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Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Better or worse for having come to Latin America?

or...

If you're on your way down/up/over to Latin America, how's is your health before coming?

Me...I put on a few kilos, due to age and good eats, but otherwise feel about the same health-wise as back home.

sickbag · Joined: 10 Jan 2005 Posts: 155 Location: Blighty

Pretty much the same as before I arrived. Fortunately, I rarely get ill - maybe a cold every couple of years. I have had one bad quesadilla con chicharron experience but otherwise have remained unscathed.

MELEE · Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2006 1:58 pm Post subject:

I arrived in Mexico at 25 over 8 years ago. I don't think I can make a valid comparison.
I do seem to get less colds, I chalk that up to climate.
I haven't had a good night's sleep in almost 3 years, but I can't blame that on Latin America. Wink

Ecrivain · Joined: 26 Aug 2006 Posts: 37 Location: Ohio (for now)

Timely question, considering flu season is starting up here in the Northern US. It seems like everyone around me is sniffling and sneezing. Personally, I don't get sick very often at all. My health is pretty good. In the past year I've lost quite a bit of weight (on purpose) and am more fit than ever. I hope to hear that when I get to Latin America I can get away from all of these sick people! Wink

nineisone · Joined: 23 Jun 2006 Posts: 187

Well two weeks into my Peru stay on Tuesday night I began running a fever but a full night sleeping cleared it and I blame it on the stress of new eating and sleeping patterns and not the external environment.

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

After 14 years of it, I'm not a vegetarian anymore, which I used to be for health reasons. I still don't eat much dead animal, but when I do it doesn't seem to give me the horrible stomach aches it used to.

One of my knees is very happy I came to where I could afford to get good medical care, and the other will be smiling in about 6 months too. Cool

I generally feel the same as I always have, except for having lost the chronic stomach troubles I used to have before coming to Latin America. One plus is that because I could never find a yoga class, I've started to practise a whole lot more at home, which has made me much more dedicated.

Still haven't found my way to the pool though. Wink

ls650 · Joined: 10 May 2003 Posts: 3484 Location: British Columbia

Other than my weight dropping about 12-15 pounds over two years due to eating less junk food, I'm as healthy as ever. (I've always enjoyed very good health.)

denise · Joined: 23 Apr 2003 Posts: 3419 Location: finally home-ish

Same as always. Same vegan diet (more difficult here, with more "oooops" situations...) and exercise. No snowboarding, though... Crying or Very sad

I get sick less often outside the US than in the US. I've had relatively few health problems in other countries.

d

danielita · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 281 Location: SLP

Same as before. I have dropped a few kilos because I don't eat as much junk as I did back home and I drink a lot more water than ever before. I don't drink as much either and I take my vitamin every day (something I just couldn't seem to do back home). Although I get less exercise than I did when before I came here. Something about not really wanting to exercise and sweat any more than I already am. It's tough to want to run when it's always hot. I have been fortunate not to have any run ins with bad tacos or quesadillas either.....

D

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

Seems to be a common theme here...that surprised me.

Aramas · Posted: Sat Oct 14, 2006 9:19 am Post subject:

It shouldn't really. As I understand it, most illness is stress related.

Guy Courchesne · Joined: 10 Mar 2003 Posts: 9650 Location: Mexico City

lozwich · Joined: 25 May 2003 Posts: 1536

I had two sties (styes??) in my right eye while in Mexico, Guy. Want me to put me off your lunch?? Laughing

My stomach problems are made worse by stress, but are mainly caused by an over enthusiastic bile duct. I simply cannot eat meat in my home country, particularly chicken. One piece of chicken sets off such a fire in my gut that I feel like I'm going to spontaneously combust! Could it be that the meat in Latin America comes more from animals bouncing around happily in fields than in mass produced plants, making them less fatty and hormone laden?

I also have the opportunity to vary the types of grains I eat here (corn, quinoa, rice, amaranth) in place of wheat, which is another thing that sets off the fires in my gut.

delacosta · Joined: 14 Apr 2004 Posts: 325 Location: zipolte beach

Like a few others I've put on a few extra kilos, but otherwise I think I'm in great shape. I'm mostly vegetarian and I think the fruit and veggies here in Mexico just taste better, really fresh.
I'm not exercising as much as I'd like to due to the heat. I overheat easily and it's just too difficult to find time in the day, with my schedule that gives me a break from 1-4 pm , the hottest time of the day.
I used to run in the mornings on the beach but lately I use the mornings to putter around the house and cook lunch.

MELEE · Posted: Wed Oct 18, 2006 3:49 pm Post subject: