Idle banter forum

For me it varies from trip to trip. The most I ever lost was 25kg during three months of travel in India, but I'd say in general for a month long trip in SE Asia, without any bad illness I'd expect to lose 4-5 kg. Mostly because I tend to snack through the day and evening rather than have staple heavy meals like I do at home. Also, as you point out, am on the go all the time -- which as far as I'm concerned, counts as exercise!

i lost 11kg in first 2 months in SE Asia with one heavy does of food poisoning (but that was in the first week).

i didn't feel like i was eating much less, i'd usually get around 5 meals/snacks in a day but i think the lack of things like bread,cheese,oats and other grains probably had the most impact.

Also, few countries in Asia eat meat like we do in the West, eg.huge slabs of it. Of course you can get slabs of meat if you want, whole chickens etc, on BBQs but if you go a cheap bowl of noodles - not much meat - or even a stir-fry type dish - generally not much meat. At least not compared to the west. I think, when in China, i had noodles 3 times a day for about a week. I didn't set out too, it just turned out like that...probably doesn't help that my choices are usually governed by price!

I'm the only one I Know who gains weight travelling in India. Five times there and each time the same - must be the great food!

My partner and I actually gained a few kg's over two months in Thailand. At home I rarely eat white bread/pasta/rice and have a fairly low carb diet where as in Asia it was white rice and noodles for nearly every meal, plus lots of fried stuff. Plus we drank beer nearly every day which we dont do at home. It really wasnt noticeable though and could probably be avoided through a little less indulgence ;)

I came back from about a month in Thailand and Cambodia a few kilos lighter... lost a fair bit walking around Bangkok, and then exploring Siem Reap and Angkor Wat (walking and biking), and sweating a lot while I was there.

The last part of our trip (Thai islands) was much more stationary, but Thai food is generally so healthy that it 'cancelled out' all that beer I was drinking to keep cool!

My husband, on the other hand, lost weight during the first part of the trip and then put weight on at the end - he drank a fair bit more beer than me and eat quite a lot more food!

Flashpacker that's hilarious about the orangutan!

Somtam : - 25kgs in 3 mths ! Man I hope u started from a good size.
I lost 9kgs in India over 5 mths.

Unfortunately I stayed about the same from a mth in Cambodia/ Vietnam. Put it down to lots of Carbs - Rice etc and drinking wine or beer daily which i don't do at home which offset the exercise.

I lost 20 lbs. between mid-October and January, while rock climbing in Thailand. Even after I left Thailand and stopped climbing I didn't regain any of it. I think the constant sweating and walking to sites and general backpacking lifestyle promotes good health and weight. Between that and the fact that food there is generally more natural and healthy than in the West it seems easy to, if not lose weight, than at least be at peak health.

Rob Breger

I lost about 10lbs (4kg) in 4 months in south east asia. Its difficult, in my opinion, not to lose weight. You don't need to eat as much when its 35 degrees as you do if you live in a much cooler climate. This is especially the case if you stick to a local diet.

Rather depressingly, there seems to be quite a lot of folk who stick to eating like they do at home and I guess they could put weight on. We were constantly surprised to see foreigners (often young backpackers, I'm afraid) eating huge plates of pizza, burgers, enormous club sandwiches and chips, full english breakfasts. Why they want that stuff when its so hot; and how they manage to digest it is beyond me. The food in SEA is healthy, generally light and easy to digest and incredibly tasty. I never once got tired of it.

eat fish to instead of meat, don't eat fast food, sleep early and weak up early. that's good habit to lose weight.

"eat fish to instead of meat, don't eat fast food, sleep early and weak up early. that's good habit to lose weight."

I would die of boredom with this diet and schedule.

Sarah, start dancing and you'll get your exercise. Salsa, baby, salsa.