Choi Yeon-su Shares Postpartum Weight Loss Update: 16kg Down, 11kg to Go

Actor and influencer Choi Yeon-su answered a fan question about her postpartum body on social media last month with a straightforward number: she has lost 16kg since giving birth, with 11kg remaining. That kind of specificity is rare in celebrity wellness disclosures, and it landed.

When asked about her approach, Choi described a routine built around recovery rather than speed. She said she has returned to pilates "in a rehabilitation kind of way" and is trying to balance one meal of whatever she feels like eating with one meal on a lighter, diet-focused plan. She was also quick to add context: "I'm still a mother who gave birth only 80 days ago, so I'm taking it easy and not pushing too hard." The framing is deliberate. At this stage, she is prioritizing function over aesthetics.

The choice of pilates is worth noting. The method was originally developed in the early 20th century by Joseph Pilates to help dancers recover from injuries, according to the Cleveland Clinic, and it has since become a standard tool in rehabilitation programs as well as general fitness. Its central focus is the core: the muscles of the abdomen, lower back, and pelvis that stabilize the entire body. Strengthening that group simultaneously improves posture, flexibility, and joint range of motion.

For postpartum recovery specifically, those qualities matter. Pregnancy places significant stress on the pelvic floor and lumbar spine, and many cases of lower back pain trace back to weakened core muscles and postural imbalance, both of which pilates directly addresses. Because intensity can be scaled to match a person's current fitness and recovery state, it remains accessible at stages when higher-impact exercise would be off the table.

Pilates also trains coordination between breath and movement, which builds a more precise awareness of how the body is functioning at any given moment. That quality, experts note, contributes to better balance and a reduced risk of falls or re-injury, making it a practical choice not just for new mothers but for anyone returning to exercise after a period of physical stress.

Choi has not announced any specific target timeline for the remaining 11kg. Given her stated approach, that seems intentional.