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jasminebabie
Seeker
Joined: Mar 29, 2005
Posts: 74
Location: Shanghai, Puxi
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  Posted:
Apr 14, 2005 - 07:17 PM |
 
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| Post subject: Losing weight in Shanghai |
Im from Vancouver BC Canada - Gimie a shout if ur a fellow Canadian! Ahaha..k well i had no problems keepin mah weight there. I did tha teriyaki chicken caesar alot - High protein, low carb meals. But now that i live in Shanghai, Im feelin pretty screwed.
If u eat healthy western meals, its gona cost ya, and im makin onlee a small part time salery rite now. Im bombarded with high starch, calorie and oil infested foods here - And its not lookin good. Im gaaaaining..
So Ive called up a couple of clubs. Found a V-ball club that plays every Saturday from 5-7:30 for $35 a session. And a kickboxing club dats on every Tues. and Thurs. First time is free and every other there on is $80/sess. I have yet to try them
Now, my question to y'all is: What food choices are out there for those of us who DONT wana be eating all those starchy oily shanghainese foods? Are there any alternatives? Restaurants that have reasonable prices, or suggestions of things to do to keep in shape?
I hear there is a running track in the jing an area, but i duno where it is. If anyone knows, please lemme know 
Ciao!  |
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The story of life is quicker then a wink of an eye. The story of love is hello and goodbye. Until we meet again... |
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bougie
Board Buddha
Joined: Nov 20, 2004
Posts: 13424
Location: Wuhan Hubei China
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Apr 14, 2005 - 08:01 PM |
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Not looking good for low carb i'm afraid... can't seem to find anything that ain't full or sugar / starches.
Think kick boxing is a great choice. Btw fello Canadian says hi
bougie |
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jasminebabie
Seeker
Joined: Mar 29, 2005
Posts: 74
Location: Shanghai, Puxi
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Apr 14, 2005 - 08:28 PM |
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hehe, nice to meet you fellow canadian bougie ^_^ (hope that doesn't stand for nose bougie!! does it? lol) |
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The story of life is quicker then a wink of an eye. The story of love is hello and goodbye. Until we meet again... |
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amega
Barker
Joined: Nov 18, 2004
Posts: 199
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Apr 15, 2005 - 12:59 AM |
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Hi, I'm from Canada too. Yes, food could be a challenge if you eat only in restaurants. But if you cook at home, then it's a different story.
Shanghai is not a good place for salad, but excellent for soup. I have learned to make verities of soups and stews. Fresh vegetables of all kinds are readily available in the wet markets. You may buy them in the supermarkets but they are more expensive than, and not as fresh as the ones in the wet markets. For example, you can make soup with pork ribs, add taro roots (in the wet markets, they'll peel the skin for you), or fresh bamboo shoots, winter melon (Dong Gua), radish (Luo Bo) or any other vegetables you like. In fact, a soup is like a cooked salad, how you make them is up to your own creative instinct.
There is a topic called “What you cook or eat at home” started by Rongchi under the forum of “Questions and Answers.” She has a lot of good ideas on simple home cooked meal. It’s worthwhile to take a look. |
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Caesara
Post Roaster
Joined: July 31, 2004
Posts: 4572
Location: The Middle Kingdom (Shanghai)
Status: Offline
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Apr 15, 2005 - 07:31 AM |
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jasminebabie: V-ball and kickboxing both sound lovely, 'cause you're not going to have an easy time finding low-fat West-Coast style meals in Shanghai! At least not Shanghainese ones! You can switch it up, though -- for example, maybe try some Thai (Simply Thai, Irene's Thai) and Japanese restaurants... And, I promise, it is possible to find decent salad and vinagarette here if you search. It's a little treasure hunt!
Of course, if you're willing to cook all your meals at home, you've a better shot at both saving money and controlling the oil/starch levels in your meals...I usually don't have the time, though!
Hello, fellow Vancouverite! |
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Magnolia
Board Biatch
Joined: June 01, 2004
Posts: 31091
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Apr 15, 2005 - 08:29 AM |
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Not a Canadian as all these others... but I do like to eat!!!
Cooking at home is a good option, food is inexpensive and you can control the amount of oil and salt consumed. Steaming veggies is a great option, along with the soups that amega mentioned.
