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[oprah]

What do you do to keep physically fit in China?? How has coming to China affected your physical fitness?? are you better off living here than in the comfort of your automobile and with elevators in the West.. There is a large sports centre close to me but it is closed on weekends and almost all day accept for 6 to 8 am.... I am looking at taking on a physical activity .. any suggestions?? Tai chi?? I do not know if this is my cup of tea??

[wOZfromOZ]

G'day

I try and get out 6.00am most mornings for a one hour bike ride or a big walk. Contray to what many believe this is an outstanding time of the day for some people - especially Chinese folks. My day on day experience is they're always forthcoming with friendly quips or very
genuine inquiries about your health, your kids, your family, your chinese,
your wife, your ex wife, (just kidding there!) etc etc.

Love the bike rides - I've got 3 bikes in different locations. I recently calculated that I've cycled over 3,500 km in the last 18 months. Have been known to go into Shanghai Library from QinPu on a Sunday - That's
25km ...and then back! absolutely shagged by then hey! and on a scabby, rusty old thing too - but I love the rides!

Walking and bike riding ....the down side has gotrta be the s.hit you take into your lungs - I've got a cough on me at the moment that has everybody asking ......Nin fashao la ma?

..............'Have you got a fever? LOL but they not smiling!!

wOZfromOZ

[American Friend of China]

I often go jogging in the mornings here in Dalian. Dalian has quite a few hills, like Nan Shan near Da Wai, where you get a good scenic glimpse of the city and the harbor, provided that the visibility is not too hazy. However, if you go jogging in Chinese cities, here are some useful tips:

1) Chinese are notorious early risers, so if you want to go running without the hectic traffic, you must get up early - very early. Generally, the rush hour begins around 6:30 a.m. When I was in the States, I thought jogging at 7 or 7:30 a.m. was very "li hai." But while 7:30 would be ideal in a surbuban American neighborhood, I would begin running at 6:00 a.m. here in China. But running in the middle of the day here in urban China is NOT recommended unless you run entirely within the confines of a park, square, etc.

2) Be very careful of the traffic. Many drivers here are selfish and impatient and expect all pedestrians to yield to them. Also, even when crossing obscure alleyways, look both ways. The taxi drivers use these alleyways as short-cuts and often come barrelling out at Mach 3.

3) If your apartment is near a hill, a park, a square, and/or a less populated area of the city, you are in a very ideal setting for jogging. But if you live in the center of a crowded area of the city, I would recommend carrying some change in your pocket and taking the bus to a more ideal jogging area. This may be alright going there, but coming back, the other passengers may be holding their noses. Put on a lot of deoderant and/or cologne or perfume before running.

4) When running in squares, parks, and so on, be careful of other pedestrians, because here in China, they aren't used to yielding to joggers. Most people have a habit of walking in a straight line or in their predetermined path without paying attention to others in their surroundings. In regions with high population densities, people naturally and subconsciously maintain these habits even when the area they are currently in is not crowded. Sometimes they will yield just because you're a foreigner, but not always.

Other than that, jogging here is alright. If you like jogging or long-distance running, good luck. And be careful.

[Roger]

I go running in hilly parks. There also are fitness centres. In winter, I buy a swimming and sauna membership card to do something prophylactic against potential colds. Sauna does work wonders!
Initially, I kept my weight rather low due to the low-calrie food of our canteen. Later, I rediscovered the joys of homemade foods, and my waistline expanded again. Which forces me to do more exercises - no smnall feat in subtropical Guangdong (summer temperatures soaring to 36 celsius).
Yes, it is an ancient wise CHinese idea to get up early and do calisthenics before breakfast...

[xiaoyu]

I don't know if my experience will be any help.... but for exercise i found it good enough to do 4 things.
first avoid elevators like the plague (even when carrying groceries) - they usually don't run that well, are crowded or a bit dirty, in my experience.
second, go for a walk in the walking shopping area in the city. if you make a few rounds you are usually set, depending on the size of the shopping area.
third, if possible avoid most western foods or limit them to once a wk or once a month. i found that when that happened i drastically lost weight! the cheese and the excess calories/fat/whatever in a lot of western food gets harder for your body to process when you eat a lot of asian food... which means that it basically gets stored. the less you indulge the better. plus it just makes it easier on your body.
fourth, go swimming a couple of times a wk. enjoy the sauna, massage and exfoliation treatment you can get there too!

i actually was more physically active (outside of the stairs) before i went to china. but with a combination of all of the above i lost drastic amounts of weight and actually had to start eating 4-5 meals a day plus snacking so that i would maintain 124 lbs on a 5'8" frame - which still left it possible to see my ribs and hip bones when i was simply standing and even sitting!

something else that can help you with weight (if that is in addition to staying fit), eat spicy foods. it increases your metabolism and your immune system, according to recent studies.

xiaoyu

[oprah]

I haven't found any sauna yet..
So what is the secret of loosing weight.. Some say it is the rice.. my taste buds say there is too much salt in the Chinesese food to be healthy.. I'm trying to stick to fruits and vegatables cooked Western..we can not buy butter or cheese here..and miss the olive oil for salad..
Would appreciate information on the sauna.. are they hidden away??

[Anne-Marie Gregory]

Chinese communal showers (single sex) are fun and might offer above-board extras....apparently they are mainly a northern thing.
I too can't get used to all the salt, sugar, fat and MSG in food.....cannot enjoy anything made with 4 different white powders (chicken stock is always added here) and a lake of oil Mind you tonight's garlic crayfish were great

[Kapt. Krunch]

About the western food myth...
It is largely dependent on your body type and your personal metabolism.
I got leaner once I started my McChicken Burger diet. One a day on average...

[Jojo]

Talking about physical fitness in China, does anyone know how much gym memberships cost in the Tianjin/Beijing area?
Are there any good gyms in these areas that are not overly expensive.

I would die without a gym in China.

Thanks