An ounce more, is that allowed?

I have never really been overweight in my entire life. A normal life, a normal diet with the necessary sports (football and referee) kept me at a weight that corresponded to the existing “scientific guidelines”. Well, during holidays and my business trips that "normal" sometimes came under threat, but there was never really any question of being overweight.

Now I am retired and live in Thailand and the normal living pattern of the Netherlands is completely different here, so that there is still a slight form of weight gain. Yes, call it a beer belly. It is not to panic immediately, but some concern is in order.

Thicker and thicker

Because how is that? On holiday, in fact, everything is allowed, eat a lot, drink a lot and often little exercise. This also happens to holidaymakers in Thailand, it is cozy and also cheap, so soon: “Nong khap, another beer please!” A few more carefree, because after the holiday, back in the Netherlands, we're going to line again, aren't we?

If you live here, you can of course think that it is a very long vacation and in the beginning it is. You eat three times a day – because you're so used to that – and you drink like it's always the weekend, so too much. Over time, that will change. Due to less exercise, so less energy consumption, I only eat twice a day, sometimes light, sometimes more extensive, and I also try to limit drinking.

I used to have a beer during lunch and a yellow rascal like that also went in at five o'clock in the afternoon. I stopped doing that. If I drink at all, it's never before nine o'clock in the evening. Not every evening, because I have also imposed a restriction on myself not to drink beer a few days a week. Doesn't always work, because then another friend comes along - sometimes one, who is on holiday - or it is so cozy during a pool billiards tournament that it gets a bit out of hand again.

Sports

The least you can do is get more exercise, but then what? Don't start talking about "sexercise", also good, not from that, but you don't lose weight from it. Playing football and refereeing is also a thing of the past, it has to be something different.

It is therefore logical that the gyms do good business. Many expats regularly go to such a gym to do all kinds of exercises (walking on a treadmill, lifting weights, maybe a little Thai boxing) on ​​all possible devices in the hope of keeping their weight under control. I once went there to see if it was something for me.

So no, I didn't like to run so stupidly on a conveyor belt in a sweat. If you do it at all, you shouldn't go alone either, because with the slightest excuse it's: "No, just not today". If you go with a friend or group of friends, then there is the natural urge not to give up and you go.

Disgust

In my aversion to those gyms I am now somewhat supported by an article in the Bangkok Post, which states that visiting a gym does not meet the stated goal for many people. According to that article, six months is about the period that someone neatly makes the way to the gym and then drops out in frustration. Their excuse is usually: “I don't have enough free time” or “I don't notice this kind of exercise”.

It is often not the gym, you can indeed do all kinds of exercises, but you have to know what you are doing and especially what you want. Just take a look and you will see that there are quite a few visitors hanging around, relaxing a bit on the treadmill or lifting some weights (not too heavy) or doing some other things and then thinking that they will lose weight and be in good shape to stay.

Stay serious

You should approach the visit to a gym seriously. Concentrate on what you are doing, set goals with a professional trainer and then stick to the right training to achieve those goals. An incorrect approach or technique produces disappointing results and, what's worse, can even cause physical problems.

An intensive visit to a gym is – according to that article – not necessary. Experts agree that 30 minutes of “moderate” exercise every other day is enough to improve cardiovascular function (heart and blood vessels), lower cholesterol and blood pressure, lose weight and relieve stress. Reduce.

Not for me

And I quite agree with the latter. No gym for me, but I walk every other day. Not 30 minutes, but an hour or an hour and a half. To be fair, I have to add that it doesn't always work out, because – as said before – an excuse not to go is easy to find.

So keep an eye on your weight, but looking in a mirror or standing on a scale is not enough. Perhaps even more important is to have the values ​​of the other functions mentioned checked regularly. That's what it's about.

So: “Nong khap, bring just one more, one for the road! Cheers"

– Repost message –

About this blogger

Gringo

Bert Gringhuis (1945), born and raised in Almelo in the beautiful Twente. Later lived for many years in Amsterdam and Alkmaar, working in export for various companies. I first came to Thailand in 1980 and immediately fell in love with the country. Been back many times since then and moved to Thailand after my (early) retirement as a widower. I have been living there for 22 years now with my somewhat younger Thai lady Poopae.
My first experiences in Thailand as a kind of newsletter sent to family, friends and acquaintances, which later appeared under the name Gringo on Thailandblog. Many, many articles followed those first stories and that has grown into an almost daily hobby.
In the Netherlands still an avid footballer and football referee, but the years are starting to tell and in Thailand still avid, but the pool billiards is really of inferior quality, ha ha!

Read the latest articles here

Older posts from this blogger

• IsaanJanuary 15 2025Chaiyaphum, also Isan
• Food and drinkJanuary 9 2025The pomelo in Thailand
• SightsJanuary 7 2025The caves of Pang Mapha
• SightsJanuary 3 2025Phetchaburi, a brilliant diamond