An American in Asia

[caserene]

Hello-

5'4" (161cm) HW: 112 (51kg) CW: 101 (46kg) GW: 99 (45kg) UGW: 95 (43kg)

I also came here from the brouhaha over Kate Upton and lurked long enough until it died down to join and then ultimately post an intro.
I am an American transplant now living in Asia- I work in fashion, can sometimes be in the public eye, so image is quite important even if just by association.

where I am, the women are skinny, skinny, skinny. In fact they say that this may be one of the only places in the world where people are skinnier now than ever in history. Well! It's great motivation to lose weight!

I have always struggled with yo-yo-ing weight, which makes it all the worse as I am petite in frame. Even though it usually is just a few pounds it shows up in my face and makes it very obvious. I also carry pretty much ALL my fat in my hips, thighs and butt so I can look like a starvation camp survivor up top but a beluga down below. I have thighs that have toughed my entire life-- I don't know if I will ever have a space there due to their shape (would lipo fix that when I`m at a comfortable weight??)

I have been successful in dieting many times but ALWAYS go back to bad habits (bingeing but not purging) and gaining it back. I ate TERRIBLY as a child of the 80s growing up in the US... McDonalds everyday for lunch, pizza at night, and eating handfuls of cookies while sitting in front of the TV all day. If I wasn't a late bloomer with an active metabolism I surely would have been overweight as a youngster.

This time I am very determined to keep it off when I reach my UGW. This community has already given me the motivation to STOP YO-YOing. That can't be good for me at all...

Problem areas: Eating when bored, liking the feeling of a full stomach. Not being able to eat things in moderation (I either eat it all or not at all...)

Things that have helped:
Elimination diet. First I cut out diet coke, then processed wheat foods. Then I cut grains. I finally cut all chemical sugars which meant bye to my beloved gum. But I realized it had been what made me feel sick all the time and gave me so much indegestion!! I do low carb + watch my calories (SO important!)

ALSO, what got me kickstarted was the "Carb Fast" which I did for 3 days. Amazing!

And finally, "personifying your temptation" where a poster here suggested you "fight" with someone else rather than yourself. I'll post more about that in the appropriate threads, but those were extremely helpful tips I learned here!

Thanks everyone---

[Lola]

Welcome and congrats for joining us!

I know that you are so right, Asian women are sooooo skinny, Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese, all of them)

Any meal plans? I am curious what your daily menu looks like, in Asia? it must be so different than in Europe or America.

Sushi is my recommendation, if you haven't taste it yet.

[AnastasiaB]

Wonderful to have you here!

[caserene]

Originally Posted by Lola

Welcome and congrats for joining us!

Any meal plans? I am curious what your daily menu looks like, in Asia? it must be so different than in Europe or America.

Sushi is my recommendation, if you haven't taste it yet.

There are pros and cons to living in Asia and dieting. Generally, people eat very healthy and portions are small but the region comes with caveats:

ALL THE DAMN RICE. I don't eat it.
Corn sprinkled on everything (salad, sandwich, pizza...enough with the corn)
No leftovers. It's tough to get restaurants to give you doggy bags so you end up feeling guilt-tripped into eating everything on the table.
No side-dish substitues. It's not common that a restaurant will grant your request for veggies instead of fries. Customer isn't king!

My "safe" foods here are:

soft-boiled, salted eggs (my favorite! they are exquisite)
raw fish, especially tuna, salmon and squid
smoked salmon
pig and cow tongue (I know it sounds gross, but it's very yummy)
tripa (cow stomach?)
tofu (and sesame tofu and peanut tofu...it's like dessert!)
seaweed, like wakame
red beans
pumpkin

Basically everything that's NOT noodles is very expensive...esp. fruit (the cheapest I see apples right now are $3 per apple!)

Anyway, my diet is going well thus far

[Lola]

Thart is why in Asia buying someone fruit is like a gift, especially if you buy a watermelon, let's say

Cultural differences are so funny

[Anastasia]

Originally Posted by caserene

I also carry pretty much ALL my fat in my hips, thighs and butt so I can look like a starvation camp survivor up top but a beluga down below. I have thighs that have toughed my entire life-- I don't know if I will ever have a space there due to their shape (would lipo fix that when I`m at a comfortable weight??)

This could have been on of my posts! I have absolutely the same problem, although I have no petite body frame... I think it is rather huge.
I also don't now if I will ever be able to have a gap between my tighs... but I will try!

So, welcome to the forums!

[Skinny Gurl]

Welcome!! I know what you mean about Asia - even small Americans are "fat" compared to most of them.

[caserene]

Originally Posted by Skinny Gurl

Welcome!! I know what you mean about Asia - even small Americans are "fat" compared to most of them.

Sometimes they say to me , "you*can't* be American, you're not fat enough!". I take that as a compliment

[classichic]

Originally Posted by caserene

Sometimes they say to me , "you*can't* be American, you're not fat enough!". I take that as a compliment

wow!

[Intrinsicality]

Originally Posted by caserene

Hello-

I have always struggled with yo-yo-ing weight, which makes it all the worse as I am petite in frame. Even though it usually is just a few pounds it shows up in my face and makes it very obvious. I also carry pretty much ALL my fat in my hips, thighs and butt so I can look like a starvation camp survivor up top but a beluga down below. I have thighs that have toughed my entire life-- I don't know if I will ever have a space there due to their shape (would lipo fix that when I`m at a comfortable weight??)

Sounds like me too! - your current weight is my goal weight at the moment - but wow - are you telling my thighs are STILL going to touch?!?!

Horror.