Traffic Vs Exercise

One thing that can be a real pain in the ass in Thailand is weight gain. It's near impossible to stop it. 99% of meals here have rice included. For Thai's it does nothing. For me, I've added about 8 kgs. But I have been fighting to keep it off over the last 5 months, so really I only put on 8 in the first 5 months.

I watch what I eat, I try to exercise, but it's either too bloody hot, or there's traffic.

The temperature here never changes much. Sure we have warm days and hot days but that's about it. Then we have rain. It's horrible. But it's good for old people that like the cold. I love the cold. I am forever standing with the doors open at the supermarket fridge. Until one of the workers tells me I need to shut the door.

To exercise here is like doing a commando course for the US Marines. Not only do you have to watch ahead of you as your jogging or riding down the road, but you have to have 360 degree vision. The drivers over here just don't care. And when you get half the population driving too slow, and the other half driving too fast, it's bloody hell.

A simple 2 lane road can and does turn into a 4 or 5 lane traffic expressway depending on the volume of traffic. People pass on the outside, the inside, people drive at 40 kms an hour, for an entire trip, and that's when you get people passing left and right. Makes it damn hard to concentrate on exercise when you're constantly diving into the bushes on the side of the road.

Being a foreigner suddenly puts me on par with dogs and cats, every one goes for points….

So I have given up hope of exercising outside. I went to join a gym, but steroids aren't illegal here, so you have a room full of roid pumped freaks and you feel initimidated going for the beginners weight class.

But I feel I have done well to stop putting more weight on over the last few months. I currently fluctuate between 92 and 94 kilos. Like I said, I'm watching what I eat, and sometimes here, the food still moves....

Have you ever seen a Thai eat? They eat a lot. Whenever me and the girl go to a restaurant, I order maybe one or two dishes. She'll order at least 4. And she can eat the lot. God help me the day I ever invite her family for dinner. They also are the slowest eaters. The food surely gets a chance to digest before their next spoonful (over here they eat with spoon and fork - no knives).

I suppose I could go swimming. But with the water quality over here, I'd rather take my chances with all the Thai Schumachers…..

Til next time