Women transform their lives through workouts

Chinese women are boosting their self-esteem and finding a new calling in life by taking part in rigorous workouts.

Many of those now leading more active lives have drawn inspiration from Du Leying, the protagonist in the blockbuster Spring Festival movie YOLO (You Only Live Once).

Many audience members burst into tears as they watch Du, who is overweight, struggle through life before bettering herself by taking up boxing.

Li Ziyao, whose own life has improved significantly through exercise, said, "I guess many people, especially young women, have experienced desperate situations in life, which they feel really strongly about."

The 28-year-old, who works in Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, now exudes athletic confidence as she goes through her daily exercise routine.

"This is a far cry from my old obese and bashful image," she said, adding, "I actually fled to Hangzhou in 2021 to avoid my family."

Li, who comes from Shaanxi province, used to binge-eat snacks, which she considered the only way to deal with the frustrations in life.

This unhealthy lifestyle continued for about six years, during which her weight peaked at more than 75 kilograms, which is high for the average Chinese woman.

"My relatives noticed that I had gained weight every time they saw me. It was hard to find clothes that fit me, and I was afraid of meeting my friends, who I hadn't seen for three months, as I feared they would tease me about my weight," Li said.

These negative feelings again resulted in her binge eating. "It was a vicious circle, which plunged me into an abyss of shame," she added.

The turning point came when Li saw that her former boyfriend had got married, and her parents feared that she would remain single if she continued her unhealthy lifestyle.

"But when you hit rock bottom, you start to rebound," Li said.

She left for Hangzhou in an attempt to make a clean break from the past, forcing herself to adopt a four-hour workout regime each day.

Li, who learned moves for the workout from vloggers, carried a small set of food scales with her to weigh her daily intake. In four months, she lost more than 20 kg, and found work at an e-commerce company in the city.

This positive change quickly won support from her mother, who for the first time praised Li's efforts and voiced sympathy for the suffering she had experienced.

As her fitness levels increase, Li is challenging herself by taking up swimming, snowboarding and CrossFit, a fitness program that produces tangible benefits through lifestyle changes centered on nutrition and training.

As she continues to discover her potential, she said: "I have broadened my horizons and now have this constant desire to try new things. If I have learned anything from my experience, it is that you have to love yourself first before loving someone else, and take control of your own life."