrooms, and miso soup with seaweed and mushrooms.

After three months of persistence, Aya showed significant changes during her mid-term check-up. She lost 12,3 kg (down to 70,1 kg), reduced her body fat percentage by 4,8%, and slimmed her waist by 11,7 cm. This positive transformation provided her with additional motivation to continue her journey.

Concluding her one-year journey, Aya reappeared with a completely different look, surprising the entire team with her slender figure. Her final measurements showed a total weight loss of 21,8 kg (down to 60,6 kg), a 12,2% reduction in body fat (to 34,4%), and an 18,5 cm decrease in waist circumference (to 75,5 cm).

Moving into the final beauty enhancement stage at the salon, specialists styled her hair with layered cuts for volume and a trendy purple hue. They skillfully revealed her forehead, a feature she once felt self-conscious about, paired with a fresh, clear makeup look.

Aya expressed that the happiest outcome was becoming her ideal self, no longer affected by the criticism around her.