Job Discussion Forums

[Baba Alex]

[yaramaz]

It's even worse because the Canadian teachers are so morbidly obese too.

[Baba Alex]

[yaramaz]

I did once, but the needle stuck to my hand and then my hand got stuck to a pole and I stayed stuck to the pole for a week and got really bored and couldn't be bothered to try it again. I'm still there, if you want to buy me a beer- both hands are now stuck so you'll have to provide a tall table and a straw. It's rough being a sticky, morbidly obese Canadian these days.

[justme]

Um, got a match?

[yaramaz]

I do, actually, but can't reach it. Back pocket, by the can opener and spare syringe.

Found Jesus lately, Justme?

[Golightly]

I've found Jesus.

He was down the back of the sofa, covered in fluff and boiled sweets.

[dmb]

[phoebe caulfield]

Who says that you have to finish your portions? Toronto portions are great! Try eating in Texas...

[yaramaz]

Back when I was a Canadian who actually lived in Canada (very very long ago), I used to just eat half and take the rest home for breakfast. It made for some most excellent breakfasts- I still love waking up to breakfasts of reheaed enchiladas or spicy tofu with ginger bok choy or red Thai chicken curries... so much more interesting than cornflakes.

On a similar note, my mother loves coming to see me here in Turkey because we can eat out without feeling stuffed and gross afterwards. The portion sizes are just right for her. Small but perfectly formed.

[Baba Alex]

[justme]

[ghost]

Sugar is the real culprit for weight gain.

Just drinking a can of coke a day (which might not seem much, but is...) will add between 15-20 pounds in a year.

Personal example: Ghost used to drink a can of coke with every meal in Turkey, and the weight on the frame was around 80-83 kilos (back in 2003).

In 2005 ghost gave up coke, increased exercise to 1-2 hours a day total and went back down to a more normal weight of 72-73 kilos on the 6.2 frame.

In Korea now, the 'thinnest' country with Japan in the developed world - if you look at what Koreans eat and don't eat, we can learn some salutary lessons.

1. Koreans almost never eat dessert - if a dessert is given it will be some fruit.

2. Normal meals are taken without drinking liquids. Yes, you read it right. Koreans don't normally eat and drink at the same time - they think that is unhealthy. They will drink water after meals in small metal cups, which are ubiquitous in all the restaurants.

3. Portion size - everything is smaller in Korea. Even for those unfortunates who wish to buy a can of coke, they will be surprised to see that coke cans come in tiny size Korean sizes - about half the size of the normal coke can you see in the Western countries.

4. Korean adults don't normally eat between meals. The only exception to that is when they go to a Korean Pub, and then all kinds of salty foods are served with the drinks. And Korean men can really consume a lot of beer - but few of these Koreans have 'pot bellies' so common in the west.

5. Look at the snacks Korean adults eat in the staff room - pieces of fruit, rice cakes (which are very low in fat and sugar) and other unidentifiable foods which are healthy.

Ghost would also like to dispel the myth about carbs (carbohydrates). Koreans and Japanese get about 60-70% of their calories from rice - and white rice at that. They do not get fat. The problem is not carbs (which the body needs more than protein) but what goes with the carbs and the portions.

The 'morbidly obese Canadians' who continue to find excuses for their conditions should get off the couch, and try to copy modified versions of the Korean diet as outlined above.

Don't buy that junk food, because if is in the house, you will consume it. Humans are weak.

Ghost in Korea

[justme]

[yaramaz]