But, I have to be honest. I rarely cook at home. Escaping the fried, oily, breaded, salty foods can be difficult here. As Caesara mentioned there are other food options around, many that have specials each week which allow you to take advantage of a new food type at lower prices. For example, Simply Thai has a special every Monday and Irene's Thai does an all-you-can-eat special every Friday.
Others may disagree, but I find hot pot to be one of the best options in the city for the food (delicious), the value (ridiculously inexpensive) and the experience (good fun to sit over a bowl of steaming soup and cook your own food). Since the individual foods are selected, you can fill up on all the yummy veggies and have some meat for protein. Depending on the soup base that is selected, there may be some oil in it, but it is not too much, comparitvely speaking. Stay away from the peanut based dipping sauce if trying to watch the calories! Although it is delicious and a little bit won't hurt you!
Some of the Japanese soup noodle places offer good value and a healthy option. There are loads all over town.
If you are eating in Chinese restaurants, try to limit your intake of the first hot dishes. The veggies and soup tend to come later in the meal and if you fill up on those, you won't be as tempted to indulge in many of the richer foods. It's the sauces that get you in the end.
An old trick that may help... drink as much water as possible before and during the meal. Not only will this help you to feel more full, it will also help flush out the excess salt. Green tea is supposed to be excellent in helping flush out the system and keeping the body trim.
Weight seems to fluctuate a lot here an I don't know a single woman who has moved here without putting on several pounds. Fortunately, they melt right off as soon as you head home, but generally come back when you get back.
Best of luck!!!! |
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BOYCOTT BENSON SALON |
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jeffrigs
Barker
Joined: July 06, 2004
Posts: 132
Status: Offline
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Apr 15, 2005 - 09:48 AM |
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Maybe hire an ayi to cook for you? Labor is ridiculously cheap here and there are ayis who know how to do good Western food... and/or low-fat Chinese food, which might be an easier choice. |
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Ohio, a place of unrivaled dark glory |
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jasminebabie
Seeker
Joined: Mar 29, 2005
Posts: 74
Location: Shanghai, Puxi
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Apr 15, 2005 - 11:33 AM |
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Thanks for all the feedback! Magnolia, your posts are always helpful.
A shout out to Caesara and Amega.
Ill definatly give the soup and hot pot a try.. it isnt gona be easy but here goes nothing. Ill tell u guys bout how the kickboxing and V-ball goes~
Still lookin for a running track...Hmmm? |
_________________
The story of life is quicker then a wink of an eye. The story of love is hello and goodbye. Until we meet again... |
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MrShanghai
Seeker
Joined: Apr 04, 2005
Posts: 46
Location: Shanghai
Status: Offline
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Apr 15, 2005 - 01:07 PM |
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Hi,
If you want to keep your shape, or even improve your shape then Shanghai is the place to be!
Chinese food can be very unheatlhy or very healthy!
I don't agree with this soup and hot pot thing. If I started eating that, I would loose my six pack very quickly... 
This is my tips for a healthy "Chinese" diet:
Breakfast: Serial and skimmed milk or "dark" bread with egg, light cheese, cottage cheese, cooked ham etc etc
Lunch: Steamed vegetables, steamed fish, eggs, chicken, all kind of steamed sea food etc etc. Just keep away from animal fat, rice, noodles and everything that is fried.
Snack: Apple and some nuts
Dinner: Same as lunch
Evening: Some nuts, strawberries and skimmed milk
You can also eat sashimi and some sushi. But try to limit the sushi, eat more of sashimi. And not dip it in too much soya.
If you follow this diet and do some exercise you will get fit fast |
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flipmama
Seeker
Joined: Dec 31, 2003
Posts: 62
Location: reality
Status: Offline
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Apr 15, 2005 - 01:19 PM |
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Hey Jasmine - Is 'Seattle' close enough? Sorry that it is on the US side though, ha!
Tian Ran & JuJu bee are both Vegetarian restaurants that have a few locations in the city - it won't keep you from carbs - but I find the method of cooking to be rather healthy (and inexpensive).
Where do you live? There is a running track at Shanghai Stadium (XuJiaHui area) -just run in/out - the guards don't bite. If you are into running - pm me - I've been looking for running partners. |
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crikey
Reacher
Joined: Nov 02, 2004
Posts: 311
Location: Jing' An District, Shanghai, P.R.C.
