Korean Job Discussion Forums

buffygrrl1 · Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Location: Seoul

Hey I know its a silly question, but I've lived in Romania and England for extended periods of time and seemed to gain weight there. Was wondering if Korean food is considered healthier and not as fattening? I was also wondering if there were any english cardo or workout classes around Seoul?

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

Romania is a strange country when I was there I ate the same ting for 3 meals a day...small pork cutlet & potatoes...it was like they didn't have or eat anything else.

vino-luvva · Joined: 24 Nov 2005 Location: Seoul

Anywhere you go around here, sees ya hauling yaself up loads of stairs, whether its in the subways, shops, bars, etc etc. Its also gonna be soooo dam hot soon, that its almost impossible not to sweat a few kilos off. If your comparing korean food to english 'tucker' then korea tis gonna come out tops, being the more heathly option. Alot of korean dishes are vege based.
I would presume that most people whom come here, lose weight opposed to put weight on.

buffygrrl1 · Joined: 05 Jun 2007 Location: Seoul

Dev · Joined: 18 Apr 2006

It depends. I spend a lot of time at my desk, so I gained a lot of weight in Korea (as did other teachers I know).

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

I lost a ton of weight. Mainly because of smaller portions. When I got here, I didn't have much of an appetite for a month. In that time I guess my stomach shrank because I can't eat nearly as much as I used to.

On top of that, I eat about 3 times more vegetables here than I did back in the US. I don't have a car here so I gotta walk everywhere. If I didn't lose weight, then it would be a pain in the butt to find clothes the right size.

On the flipside, there are people that do nothing but eat fast food everyday because they don't like Korean food. I don't think they are losing any.

Treekat · Joined: 13 Mar 2007

I have been here 4 months and I have put on a ton of weight...

I found it really difficult adjusting to the fact that I sit around all day and had no friends. I ate instead.

Am now making an effort to go to the gym and eat less, but its really difficult when a lot of my time is spent in my apartment. I still don't have that many friends. Ha.

Most girls I know have put on weight since they got here. Guys seem to always do the opposite. It amazes me how thin all the Koreans are with their bakery and deep-fried obsessions.

normalcyispasse · Posted: Sun Jun 10, 2007 9:47 pm Post subject:

I have a hard time actually keeping weight on in Korea. I just don't find Korean food that good, and so I consequently don't eat enough. I don't live in a major city so it's difficult to get truly tasty, healthful food.

tiger fancini · Joined: 21 Mar 2006 Location: Testicles for Eyes

I'm one who has put on weight here. There are a few reasons for this, and I know why I have developed a bit of a belly here (I'm a skinny guy, the weight goes straight to my stomach Crying or Very sad

). Firstly, I work in a public school, so spend a LOT of time sat on my ass. Secondly, I love Korean food, and probably eat a little too much here - especially stuff like mandu. I'm also really into the drinking culture, and drink a lot of beer. Korea has made me lazy too, and I now actively seek out the escalators or elevators to go upstairs, sometimes as little as two flights. However, my poor excuse for this is that sometimes the stairways are pretty filthy and I don't like stepping over all the spit.

spliff · Joined: 19 Jan 2004 Location: Khon Kaen, Thailand

Anybody farting more since they've been here?

Dev · Joined: 18 Apr 2006

pkang0202 · Joined: 09 Mar 2007

shaunew · Joined: 17 Apr 2007 Location: Calgary

I've lost weight. Lots of walking and I take the stairs at the subway for the extra effort.

sojourner1 · Posted: Mon Jun 11, 2007 3:47 am Post subject:

Drinking alcohol has allot to do with gaining weight. For those who like smoking something not sold here and don't get to do that anymore, they tend to temporarily get a drinking habit which puts on a few extra pounds. When you leave Korea and able to do that other thing, then you don't drink and end up losing those few extra pounds, that's if you don't go nuts with the scrumptious hot food found in English speaking countries.

It's hard to believe that a clear liquid like gin or vodka could put the pounds on, but it sure can do just that due to it being high calerie. I think I gained 10 pounds in 6 months of being in Korea due to drinking. I didn't drink at home while I ate more food than I do here without gaining weight and also lost weight at times too.

danby_ll · Joined: 06 Dec 2006

I've gained weight, mostly because of Korean drinking culture. It's not even so much the amout of alcohol you consume, but it's that Koreans eat so freakin' much when they drink!! Go for supper, eat until you're stuffed, move to a bar, order 4 or 5 sidedishes. I don't understand how people say the portions are much smaller here - I think they're about the same or bigger!

But it's true that the food is healthier.