Conversing with my flatmates can be really interesting, particularly the girl who has never been outside of Japan (Korea does not count, since many people speak Japanese) or, really, ever seemingly thought hard about anything besides boybands. Usually I can take almost anything in stride, but one tiny little comment while watching a show on TV about personal trainers really, really got to me.
'Eeew, look at that girl's muscles....I, like, want my bones to show'.
The brief look on my face, before I managed to recover control, might have scared her. I had to make an excuse and leave the room.
I know for a fact she lacks the will to actually accomplish that ideal, so shouldn't let it worry me.
But what makes me so incredibly angry is that here (as all over the world) the goal seems to be skinny. Not fit. Not healthy. Just skinny. God, lets just make ourselves even more powerless, shall we?
My flatmate asks me all the time why I don't get colds, am full of energy, and can walk around the city for hours. How I can run 10k, have good skin and attract nice Japanese guys (who supposedly all want skinny girlfriends... right).
She is not at all overweight, but shopping with her is difficult, as after two hours she is tired. Her acne bothers her a lot as well, but she still keeps on eating food from the conbini everyday. No exercise either (as it is either 'mendokusai' or there are not enough hot guys at the location).
75% of the food I eat is either home-cooked or unprocessed/raw. I run as often as possible, including long evening runs with the Hash House Harriers, and walk at least 30 minutes everyday. Weight-training and full stretching sessions (a remnant of my competitive fencing days) whenever I can fit them in.
She was shocked to hear that I work out and control my diet not because I hate my body, but because I respect it. Long, strong muscles. Endurance. The glorious feeling of running with the sun and wind on your back. The beauty of a perfectly timed disengage, and the power of a lunge. A plate full of fresh vegetables. These are joyous things!
I know a lot of expat women struggle with feelings of being 'fat' in Japan, and it takes a lot of strength to continue reminding yourself that you are healthy, strong and have a different body structure entirely.
Okay, rant over. On a more useful note, I recently found this little chart, and wanted to share it.
i admire u for being able to run 10k!
ReplyDeletei am trying to do yoga more but i am not strong enough to do a lot yet
working on it though!!
Good for you! Running is not for everyone, but yoga sounds really awesome!
ReplyDeleteMaybe it's just the guys I date, but no one has ever had an explicit problem with me being a bit bigger than most Japanese girls. No one's ever been like, "Ribs turn me on!" and I certainly don't want that for myself.
ReplyDeleteIn regard to your chart, I like how all my cravings can be solved with nuts or goat milk. Can you even get goat milk in Japan???
Hahaha, me too! We must be craving the same things... I have definitely seen goats cheese, may that would count?
DeleteAgreed on the ribs comment, none of my dates have ever seemed freaked by my size... I really think this is just something girls tell themselves
I think part of this is where the theory of "guy's girls" and "girl's girls" comes into play. I was sad to hear that your flatmate just wants her bones to show though. :(
ReplyDeleteWill you share your diet with us one day? Also, do you have green smoothies or juice?
Me too... fortunately she lacks the discipline to actually starve herself, so no need for worry.
DeleteMy diet for the most part is pretty boring to write about (ya know, brown rice, lots of vegetables, fruit, beans, tofu, green tea, olive oil etc..). I do not really do smoothies or juicing simply because of how expensive fruit is here...one day, when my paycheck allows it ;p However I do make homemade soup a lot, which is close ;p
Hello! Just wanted to introduce myself as a new reader of your blog. I really love just about everything you write about, this post on healthy lifestyle stuff definitely included. I also find that eating right means I have more energy and get fewer colds! I'm wondering what you do for lunch if you don't grab conbini stuff? (since it's a concern I have too, in anticipation of moving to Japan this fall!).
ReplyDeleteHi Seri, thank you so much for the lovely compliment :)Where will you be moving to?
ReplyDeleteI tend to cook about 3 times a week, and make double or triple portions which I then use for bento. I do not make fancy bento (just usually brown rice and some kind of stirfry, curry etc.. with tofu/beans/eggs, and veggies) and bring along snacks to work (fruit, energy bars).It also saves a TON of money, as I usually spend under 2000en a week on food.
Ohhh, that's awesome! Bentos of leftovers sounds really good. As for where, ideally Yokohama to do a language program! But if I don't get the funding together for that, teaching English until I can pass N2 in Dec... and if that happens, who knows where I'll get sent!! If it is Yokohama I'm hoping to live in a sharehouse like you so I appreciate your insights there. :)
DeleteHi! I've been reading your blog for a few weeks now and totally digging it. This post is really interesting because I was in the same position as your roommate (wanting to be SKINNY ONLY, no change in diet, no exercising, always getting sick...u get the drift) for YEARS. Two years ago I realize this is stupid and started working out and eating healthy instead. I am now obsessed with working out and being fit (in a good way) and cannot image going back to the being skinny mentality.
ReplyDeleteThe skinny mentality is front and center in all Asian societies and I don't think people will change to adopt the western mentality anytime soon.
Good for you!
DeleteI do not think this is exclusively an Asian issue, the whole skinny-thing seems to be almost worldwide, unfortunately ^^;
I would love to run with you! I want to have another go at a full marathon (I didn't manage to finish the last one and it totally knocked my confidence...) I saw an amazing poster once that said "strong is the new skinny", it could be my mantra. I was told by a lovely lady at the gym that my BMI and fat% were just fine, I was thrilled (and, yes, a bit smug), so not all Japanese women favor skinny (I'm short and curvy, thanks to my Irish heritage), some are quite sensible about it! It was especially thrilling as it followed a run in with some skinny jeans (honestly, it was horrific!!), I am not made for skinny anything!
ReplyDeleteAh yes, skinny jeans... How they taunt those of us with hips 笑
ReplyDeleteI gave up on marathons a while ago (knees gone, ooops!) but would totally be up for a run with you!
Wow, you're so on point..! And that image you found is a great reference for solving those cravings. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteYour flatmate must drive you up the wall with talk like that though :/ Especially when she doesn't seem to be putting forth any effort. Leaving the room was a good idea lol
She doesn't go on about it all the time... but every once in a while she comes out with extraordinary questions on the lines of 'Are foreigners ever shy?' or 'Are there boy bands in other countries?'... very odd, since most of my friends are very cosmopolitan！
DeleteHallo! I discovered your blog this morning, and I've whiled away a few very pleasant moments reading through older posts that made me grin rather often.
ReplyDeleteI go for long walks of four to six hours. This shocks my female students, who prefer a 15-minute walk on a treadmill, followed by ... a konbini dinner. Another interesting point is their response: "Why do you walk so far? You don't have to lose weight!"
Errr. No. I walk because I need exercise and I enjoy getting out and I love discovering new places. Then I go home and eat fresh fruit, and then I eat chocolate.
Balance is important, right? :D
Amen to that, Rurousha!
DeleteWalking is awesome, and free to boot... if you ignore the costs that come from finding cute,tasty little cafes on said walks ;p