Status: Offline
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Apr 15, 2005 - 04:22 PM |
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I'm from the southern district of canada, Oz.
Thing to remember, heavy starchy oily foods = eat less food. Easy to say, hard to do, especially with all the dim sum around the place (yum). Also, eat less rice.
Cooking at home is my 1st option, then go for the 'healthy soups' that are advertised in a lot of restaurants. Low oil, brothy meals + veges (although boiled to death = loss of nutrients). Liquid fills you up, just like drinking water before eating.
Lemme know if you find more options in the Jing' An area for sports etc. I'm on the lookout for that. Esp. basketball/volleyball.
crikey
ps. Hey Mr Shanghai - was the avatar a before or after Shanger's? Haven't met the steamed buns eh? (that's for you Canadians!) |
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jasminebabie
Seeker
Joined: Mar 29, 2005
Posts: 74
Location: Shanghai, Puxi
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Apr 16, 2005 - 03:28 AM |
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Heya Flipmama (Gotta lub dat name) -- Seatle is like the extension of Van baby!! Yea its def. close enuf  Anyways i walked by this track at XuJiaHui today and its like almost across from Jiao Tong but down Hua Shan Rd a bit rite? The gates were locked - is there another entrance?
MrShanghai, ur 8 pack is amazing and scarey as well - is it REAL? Dayam! Ur diet sounds the most solid so far..but its gona be hard to find steamed stuff in shanghai - they're usually cooked in layers of oil. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOURNS
Crikey, i live in the jing an district as well - but i no nuffin bout it...yet =^.^= |
_________________
The story of life is quicker then a wink of an eye. The story of love is hello and goodbye. Until we meet again... |
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benkloepfer
PopStar
Joined: Sep 02, 2004
Posts: 1042
Status: Offline
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Apr 16, 2005 - 08:19 AM |
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This is a little off topic, but have you seen the advertisements in the back of taxi cabs offering weight loss programs via acupuncture?
They tout a weight loss of 8 to 15 ograms during just one treatment.
Now I've been in the engineering field for a number of years and I know we have kilograms, decagrams, milligrams, nanograms, micrograms, and grams. But never, I mean never, have I heard of ograms. Its pretty freakin' hilarious if you ask me.
Anybody out there know what an ogram is? I'd like to know.
And jasminebabie, I feel your pain. I've also put on a few extra pounds since coming here, but I chalk it up to stress and lack of time for exercise more than I would blame the food. Sure the food is often carb laden and greasy but just don't eat so much. (easy to say, hard to do, huh?).
Regards,
B |
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dfoo
Post Roaster
Joined: Jan 19, 2005
Posts: 4140
Status: Offline
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Apr 16, 2005 - 09:28 AM |
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Hi,
Fellow Canadian here also (opposite coast). My advice is simple...don't eat too much, and try to get some exercise I play badminton, and ping pong (not too much of a workout there). I'm looking for some regular squash partners, but haven't had too much luck in that department yet.
At home I used lift weights 5 days a week but I haven't kept that up in Shanghai... any good cheap gyms around? I don't want any pansy assed nautilus crap. Just some dumbells, barbells and some good benches, and a decent squat rack.
Regards, Matthew |
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Magnolia
Board Biatch
Joined: June 01, 2004
Posts: 31091
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Apr 18, 2005 - 08:31 AM |
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Jasminebaby... I was doing some shopping this weekend and saw that City Supermarket now carries Lean Cuisine frozen foods. The selection was decent (although selling quickly) with prices in the RMB36 to RMB52 range. More expensive than in North America but not as bad as I thought it would be.
You can usually find Slim Fast drinks too... About RMB16-20 each. Healthy, quick and filling... they can make for a good breakfast. |
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BOYCOTT BENSON SALON |
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jenming
FooJay
Joined: Dec 20, 2002
Posts: 1675
Location: Right where you wanna be
Status: Offline
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Apr 18, 2005 - 04:15 PM |
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| benkloepfer wrote: |
This is a little off topic, but have you seen the advertisements in the back of taxi cabs offering weight loss programs via acupuncture?
They tout a weight loss of 8 to 15 ograms during just one treatment.
Now I've been in the engineering field for a number of years and I know we have kilograms, decagrams, milligrams, nanograms, micrograms, and grams. But never, I mean never, have I heard of ograms. Its pretty freakin' hilarious if you ask me.
