Article 26: Be a "Busy" Modern Person - Cultivate Interests to Forget About Appetite

Dinner: 4 ounces of grilled sea bream, a plate of boiled bottle gourd with dried shrimp, a bowl of pickled cabbage and bamboo shoot soup, and a grapefruit.

Be a "busy" modern person

Q: I can't help wanting to eat something whenever I have free time. How can I tell?

A: Find a way to be "busy with nothing to do"!!

We read a news article that said that not knowing the color, aroma, and taste of a dish can stimulate one's appetite. Sometimes, imagining the fragrance of food can also stimulate the secretion of gastric juices and increase appetite.

This news suggests that people who want to lose weight must not only abstain from the desire to gain, but also from lust, lustful thoughts, and unrealistic desires. Unfortunately, humans are driven by desires, and it is simply impossible to completely eliminate these desires.

Furthermore, the ancient saying "looking at plums can quench thirst" is completely illogical from a purely scientific perspective. Looking at plums not only cannot quench thirst, but will actually make you thirstier the more you think about them!

For those who want to lose weight, since you can't fully understand human emotions and desires, you have to use an alternative method: avoidance. To eliminate the urge to overeat, the simplest way is to cultivate a variety of interests, hoping to "forget about food while having fun."

For example, there's a group of women in Taipei's New Park who hold a "lunchtime getaway" every day. They use their lunch break to dance folk dances, which not only helps them make friends but also prevents them from overeating.

You might say, "I'm not interested in dancing." Then try to think about where you might be able to develop some interest.

I think women could learn to sew. When winter comes, they can knit sweaters so the whole family can look beautiful. Wouldn't that be wonderful? If they are working women, they could also do flower arranging or read books. The most important thing is to fully immerse themselves in these activities and forget about "appetite".

In my personal opinion, if there are small hills near your home, the best hobby is to go hiking. Develop a habit of hiking and playing in the water, and hike for an hour every day. It's good for your health and helps you lose weight, making it the best form of leisure.

In short, don't confine yourself to your home. When people are bored, they naturally develop a habit of snacking, which is a major no-no for weight loss!

However, please remember one thing: do not learn to cook. Aside from preparing three meals a day, you must stay away from the kitchen. This is not to say you should neglect your duties as a wife, but rather that a balanced diet is sufficient; you really shouldn't indulge in culinary desires too much. In the past, we Chinese lived in poverty, while the wealthy went to great lengths to study the art of food. Now that everyone is prosperous, the fact that we can't let go of this culinary tradition is the real concern of modern people.

Breakfast: One steamed beef meatball (30 grams of lean beef, minced and marinated with wine and soy sauce, with some minced ginger, scallions and celery), one lotus leaf bun, and half a cup of milk.

Lunch: Oyster vermicelli (100 grams of oysters, half a bowl of vermicelli, a handful of greens. First, cook the oysters with wine, salt and greens, then cook the vermicelli in broth. Place the oysters on the vermicelli, and add some stir-fried scallions and minced garlic), one orange.

Dinner: Sichuan peppercorn and salt chicken legs (rub the chicken legs with Sichuan peppercorn and salt, marinate for two hours, bake in the oven until cooked, and remove the skin), a plate of pea sprouts, and a bowl of bok choy soup.

Exercise and diet for office workers

Q: I've been sitting at an office desk for a year and haven't gained weight, but recently when I tried to wear last year's clothes, I couldn't fasten my belt. What should I do?

A: Go learn some rhythmic dancing!

Not only have I had this experience myself, but a friend of mine once complained to me that someone called her "Auntie" on the street, which infuriated her.

My girlfriend is not only single, but also under thirty years old. Just because she is slightly overweight, she is often misunderstood.

Especially for unmarried women, if they are not careful, not only will their figure go out of shape, but they will also be jokingly called "old lady". Isn't that infuriating? Please don't think this is a joke, it is absolutely true.

As an office worker, it's easy to gain weight due to sitting in the office all day and lack of exercise, especially around the waist. This trend is even more likely to occur after having children.

To remedy the lack of physical activity, the best solution is to do rhythmic dancing or other related exercises. If the female colleagues in the office could band together and use their lunch break to do 30 to 50 minutes of rhythmic dancing to loosen up, it would be ideal to do it every other day, for a short period. You could form your own group and then find a dance center near that one and negotiate with them; I think that would be both affordable and tailored to your needs.

Besides rhythmic dancing, you can also do exercises at home in the morning or before bed, such as push-ups, sit-ups, waist twists, and arm swings, which are all good waist exercises.

Of course, taking a walk every day instead of strenuous exercise is also a good method.

Exercise is important for weight loss, but there are several crucial taboos that must be strictly followed; otherwise, you might gain weight instead of losing it, which would be counterproductive. First, consistency is key; don't interrupt your workout. Second, refrain from eating for one hour before and after exercise. These two points seem simple, but they are not easy to do. If you feel you cannot do these two things, it's best not to exercise.