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Weight change after moving to Nicaragua? |
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PollIn Nicaragua, my income will come from Job in Nicaragua 5% Run business in Nicaragua 33% Pension/investments/savings 31% External work (e.g., on-line) 20% No clue 11% Total votes: 55 A ThoughtEl día de hoy instead of just hoy is commonly used. |
exercise
For my husband and me, it was the increase in cardio-type exercise, namely biking. Since we live part of the year in semi-rural Alaska, off the road system, we have a pretty active lifestyle, but when we're in Nicaragua, we find ourselves biking between 6-15 miles a day on average, and that has definitely made a difference. Especially since we rarely drink (beer or soda) in AK, but both frequently indulge in gaseosas and cervezas when down south--adding untold empty calories to a diet already comprised of fried chicken and pork, fried platanos, and an unholy addiction to "buñuelos", those deep fried yucca balls dripping with homemade honey...
what about the
heat? thought i read somewhere that cold climates encourage the body to put on weight?
Not hot everywhere
While virtually all of Nicaragua is "never cold", I wouldn't call Estelí hot. I have lost a bit of weight and I know people in cooler areas that have lost weight as well.
I would like to think I am more physically active but that seems to not be the case. In Seattle I rode my bicycle to work most of the time--7 miles each way. Here I do walk or ride my bike but not every day and it is only 2km from my house to the middle of town.
Personally, I think the lack of processed food is the biggest contributor.
Salt
Most U.S. food whether canned or from restaurant, is loaded with salt or sugar or both, salt retains body liquids thereby increasing body's weight, blood pressure, etc.
Most of Nica's food, is freshly prepared.
Al
Salt and Sodium
Salt and sodium are not the same thing and some articles make them seem same. Sodium is found naturally in most foods. Table salt (sodium chloride) is not. Latin America and it doesnt matter what coutry is high is table salt consumption, very very high. So much so that many people are adding far more salt than is found in food bought elsewhere in the world. Salt is THE condiment and seasoning of the Latin world. Salt has no caleries and does not cause your body to gain or lose fat but it can temporarily alter water kept in the body as you say. But keeping added water in the body is a good thing for many people not a bad thing. In the end adding salt to good food is better than the high salt diet via bad foods which is what many people in North America eat all the time. Its is not really the salt that is culprit though it just seems that way. Fried food is never all that good for you and that is how many foods are prepared in Latin America, and ins Nicaragua maybe mores to than neighbor countries. Latin Americans consume a huge amount of salt and sugar but dont have related problems some think because of exercise (walking) and other foods consumed.
Why salt?
When I was first here I wondered why salt was the condiment of choice. After a few years (and adding basil, oregano, black pepper, tumeric, and lots of other spices to food) I understand. Salt costs a lot less than other spices. People here seem pretty pleased with what I cook. I cook with little or no salt and they add little or no salt.
The financial side can be addressed by growing the herbs. I have basil, oregano, mint and dill growing in the yard. Once you "give permission" to people to try the various spices in cooking they seem pretty open to experimenting.
No salt
People seem to add salt and sugars to every single thing. I am not sure why. It is not as common to do so in South America. I think it is cost and habit as much as other things but I guess after years of doing so it is desired or does not seems odd. I notice when Hondurans and Guatemalans eat food they are not use to they often like it and ask about it though does not add salt to it even though it was made without salt. Every person here I has ever met likes other seasonines. They never stray froms cumin though. Though people sugar up coffee they seem to adapt to other seasonies easily. The people who use the seeds we get from friends in U.s. and Canada use them instead of salt. I meet so many people who seem to put salt on almost everything they eat it is amazing. Juice gets salt, fruit gets salt, beans get salt, eggs get salt, and the list never stops. Maybe harder for me to understand since for me salt alone does not enhance any flavor already in foods.
Gained a little
I was only there for 6 weeks, though, so it's a limited test. I'm sure there were multiple factors contributing, but I'm going to say it was primarily three things (listed in order of estimated blame):
1. I was living with a host family, and my host mother was constantly "encouraging" me to eat more food. You know, the kind of encouragement where you feel guilty if you say no. Kind of like when I go visit my grandma, but every day for 6 weeks straight.
2. Unlike at home, I didn't have a scales to step on to periodically check myself.
3. More oil used in cooking.
I think if I were doing my own cooking, I'd have different results. First, my intake would probably be similar to what it is in the US, except without all the Dr Pepper. Second, I actually get some exercise when I'm in Nicaragua (in the US, I generally don't). I think I would end up with a net loss like everyone else.
Why?
Clearly, lost weight seems to be the norm. Anyone have any clues why?
Men vs. Women
1. On the Atlantic Coast, most food is fried to a crisp, often in coconut oil.
2. EVERYTHING, from fish to spaghetti is seasoned with a packet of comsume de pollo (salt & msg).
3. There are few healthy vegetables (non-starches) due to the challenges of shipping fresh produce to Corn Island. Starch, starch, starch ... sugar, sugar, sugar ... (There is a diabetes epidemic amongst costenos).
4. Most meats (and dairy) are thawed and refrozen multiple times before they arrive and are sold; spoilage is common.
I see two major issues; if you like starch (me) it is easy to gain weight. If you don't, you will starve (my husband).
But don't fret too much about gaining... between the amoebas and spoiled food/poor food handling, your GI system will not keep the food long enough to allow any absorbtion of calories!
(this info is specific to Corn Island and is contrary to my experiences with the excellent and healthy food available on the mainland)
Forget Atkins!
When Marlies writes "your GI system will not keep the food long enough to allow any absorbtion of calories!" She's got the answer to the bigger question. When I returned from Nicaragua and heard the comment it looked as though I had lost some weight, my response was I was on the Nica Diahhrea diet. (Sorry, that's gross.)
weight
Marlies,
You said a mouthful, as you & I both know diabetes is a serious problem on the coast, I can not remember a week passing without hearing about an Islander in the hospital in Bluefields or Managua because of "sugar". I know that much of the problem is diet, but there must be some genetic factor as well.
As far as weight, on a 2 month tip I will usually drop several pounds the first few weeks, then as my body adapts I will gain some back, I usually come home 5-10 lbs lighter for every few months I am there. This past trip may be the exception, spent too much time on the mainland & for anyone living on the Island it is like being a kid in a candy store.
Changes
A few years ago I remember reading an article in some Teach English as Second Language newsletter. Most people in the survey were from North America but were thens in Costa Rica, Panama, and Nicaragua at the time of the surveys. People who came from Asia did not lose weight and some gained weight. People who came from North America lost weight and many lost a lot of weight. Some people attributed this to better diet but the author of the article who is nutritionist claimed the added walking and temp change (I guess peoples from colder clims eat less and drink more water when temps are hotter) explained more than the food change for most people. This was since many people were not fast food eaters to begin with though some were. Not to the same degree but similar results were found with people who went to Poland and Czech to teach English too, even though food there is very different and withs carbo heavy items. It was the walking was the conclusion but the answer per Nicaragua migth be different.
Lost Weight
I have been in Jinotega for eight months. I have not changed my eating habits or activities from those I had previous to moving to Nicaragua. I believe there is a difference in the processing of the local food that I eat. I eat chicken, rice (not started in oil), fruits & vegetables; such here are possibly not produced by additional hormone or other additives. Just my theory based from a little information from a nutritionist I know. I will have to do some more investigation into this for myself. My husband has lost 20 lbs and I have lost 15 lbs.
lower calories Foods,and lots of Iron,
Remember, that even pollo here,is healthier,same goes for the veggies.
Not tomention,less junk foods
just my .50 centavos
FAP
Maybe
it's that we are more active?