Job Discussion Forums

[rxk22]

Chiba, at least the suburban part is very bland. Most people are fairly aloof/cold, and I don't care for this area very much. I think Yoko isn't really much of a change

[mitsui]

If you want progressive, move to Kobe.
People in Yokohama may think they are progressive, but it is not true.

Kawasaki has high taxes. It is just a suburb of Tokyo, as is Matsudo.
In Sagamihara, taxes are less.
I think it has to do with how many elderly live there as a percentage of the population.
Yokohama has a lot of elderly, which means many collect pensions and visit the doctor often.

[Black_Beer_Man]

[mitsui]

Well my mother is 67 and still waiting for Medicare, but in Japan people her age would already have health insurance.
America is behind on that.

Japanese compare themselves to China to make them look good.

Many foreign companies are based in Kobe since the quality of life is better than in Kanto.

[TokyoLiz]

Black_Beer_Man, white rice is good for nobody. I eat brown rice or soba with meals. Both have more flavour, fibre and nutrition than white rice. Brown is heavier, so I eat less while getting more nutrition. I recommend it highly.

[Black_Beer_Man]

[TokyoLiz]

You asked for diet advice, you got it.

Basmati is expensive, isn't it? And hard to come by. I eat genmai and black rice a lot. I use a rice cooker, no brainer.

[Jagariko]

Rice (whether white or brown) is quite calorific so I'd not eat it every day if you are trying to lose weight or, at least, watch your portion size. Udon is also very carb heavy. Be careful of low-fat products that are packed with sugar instead. Avoid fruit juice.

You need to exercise to spead up the weight loss and to make sure you are losing fat and not muscle weight.

Why don't you try an app such as MyFitnessPal: it allows you to scan the barcode of a lot of bought items to generate the calories and nutritional information. You can also search through other people's additions or add your own. You set your goal weight and how long you plan to take reaching eat and it tells you how many calories you should eat per day and whether your carb/fat/protein ratio is on target.

[horned]

[horned]

Meanwhile to the OP.

Cut down the carbs. Best way is to cook a big batch of rice and break it into serves consistent with dietary guidlines. You might be surprised by how little you need.

Another way of cutting carbs, as suggested by others here is genmai. Eat the same or more in terms of a bowl but enjoy better taste, more fiber and less calories because of the increase in fiber to carb ratio.

Don't just go genmai, go full zakkoku genmai. Make your own zakkoku blend - you can use commercial mixes which include millet, barley, sesame, various beans etc. I keep things simple and go for quinoa and amaranth. Widely available in any decent sized supermarket in any decent sized city.

Continuing the theme - go easy on the rice and go big on the okazu (sides). And when it comes to okazu, go big on the vegetables - especially the non-starchy ones.

If you have a lot of starchy veges, consider not including rice in the meal.

Feeling unsatisfied? Here's where umami rich foods come in - include a few pickles, brine olives, tsukemono, small amount of cheese, okazu miso, jerky, a small fatty, tasty sausage etc to nibble on between bites of veges. Sends a signal to the brain that dinner is done without you having to "fill up".

Remember that feeling full is highly influenced by psychology/brain chemistry/habit. Most Americans (and other colony country) people I have worked with tend to equate portion size and gut feel with satisfaction. They also tend to be the same types who are frequently unhealthily overweight. These are lifestyle habits that can be broken through understanding how your body works and what it actually needs.

If you're going to eat a big birthday cake and have chocolate... skip the booze that night. Or have the booze and just a piece of chocolate for dessert (I said a piece, not a bar...).

Finally as others said, oyaji grog is the way to go - shochu is extremely good value for money, easy to drink and very versatile. There are many kinds but be aware not all shochu is created equal - some are essentially filtered and cut rum (ie - made from sugar cane, not rice, barley etc). Nothing wrong with that, but the good stuff does taste better. If getting drunk is your primary concern, then disregard.

[RM1983]

Im on a kind of enforced diet which means no rice in the evenings. Basically just veg, tofu and occasionally a little meat. It is very cheap. In conjunction with the gym it is certainly starting to have an effect on me.

Actually I JUST stopped drinking coffee and eating processed sugar. It is really kicking my ass. Ive been very grouchy in work, when Im not trying to stay awake!

[Maitoshi]

Thanks, horned! Though I'm not the OP, I found this very insightful. I drink up the oyaji grog, though I'm not quite old enough to call myself ... never mind, I guess I am

[rxk22]

[Maitoshi]

Mook? Which region of the United States are you from, rxk22? Or has that term made it to other countries, too?

I have trouble containing my sillies every time I hear it. Mook. Ha!

[rxk22]