Slimming On a "Japanese" Diet

[Mulboyne]

[IkemenTommy]

Ah, the typical Japanese "dieting" which consists of starving oneself and very little exercising (i.e. going to the gym and working out).

[alicia454]

Japanese diet is very unhealthy compared to most other diets. Lots of Japanese food is deep fried and/or full of sugar (vinegar, sauces, ginger, ...) and/or mayonnaise. Japanese do not eat enough fresh fruits and vegetables in their diet compared to other Asians, and are priced much higher here. (Typically, I can get fresh produce year-round in Canada for less than 1/4 of the price here.) And there is a severe lack of fibre in the Japanese diet, especially with the lack of whole grains in pasta, ramen, udon, breads, and other baked goods; and the over consumption of white rice instead of nutritious genmai (brown rice) which is also overpriced here.

Personally I have gained nearly 10 pounds since moving to Japan, despite the fact that I am much more physically active, and walk approximately 5km each day to/from work.

Don't get me wrong, I love seafood and especially sashimi. And natto, miso, soba, wakame, pickled vegetables, and many other traditional Japanese dishes are all really tasty and nutritious. But these only make up a small part of the typical Japanese diet.

As a Portuguese, I guess I have to take some responsibility, since tempura was introduced in Japan by Portuguese missionaries and traders.

[Mike Oxlong]

Could you pass the Pringles, Ali?

[Takechanpoo]

Eat sashimi of cuttlefish and octopus, which are high-protein and low-calorie.
Or Saki-Ika as a mid-afternoon snack.

[Catoneinutica]

As a Portuguese, I guess I have to take some responsibility, since tempura was introduced in Japan by Portuguese missionaries and traders.

Tell that to a nihonjin and you invariably get that, eh... honto? response. Over ten years here and I still can't figure out if they honestly hadn't known that.

Castella they all know.

[Taro Toporific]

I can't find the trendy BANANA DIET post so I will just take a dump here.

[GomiGirl]

We can't buy bananas for love nor money in our super lately. This stupid banana diet thing has caused a run on them and they are sold out every where. We just like to eat them normally - not gorge ourselves on them.

Personally I think it was some marketing by the banana importing association or something. Usually these kinds of "diets" are supported by some interest group or another - not that I am cynical of course.

[alicia454]

We can't buy bananas for love nor money in our super lately. This stupid banana diet thing has caused a run on them and they are sold out every where. We just like to eat them normally - not gorge ourselves on them.

Wow, I thought it was just my bad luck lately why I have been having difficulties buying bananas. I love to make bananas smoothies with some additional fruit, juice, milk, and lots of crushed ice. Especially in the summer.

[Cyka UchuuJin]

[james]

We can't buy bananas for love nor money in our super lately. This stupid banana diet thing has caused a run on them and they are sold out every where. We just like to eat them normally - not gorge ourselves on them.

Personally I think it was some marketing by the banana importing association or something. Usually these kinds of "diets" are supported by some interest group or another - not that I am cynical of course.

i was wondering why the hell there were so many bananas sitting in the hallway when i got home tonight. now i know.

and i totally agree with you on that second point. wasn't there some b.s. natto diet on t.v. just a scant few months ago?

[Jack]

[quote="alicia454"]Japanese diet is very unhealthy compared to most other diets. Lots of Japanese food is deep fried and/or full of sugar (vinegar, sauces, ginger, ...) and/or mayonnaise. Japanese do not eat enough fresh fruits and vegetables in their diet compared to other Asians, and are priced much higher here. (Typically, I can get fresh produce year-round in Canada for less than 1/4 of the price here.) And there is a severe lack of fibre in the Japanese diet, especially with the lack of whole grains in pasta, ramen, udon, breads, and other baked goods]

Why does Japan only attracts the most morons of all the gaijins? Are you out of your fucking mind? Japanese food is unhealthy? That's a first. Japanese food is one of the healthiest foods in the world.

[Taro Toporific]

Are you out of your fucking mind? Japanese food is unhealthy? That's a first.

[floatl][/floatl]
Nope. It is at least a second.

Salt filled, MSG,PCBladen, cadmium tainted, asbestoscoated, mercury filled, ....


