I Lost 13kg Over Five Years Starting in 2003

──The cover is very beautiful; how do you feel about the finished product?

I'm a little embarrassed (laughs), but I'm very satisfied. There are many photos included, and the result is better than I expected, which makes me very happy.

──What inspired you to write a diet book?

I'd always admired the idea of dieting and, even during my competitive career, wanted to achieve a feminine and beautiful physique. However, I suppressed those feelings and focused solely on training. After retiring, I tried dieting, but I didn't know how to do it properly, which led to health issues. I realized then that I needed to approach it holistically, from the inside out. So, I decided to document my journey.

──And that record is compiled into this book?

Yes, it covers exercise for the exterior and diet and mindset for the interior. It's a record of how I changed over about six months (200 days) through simple stretches anyone can do and by keeping a daily food diary.

──Do you still keep a food diary now?

No, I don't write it anymore. But I did develop the habit of remembering. So now, at night, I reflect on my day's meals and think, 'Am I overeating?' (laughs).

──Did you experience any rebound?

If you try to get results too quickly, you'll definitely gain the weight back. For this diet, I planned to take six months, so I was just living a normal life. When the book "BODY+REMAKE" was finished and I showed it to people around me, they asked, 'Were you really dieting?'

The Desire to Be Beautiful and Enjoy the Present

──Do you still swim?

Yes, I swim about three to four times a week, mostly in regional pools, teaching children.

──Do you also do the stretches introduced in the book?

Yes, I stretch while watching TV and sometimes go for a jog. Running is harder than swimming and burns more calories. Like most women, I'd prefer to lose weight effortlessly, but I know that's not possible. Since I know how good it feels to move my body, I run even when I'm in different regions.

──What about your interest in beauty?

I liked it even when I was competing, but I never paid much attention to it. I barely did any skincare or haircare. The only thing I've consistently done is my nails.

──How about fashion?

During my competitive days, my closet was full of black clothes. I only thought about how to look smaller and slimmer. Recently, when I go shopping, I find myself choosing brighter colors and prints. I've noticed a change in myself. I no longer focus on looking sharply slim like before; I can now enjoy fashion more naturally.

──You really have a great figure.

As an athlete, people saw me as someone focused on her records and training. They'd say things like, 'Swimmers have such broad shoulders,' similar to how sumo wrestlers might get their backs patted – like a female version (laughs). While I was proud of that during my career, now people often say, 'You're so petite,' or 'How did you lose weight?'

──Are there any beauty treatments you'd like to try now?

I'm approaching 30, an age where things start to sag a bit (laughs), so I'd like to try some treatments for wrinkles and blemishes. I also want to try more cute fashion styles. I want to feel radiant at all times.






Signed Copy Giveaway of Masami Tanaka's Diet Essay "BODY+REMAKE"

Applications for the giveaway of one signed copy from Masami Tanaka closed on August 31, 2008. Winners will be contacted via their registered email. Thank you for your many entries. (OPENERS Editorial Department)