Extra Padding / Getting A Handle On My Handles
For years it has been my policy to never weigh myself on a regular basis. In fact, I haven't even owned a set of scales for the majority of my adult life. Constantly thinking about body weight is simply unhealthy for anyone. But after catching a glimpse of myself in a recent photo and seeing an unfamiliar figure, I realized that I had to weigh myself.
While standing on the scales, my fear was confirmed: I am currently at my heaviest non-pregnancy weight ever! (I'm not saying I'm horrendously fat or anything, but I am slightly large for my body type.)
How did this happen without me realizing it? I believe Japan had something to do with it. I know--You are wondering how I could possibly blame a country that has tofu as an important source of protein and seaweed as a popular seasoning. But before you jump to conclusions, let me explain.
During my first year in Japan, I experienced a lot of homesickness and culture shock. The way I dealt with it is by eating food that reminded me of home. Since I am from the States, this means I ate a lot of junk food. After work I would scarf Doritos, Pringles, M&Ms, Oreos and Snickers. Over the weekend I would travel to Costco and down giant hot dogs and nearly entire American-style pepperoni pizzas or visit the Hard Rock Cafe and treat myself to nachos and burgers. I literally cushioned myself against culture shock.
At this point, I am rarely shocked at anything that goes on in Japan, and I don't miss home with the same intensity that I used to. However, my high-calorie eating pattern has continued out of habit. It must stop.
For this reason, I am publicly denouncing junk food. From this moment on, I will discontinue my junk food overindulgence (unless otherwise called for by an extreme celebration).
By the way, takoyaki isn't junk food, is it?
While standing on the scales, my fear was confirmed: I am currently at my heaviest non-pregnancy weight ever! (I'm not saying I'm horrendously fat or anything, but I am slightly large for my body type.)
How did this happen without me realizing it? I believe Japan had something to do with it. I know--You are wondering how I could possibly blame a country that has tofu as an important source of protein and seaweed as a popular seasoning. But before you jump to conclusions, let me explain.
During my first year in Japan, I experienced a lot of homesickness and culture shock. The way I dealt with it is by eating food that reminded me of home. Since I am from the States, this means I ate a lot of junk food. After work I would scarf Doritos, Pringles, M&Ms, Oreos and Snickers. Over the weekend I would travel to Costco and down giant hot dogs and nearly entire American-style pepperoni pizzas or visit the Hard Rock Cafe and treat myself to nachos and burgers. I literally cushioned myself against culture shock.
At this point, I am rarely shocked at anything that goes on in Japan, and I don't miss home with the same intensity that I used to. However, my high-calorie eating pattern has continued out of habit. It must stop.
For this reason, I am publicly denouncing junk food. From this moment on, I will discontinue my junk food overindulgence (unless otherwise called for by an extreme celebration).
By the way, takoyaki isn't junk food, is it?
:
Ah mate the Japan bulge. I got mine on exchange from drinking too much and eating a lot of food that I would eat maybe once a forthnight at home to eating it every day to counteract my home sickness.
Do you exercise? I know fruit is rather frightfully expensive here but the way I lost a bit of weight on exchange (I still drank like a fish, still do) eating tinned fruit and eating less rice, pasta and potatoes and more lean protein (sashimi, chicken breast, aussie beef etc). Um I haven`t packed it on like I did the first time cos I am riding to my schools, playing sport at lunchtime and after school. Don`t freak out.
Cindy, seriously no way do you need to worry about your weight!
Ive been eating loads more chocolate and cheese since coming here too... nice substitutes for the foods i miss from home ;) might join you on the denouncing junk food tho(or at least reducing it a bit!)
Forgot to add that no fucking way are you a pork chop. Me granted with my Meditteranean blood affords me the ability to put on a little weight rather easily. So I exercise. You are tiny mate. I am GIGANTOR!!! Cue Gojira music.
ARGH! In my 6th period class that I taught since writing this blog entry, one of my students asked if I was pregnant. She must have seen hellfire in my eyes after she asked the question, because she immediately began to apologize. That settles it--no takoyaki for me!
Steph, I don't exercise regularly right now, but I am planning on starting soon. What do you do to keep of the alcohol weight?
Also, you are tall. I am short. I can't carry much weight. BTW, I found it humorous that you told me to eat fewer potatoes.
Selena, Mmmm...chocolate. I am going to miss that. Why does it have to be so much more difficult to get addicted to something like lettuce? Maybe I will just do the reduction thing when it comes to chocolate.
Mate! FARK, if a student said that to me I would have them drawn and quartered. I put that potato quip in rather subtly ne? Surprisingly hey. Hmm keeping grog bulge off um I do situps, lunges, squats, pushups etc before work every morning. And if I have to commute by bus/train I go for a jog/walk after I get home. I avoid the sugar bread here like the plague, drink a lot of water (even my office comments on the water thing...), I don't eat all my kyushoku (usually I can't anyway...bugger me the last two school's kyushoku has wreaked havoc on my stomach).
Yeah you are small, I am Gargantua. I look at photos of me with the locals and feel like such a lardarse.
You've gained weight? Where did it go? O_o I've actually lost weight since I came to Japan but I don't eat the kyushoku rice and my daily teaching at the JHS usually involves some kind of arm-wrestling. You don't really need to do anything but cut out one small thing. Soda, rice,....takoyaki.... ^_^
And, you can use my, er, slip up, but just allude to who said it. No need to paint me completely red. :P
I initially lost weight, too, but that was because I was very ill when I first came. Since then, I have significantly "grown as a person".
Thanks for the permission, but it's no fun if I can't use your name! Pretty please?
It's the quantity of junk food I was eating. Happy to say I now only have a couple of kilograms to go until I'm back to normal.
I think I may have lost weight since I arrived but nowhere near as much as I'd like. I'd put it down to riding the bike to school. That said I still eat too much crap and the losing weight business seems to have reached an impasse. I would agree that I wouldn't think you have anything to worry about. But not matter what anyone says, we cannot really change what you think.
Thanks, fb. But, like I said, I am just going to cut back until I return to normal "me" weight. I am not crazed or anything. No worries.
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