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perhaps it was a misspelling. maybe they meant 8 to 15 orgasm per treatment. that might burn some calories. |
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unzip;strip;touch;finger;mount;fsck;more;yes;unmount;sleep |
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Benoist_Shanghai
Low Seater
Joined: May 18, 2003
Posts: 3057
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Apr 18, 2005 - 05:11 PM |
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| MrShanghai wrote: |
| Lunch: Steamed vegetables, steamed fish, eggs, chicken, all kind of steamed sea food etc etc. Just keep away from animal fat, rice, noodles and everything that is fried. |
MrShanghai, where exactly to you live/work to find all this steamed food for lunch??? Not really something you get 'round the corner. Or am I looking for the wrong places?
Please share your tips on where to source your healthy food anywhere! 
b. |
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Benoist_Shanghai
Low Seater
Joined: May 18, 2003
Posts: 3057
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Apr 25, 2005 - 11:45 AM |
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bump. MrShanghai, help...! Cant bear my lunches anymore.
Where do I get steamed food?
Any suggestion on dishes to order? Veggies and anything soaked in oil?
b. |
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jenming
FooJay
Joined: Dec 20, 2002
Posts: 1675
Location: Right where you wanna be
Status: Offline
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Apr 25, 2005 - 11:56 AM |
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I saw a restaurant on Wulumuqi lu (i can't remember what number). it's just north of ZhaoJiaBang Lu, on the west side of the street. it was called 阿婆蒸菜官 (A Po Zheng Cai Guan, or "A Po Steamed Food Restaurant". It looks pretty nice inside, though i've never eaten there before. |
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unzip;strip;touch;finger;mount;fsck;more;yes;unmount;sleep |
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Benoist_Shanghai
Low Seater
Joined: May 18, 2003
Posts: 3057
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Apr 25, 2005 - 12:29 PM |
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jenming, noted. thx.
No miraculous password enabling you to transform doughy and oily fried dishes at any small shop in to something tasty, light and nutritious?
b. |
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DragonAss
Fire-eater
Joined: Apr 25, 2005
Posts: 2566
Status: Offline
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Apr 25, 2005 - 12:48 PM |
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I bought myself a pack of salad mix from City Supermarket. Plus olive, slices of hard boiled egg or tuna, I managed to keep my diet with enough varieties. The dressing is simply made from Lemon, salt en pepper.
When I crave for carb (as I always do), I will have some rice soup boiled with different kind of vegies from the market.
Doesnt sound so healthy, hm??? |
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Benoist_Shanghai
Low Seater
Joined: May 18, 2003
Posts: 3057
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Apr 25, 2005 - 01:09 PM |
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DragonAss, I guess I have to home cook my meals then.... what a bore.
b. |
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DragonAss
Fire-eater
Joined: Apr 25, 2005
Posts: 2566
Status: Offline
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Apr 25, 2005 - 01:16 PM |
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TRUE, Benoist_Shanghai!!
Dont like to eat out much!! 'coz cant take the chance to eat the restaurants' "little little meat" (I dont eat red meat)!! |
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bleucheese
Veejay
Joined: Aug 01, 2003
Posts: 2000
Location: this side of the tracks
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Apr 25, 2005 - 01:24 PM |
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I love food way to much to ever be on a 'diet' or try any kind of restrictive food regimen.
Admittedly I rarely eat local food: too much oil, sugar, starch, and more importantly, I like to cook.
My two cents: screw the diets.
Eat as much as you want of good healthy food (light on the carbs, as little as possible on the oils, heavy on veggies) and do something of physical intensity at least an hour a day everyday.
You eat more that day (have a few extra snacks/desserts?) then you do an extra 30 minutes or more.
I dont know of any track in the Jing An area (its where I live) but there are relatively cheap gyms to join.
You probably wont get that eight pack, unless you are into restrictive dieting, have incredible genes, and enjoy dehydrating your body in pursuit of vanity, but youll be in great shape in no time. Plus, your stomach will always be happy. I think Im in decent shape and I eat 5-6 FULL meals every day.
good luck |
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Benoist_Shanghai
Low Seater
Joined: May 18, 2003
Posts: 3057
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Apr 25, 2005 - 02:01 PM |
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I'll second bleucheese on this one.
No diet, but balanced/heatlhy meals+sports.
No miracles.
b. |
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