Slim and Shiny (or Sweaty, actually)

What do you see from the picture on the left? I see tall, slim, and chic figures walking down the street. They're models.

Do I want to be like them? Honestly, no. But I still think the society measures us from the physical appearances.

"You look thinner!"
"See? She got really thin arms!"
"Gosh, I wish I have a flat tummy."

If you agree that you hear these a lot, then you understand the pressure of the society. That is why, I'm writing this post. I want to share how I try (once again, TRY) to get slimmer.

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My 'go slim' stimulation comes from my Mom. It's hilarious to tell people that once, she picked me up from the airport and her first words were "you gain weight."

Now Why 'Slim' Matters?

1. It relates to our health. Rather than the physical looks, I care about the health results of getting slimmer. I've seen some people with high cholesterol level because of what they eat. What scares me is the fact that it can lead to coronary heart disease. Basically, high cholesterol can narrow your blood vessel with the amount of fat you have. Your heart works harder in pumping blood to your body. And hence, when the blood circulation fails (for example, to your brain) then you might get stroke, or heart attack, or etc. *** Correct me if I have incomplete information! :D
   
2. It relates to our impulse control. Dieting and exercising needs only one thing: commitment. It is VERY HARD to stick to the menu. And so our determination in getting slimmer mirrors our determination in everything else (like career-wise, learning languages-wise, or etc.)
3. It relates to our mind. Exercising to get slimmer is in fact freshen up our thoughts. "People who exercise are healthier, think more clearly, sleep better, and have delayed onset of dementia." Gretchen Rubin said in The Happiness Project book as she studied research studies.

1. Fruits = the snack

If you feel hungry, eat fruits. This is what I do everyday. I bring fruits to the office as my breakfast and eat them around 10AM. Apples, dragon fruit, mangoes, melons, or papaya are my favorite. Note: living in Indonesia has it's benefits! Tropical fruits are readily available :D

On the side note, I'm not perfect at all. Just now, I ate fried Tempeh for snacks. I also steal a quick bite of fried corn fritters, fried tofu, instant noodles here and then!

2. You don't die if you eat less rice

We Indonesians eat rice - rather than bread or noodles (with exception for some families). We are so used to rice that one can feel full with rice + soysauce!

A fitness personal trainer once said, "office workers do not need rice. In fact, only labor workers need them. They need the energy to lift heavy stuff and do physical tasks. Meanwhile, others are just used to eat rice. They just don't feel FULL unless they eat rice." It's a matter of habit.

I cut back the portion of rice in my lunch box. So instead of eating a full box of rice and another box of side dish, I have half rice half dish menu for lunch. Even then, I divided them to lunch and dinner portions. It still fits up until now... but yes, I keep imagining about pizza, chicken porridge, fried chicken, etc. as I work

3. Exercise, exercise, exercise

I pin some exercise schedules in my Pinterest. Now, do I follow the schedule and get the perfect body? Guess what? NO.

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It turns out for me... I need an external push to get going! I need other people to be there WITH me, to motivate my 'workout'. So every weekend my family would schedule an exercise time. We can go swimming in the morning, or walking early in the morning, or playing table tennis during the afternoon.

Note: others though, can prefer running, cycling, yoga, and other exercises.

Key Takeaways

Getting slim matters... but not because you want to please people who judge your physical looks. More because it relates to your health. You want to eat good food, but you want to live a healthy life too. Balance is the right key for that!

Also, getting slim can be fun! Think about what you enjoy and mix it up to your diet menu or exercises. For example, if you're a social person you can invite others to join in. You can cycle in groups or order diet catering for a month together. If you're a familial person, you can plan for an exercise weekend or cook together with a healthy menu.

Note: some body shapes do need a minimum weight to achieve. So love your body and consult to doctors for your ideal weight.