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Changing in China

losingitinchina
losingitinchina Posts: 5 Member
edited February 6 in Introduce Yourself
Hi! My name is Maria.
I've been living in China since August and I've lost weight just from the move - obviously the food is SO different here. I like how it feels so I intend to start moving my *kitten* and monitoring my eating habits to make sure my body keeps changing for the better!
I look forward to reading your stories and seeing your progress. I hope you'll be able to do the same with me!

Replies

  • bernicesmission
    bernicesmission Posts: 100
    hi maria
    where in china are you? I am also in china have been for 8 years! add me hope we can share weight loss and china stories haha
  • nataliebabbage
    nataliebabbage Posts: 1
    Hi,

    I live in Shanghai (4 years) and just started this a few weeks ago. Doing ok and on track, but finding food logging really hard and I eat out a lot and hard to work out portion size or find the foods. Dim sum ok, but Sichuan hard. Think will prob try and cook more..

    I've been trying to ask some of the western take away places (ones that do salads and claim to be healthy) for calorie info but really unhelpful so far.

    The moving part is easy here as lots of good gyms, but my running outside stalled a bit due to pollution and not liking running with too many people on street (that sounds like a lame excuse now written down!)

    Good luck!
  • GymPoet
    GymPoet Posts: 107 Member
    The Weight Watchers in Shanghai has some good materials in English on calories of local Chinese food. You could join briefly to get the materials, or stay for the camaraderie.
  • losingitinchina
    losingitinchina Posts: 5 Member
    I'm currently in Changde, Hunan. Yes, let's share China stories!
    I agree with ya about the food logging, I'm not sure I could ask one of the street food stalls how many calories there are in any given dish haha. I'm considering taking up running myself, the pollution isn't bad here most days but I'm with you on the whole 'too many people outside' thing!
  • bernicesmission
    bernicesmission Posts: 100
    i had this same problem, it means i cook everything now, supermarkets and pakaging have calories but in kilojoules just divide by 4 then just add it quick add calories it means you dont get the macros but its better than nothing.
    The problem i found about cooking was the social aspect of eating with friends but now alot of my chinese friends love coming over and cooking together and who would have thought chinese people absolutely love quiche??? haha
  • bernicesmission
    bernicesmission Posts: 100
    I'm currently in Changde, Hunan. Yes, let's share China stories!
    I agree with ya about the food logging, I'm not sure I could ask one of the street food stalls how many calories there are in any given dish haha. I'm considering taking up running myself, the pollution isn't bad here most days but I'm with you on the whole 'too many people outside' thing!

    About running try and find a running group, i dont know if you ever heard of hashing, its a social drinking running club... its an international group, most countries have them we have one that i attend in hainan maybe you cxan check that out!

    Also as im in quite a remote small city we dont have any access to western foods so i shop on www.amazon.cn sometimes i can get cereal and tuna etc I prefer it to taobao because you pay cash on deleievry and if you spend more than 29rmb its free delivery, i get books, food, gifts etc i'm abit of an amazon addict!
  • jofjltncb6
    jofjltncb6 Posts: 34,415 Member
    I can't even imagine how tough it must be for you to try to log accurately. Best of luck.
  • Zelinna
    Zelinna Posts: 207 Member
    I lived in Guangzhou for two years, I have been back since 2006. I can't believe how time flies! I am sure it has all changed.

    I wasn't logging when I was there but you can try to guestimate. My sister lives in Hong Kong (we went together and she has never moved back) and managees to log pretty accruately. Although it is probably a bit easier in Hong Kong.

    Being active there is prett easy. I had a bike as my main source of transportation, plus there were a lot of very active expats.
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