[/floatl]

[james]

Why does Japan only attracts the most morons of all the gaijins?

speak for yourself.

Are you out of your fucking mind? Japanese food is unhealthy? That's a first. Japanese food is one of the healthiest foods in the world.

like any culture's diet, it depends on what cross-section of it you select from. one could easily argue that a mayo-laden soba-yaki burger, a box of pretz and a can of boss coffee from popura are "japanese food".

sure, you're not gonna get fat eating sashimi, vinegared fresh vegetables etc, but have you seen what passes for "meals" for a lot of people here? traditional japanese food is healthy but more and more that is not the consumed staple diet.

[wuchan]

sure, you're not gonna get fat eating sashimi, vinegared fresh vegetables etc, but have you seen what passes for "meals" for a lot of people here? traditional japanese food is healthy but more and more that is not the consumed staple diet.

sooooooooo true. BUT this is why 12yo girls have boobs bigger than their moms here (thank you KFC). The old staple miso, rice, vegies, and raw fish diet will keep you alive for ever.........although, you may get osteoporosis from the lack of calcium. Moderation is the key, salt is good in small amounts. Same as fat, sun, booze, etc....

[IkemenTommy]

I can't find the trendy BANANA DIET post so I will just take a dump here.

Finally, they adopted what I have been advertising for years.

Banana is rich in nutrients, and it is full of carbohydrates. I have been eating only that for breakfast, every day.

Yeah, they can eat my banana for a healthy diet.

[Dragonette]

speak for yourself. like any culture's diet, it depends on what cross-section of it you select from. one could easily argue that a mayo-laden soba-yaki burger, a box of pretz and a can of boss coffee from popura are "japanese food".

sure, you're not gonna get fat eating sashimi, vinegared fresh vegetables etc, but have you seen what passes for "meals" for a lot of people here? traditional japanese food is healthy but more and more that is not the consumed staple diet.

Right on, James!
Left to his own devices, my Resident Ronin would survive on mountains of instant ramen, yakisoba, natto, miso, udon, rice, those obscene pink fish-dogs and other imported monstrosities, with gallons of shochu to wash it all back up. We don't make sushi, sashimi at home, it's a special-occasion pricy outing.

He wasn't fat, but was starting to get that soft-bodied way-too-much-soy look, so a few months ago I dumped all my tofu-low fat blah blah preconceptions, did a lot of research and radically updated my food choices. Whole milk, butter, coconut oil, the works! He has since lost 10 lbs, and in spite of a few "drink with the boys-til-you-drop" backslides, he looks and feels much better now.

[james]

i'd be fat too if I lived in the city. i write this as I stand in line at mcdick's. inaka diet has been very good for my overall physique but now and then i need to get away and eat some empty calories.

[Cyka UchuuJin]

i'd be fat too if I lived in the city. i write this as I stand in line at mcdick's. inaka diet has been very good for my overall physique but now and then i need to get away and eat some empty calories.

absolutely!

cobb salad at hard rock cafe is my vice.

i do love traditional japanese food, and my body has definitely adjusted to mostly. but i do spend a lot of money on fresh salads from the supermarket and drink one of those fiber jelly supplement things every day (and now my daily wheatgrass shot), because as much my body in general likes japanese food, my digestive system in specific has a hard time with it.

[MrUltimateGaijin]

Why does Japan only attracts the most morons of all the gaijins? Are you out of your fucking mind? Japanese food is unhealthy? That's a first. Japanese food is one of the healthiest foods in the world.

if you are a dimwitted japanophile.

[james]

absolutely!

cobb salad at hard rock cafe is my vice.

i do love traditional japanese food, and my body has definitely adjusted to mostly. but i do spend a lot of money on fresh salads from the supermarket and drink one of those fiber jelly supplement things every day (and now my daily wheatgrass shot), because as much my body in general likes japanese food, my digestive system in specific has a hard time with it.

my father-in-law has a fish store so more often than not, we're eating fish as opposed to meat. i would tend to think that this is definitely healthier - in theory at least! going on ten years here though, it might be time to have a proper chelation done

[hundefar]

What do you mean "Japanese food is not healthy"? The bukkake diet is indeed very healthy and good for the skin too.