The 10lbs Myth

vargoje3

I lost 30 pounds in India in only 4 months. Most likely because i was always sick and had amoebic dysentary for a week. Was 10 pounds lighter after that week alone.

brownboy66

Some people seem to adapt better to new environments than others. I travelled for three years through rural Vietnam, Cambodia, and Loas - and loved it. Never got sick once. My boss on the other hand seemed to catch whatever illness was about as soon as he stepped off the plane. I think its pretty fortunate if you're one of the lucky few that doesn't get sick......

Nick-H

Is it true to say, even, that the majority get sick?

It is certainly a big enough minority to make it an issue, but many, many people are never affected.

I usually was, until I came to live here, since when my stomach has been pretty stable --- and you can imagine that I take far fewer precautions as a resident than I did as a visitor.

I sometimes think it is partly psychological: If I get sck for a week, it's not going to be fun, but it is just a week out of my life and it'll be over soon enough, so I am fairly easy about the thought. On the other hand, a week out of a three-week trip is very much more inconvenient and unpleasant.

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machadinha

Hmm... While oft-reported, of course, or it wouldn't be an issue, I'm one who I think gained weight there -- at some point I had to lay down for a day or so due to what I think can only have been overeating... (This was after a week of lethargically sitting on some seaside village square with some friends, going "Oh look there's that bus we wanted to take. Well, my coke and snacks aren't finished. Let's wait for the next one in an hour." Etc.)

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samsalami1

I might know the psychology behind this. Everytime I travel somewhere for longer than a month, I lose weight. It's because when I'm travelling, I wake up at a crack of dawn and start hitting the sites. I'll come home at 11pm tired. When I was backpacking around asia, even though I ate the entire day and drank like a fish at night, I ended up losing 15 lbs.

Once we get back home and fall back to our normal sedentary routine, we gain it all back.

Indianworker

Lived here for almost 3 years now. During first 6 months (Feb - July 2005) had dysentry and due to dehydration admitted to hospital with blood clots in the leg - returned to the UK approx 15 to 20lbs lighter - only now when I look back at the photos do I realise the extent of my weight loss. Family and friends horrified to see me on arrival back home in July.

After holiday returned to Delhi in September 2005 and in good health to March 2006.

In March 2006 suffered bad diarrhea (15 hours) and vomiting (9 hours) and although OK for the rest of the 6 month duration lost a lot of weight due to this.

No illness between March 2006 and July 2007. However, have now suffered diarrhea several times and for the last 3 weeks - trousers feel looser so know I am losing weight.

Main problem for me is illness coupled by the fact I don't like spicy food and the lack of the type of food I can get at home - Nick H you are making me feel very hungry with your talk of Roast dinner. Oh for a Sunday roast or Shepherds Pie and beans!
Consequently, don't feel much like food at times and have a struggle to maintain a healthy intake of food as often don't feel hungry - also think the heat plays a part in my lack of appetite during the year.

However, have spent nearly 3 fantastic years in Delhi and still continuing. Would do the 3 years over again if had to so the positives outweigh the negatives.

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Nick-H

Yes, the heat is an issue; high temperatures, even in UK, always reduce my appetite.

I have had no major illness while living here. In fact, no major illness ever, even as a tourist. I've spent 24 hours in the loo, and days when I needed to know where the nearest loo was, but this is trivial travellers' stuff compared to dysentery as described by Indianworker. Oh, I did spend a week with a fever once...

mirjamd

I was in India for a year, got sick twice and lost 5 kg. But it helped that people here warned me i would GAIN weight... So i watched what i ate. I think its the difference in eating rice twice a day instead of bread.... Then when i came back again after 4 months, people told me I'd become 'plump', after gaining the 5 kg again... always lovely, Indian straightforwardness........

greenman

Another difference for alot of tourists is I'd guess altitude, I normally don't lose much iof any weight on holiday but spending 2-3 weeks at 2000 meters and above with alot of walking normally causes me to lose 5-6 pounds.

fly2raven

I am happy that I haven't been incredibly ill during my stay here. I wouldn't try to become sick just to lose a few I was just hoping that they would magically melt away after I got off the plane It sounds stupid but that is what my friends implied would happen!

It probably doesn't help that I recently found a supplier of brie cheese here in Bangalore - jeeze I love that stuff

Nick - if you are ever in Bangalore let me know and you are welcome at my house for lunch or dinner. I have a full oven and a grill so whatever it is you wish to eat I can probably make that happen

Nick-H

An irresistible invite

One day...

brownboy66

Good point - it is naturally assumed that for some destinations everyone gets sick - but you're right, I've never read or actually seen figures that demonstrated it for most of the places I've travelled to. As mentioned before - living and working in South East Asia for 3 years I never got sick once - however, the first month back home on western food and I got food poisoning - from a roast dinner no less! Just goes to show you can't trust lamb roast and spuds....

Prashant.M

Pray do tell.

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fly2raven

I have found imported Danish brie at Reliance Fresh and at the high end grocery store off MG Road.

Prashant.M

You mean Foodworld Gourmet? Which Reliance Fresh outlet? I don't think all their outlets stock these stuff. I found imported French Brie at Spencers in Fraser Town but it was ok, nothing great.

Hey do let me know if you find Cheese from Auroville in Bangalore.