Korean Job Discussion Forums

[michaelambling]

Two years ago, I smoked and drank like mad. But about a year ago, I quit smoking, cut down on my drinking, and began exercising.

I have roughly the same routine here, but I feel thinner, healthier, and more energetic. I think it might be because my office is on the fifth floor of a building with no elevator that is on top of a very steep hill. That and the lack of cheap/good cheese has made my lifestyle very healthy.

So, how about you?

[eIn07912]

i have healthcare here, unlike my life in the states (damn corporate healthcare nazis) im sure that has something to do with it.

ive never been real fond of drinking either, so the lack of mary jane here has caused me to be healthier than before too. and with all my free time ive become a gym nut. no way to make a decent living and have exercise time at home.

so yes. i am healthier here.

[SOOHWA101]

No, I was much healthier back home.

This is why this is my last year.

[Perceptioncheck]

Well, I'm healthier in terms of what I'm doing; like eIn said, I have a lot more free time to hit the gym (which is great for my physical health but not so good for my mental health) and I'm a lot less inclined to drink beer here because, frankly speaking, it tastes like ass.

However, sometimes I feel that all the toxic dust and pollution really negates any benefit I get from working out and eating right.

So put me down as a fence-sitter, thanks.

[Kurtz]

Unhealthier, too crowded to want to go out on long hikes, too many cars and dangerous drivers on the roads to want to go on long road rides, hard to get long MTB rides in as crowded and not enough trails to link up, too many junk food temptations in very close proximity to where I live, a pizza shop downstairs......in general I eat healthy Korean food but that's undone by all the junk food, don't eat junk food you say! that's a pleasure in life I don't want to give up in this country that gives me very little pleasure.

[Pwillig]

So far, so good. I do my weight lifting at a local gym that has the essentials. I don't want to run on the machines because I haven't seen the first person run over 4 mph, and I like to do high-intensity intervals. I hope to start taking either taekwondo or hapkido soon, so that should fill in.

Sure, I take in way more refined carbs than I would at home, but I think the insane amounts of kimchi and spicy food burn 'em up :-p

I also get health insurance here, which my previous employer in the states withheld from me for my duration of 11 months working full-time. I'll be sure to desecrate her grave, and get her kids hooked on meth.

Now if it would only warm up...

[greekvvedge]

smog, nowhere to exercise, much less diverse diet. all of these things plus an inclination to stay inside have made me much less healthy in korea.

[kingplaya4]

Your health insurance here is more "kamge" insurance than anything else.

[MrRogers]

pollution (out in the countryside),

food which is carcinogenic, full of salt, and rots your gut, bones, teeth,

lack of quality vitamins, supplements, and healthier food available in U.S.,

tons of insecticide spray, almost everyday for months into late October,

ondol heating which emits formaldehyde and other chemicals from the fake flooring materials,

mold growing in living bunker along with insecticide and chemical poisoning

all made me feel like yeah - this was not a healthy place to live!

[greekvvedge]

I hope that the people who voted yes don't live in Seoul.

[toonchoon]

i work less, exercise more, walk around more, drink about the same, and am generally stress free. in good shape, get laid on a regular basis, and have great friends.

i'd say i'm much healthier then i every was.

[MattAwesome]

I dont exercise as regularly. I do drink and am exposed to smoke a lot more. I also can down a pizza school pizza at any time. but i maintain my athletic figure. just the lifestyle choices arent optimal. however, it is a good life ^^

[egrog1717]

In some ways yes, in some ways no...

Definetly have developed some more muscle mass from stairs/hills/etc in my legs... Add that to a bit of weight loss and it seems good...

However, the food here has absolutly no nutrients (they don't fortify anything, so even milk or juice - which is chucked full of vitamins back home - is absolute crap here by comparison).... Add that to air polution and like other posters have said all that excercise and eating "well" probably isn't doing as much good as it should be...

[No_hite_pls]

[Pwillig]

There's a GNC in my local E-Mart where I'm gonna pick up some vitamins ro make up for my lack thereof here. It's not as good as getting 'em from food, but it helps.