Weight Loss in Corea (Korea)

Losing weight has always been a journey for me.  I was a heavy kid, teenager and now an adult.  I've never tried to hide that or been completely insecure about my weight.  Hmm... you're probably wondering, what does she mean by "completely?"   Well, I've always felt pretty, never felt ugly, well I've had my moments just like any other person.  I always felt comfortable in my skin for the most part.  However, apart of me still felt like I needed to lose weight.  Don't worry! I'm not going to sale you on the typical saying "I did it to be healthier."  Even though I was overweight no doctor ever brought up my weight as a concern, ever!  In fact, at 200 lbs I was able to run nearly 2 miles.  Anything past that I'd get distracted, lol.  So, could I have done more?  Probably.


So, why I lost weight now?  For starters, I knew that I needed to do something career-wise after leaving Corea.  The military had been an option in my mind since they called me up my Junior or Senior year in high school, just like they do everyone else.  However, I could never lose the weight.  Actually, the weight requirements were stricter 10 years ago, but they have since changed in 2004 (don't quote me on the date.)  So, actually at that time, if the guidelines had been adjusted in 2000, I would have qualified.  Well, since I was coming to Corea I figured that it maybe easier here, for me to accomplish this lifelong task.  Most people think that I lost weight in Corea because of their food.  I mean we always hear that other countries have healthier food compared to the USA, so I was excited about this new challenge.  However, it quickly came to a halt once I discovered I didn't like Corean food. :( It just wasn't very tasty to me at all.  I heard I hadn't given it a chance, but I tried, school food, homemade food, restaurant food, and different kinds of food and I was running out of options.


So, this is when my weight loss journey really began.  I didn't lose weight by starving myself or disliking food because believe me there is plenty of junk food around here.  Since, weight is such a big deal here.  It is very inexpensive to go to a weight loss clinic.  I started going to a weight loss clinic and started seeing results rather quickly.  I also started making better choices.  Do I still eat "happy" foods?  Yes, but I eat them a lot less here than I did back home.  Another, huge benefit is public transportation is used frequently here.  There are more stairs to climb, more sidewalks to walk, compared to back home where I just walk 5-10 steps and I meet my car in the driveway and take off. Also, my highest amount of weight loss was during the summer. The summers here are like Texas, they're brutal.  So, I would sweat my clothes of getting around town.  And sometimes it can be so embarrassing because Coreans do not sweat. They have different sweat glands, so it's much harder and less likely for them to sweat. 


So, for the big question everyone wants to know, when I came to Corea October 2009 I don't know my exact weight, but when I started going to Dr. Sung's Clinic in Hannam-dong, Seoul, in February 2010, I weighed in at 91 kg, which is 200 lbs.  I am now 78-79 kg, 170 ish lbs... yes I am telling you my weight because that's what confidence is about.  I lost 30 pounds in about 8 months and have been holding it down.  I've definitely had my rough patches, but my cheerleaders have gotten me through it (S/o: To my Mommie, and friends Nancy Bassett, Keysha Baynes, and especially Elsie Dorzin for going to Dr. Sung's with me at a last minutes notice, early Saturday mornings. :D P.S - I miss you girls! If I forgot you I'm so sorry I'll make up for it later.)  However, I am trying to lose more, but I have been struggling for the past few months up and down between 5 lbs.  I know I can do better with my eating and exercising, so I am making no promises, but I am going to do my best.  I won't be telling you my goal weight, but if I make it to the goal weight you will be seeing a special blog about that, so you don't have to ask, but thanks in advance for your concerns & support. 


I hope this blog provides some encouragement & gives you some other incites to my Life in Corea! :)


Purpose of my weight loss:  I am losing the weight because I felt like for me, considering my shape, height, facial structure, and a lot of other things... it was a good idea physically for me to slim down.  I mean I gotta turtle's neck, so I have to make it slim down, just a lil ;) hehe! (Note: This is not a time to analyze my photos.) ;P 


God bless, good luck to everyone, remember you have 5 weeks left of 2011, so get it poppin' now!  I hope this blog helps. 


Dr. Sung OBGYN
Hyundai Liberty House 3rd Floor
Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Phone: 02) 790-0802 
Hours: M-F 9A-5P, Sat 9A-1P


(Note: The entire staff speaks English, some Chinese & Japanese services are provide as well.) 

Comic of the Day (COD) II "Bus Drivers"

So, I'm standing at the light waiting for it to change, so I can't walk across the street.  I look up and this bus driver is creeping down the street with his bus door open, staring at me slowly. Really dude!? You really need to be focusing on your driving technique.

Bus Driver #2.... a completely different day.... I'm sitting at the bus stop waiting for my bus to come. It's a longer wait than normally, so I sat on the bench to relax myself. A bus driver with his door open again (which isn't completely abnormal.) winks at me... I wasn't sure how to take that... but laughed hard! I hope it wasn't a flirty wink, but it sure seemed and felt like it. Hahaha! I think I laughed a good 30 seconds. ;)

Stayed tuned for more COD's! :D