Weight loss in lockdown
In a modest demonstration that it is possible to lose weight by diet alone, I have been unable to swim for the last few weeks due to a minor but persistent case of sinusitus. I am now on antibiotics, which will hopefully deal with it, since in the current situation, I don't want to add to the burden on local medical facilites with mere bacterial pneumonia.
In addition to the lack of heavy working meals in fancy restaurants, working at home without airconditioning (reduces viral life in the environment, plus there's a power cut and we're running on the generator) in the full heat of a monsoonal summer has done wonders to reduce my desire to eat. It also does make a difference that it's work, I think. I'm not eating from boredom, the way some people say they're doing.
Basically my appetite is minimal because of heat and lack of serious exertion, my housekeeper is giving me small healthy meals, and even with a couple of squares of chocolate a day (a Kuwaiti friend very kindly gave me a big box from Patchi, the famous Lebanese brand, as a pre-Ramadan present just before we were all shut down) I've lost another kilo in the last week. Hopefully the last five kilos until I hit my target BMI will be relatively straightforward too. I am very pleased. I will need a fair amount of reconditioning once I can swim again, but that should not be too hard. I trot up and down the stairs from time to time, get up every half an hour or so to refresh my teacup so I don't fuse to my desk chair, do stretches with a resistance band, and every so often chase Lap-cat round the sitting-room when he gets tired of lap-sitting.
Should any readers be at any point in the Middle-east, I can recommend Patchi, though I prefer the ones made in Lebanon, which are less sugary than the ones made in the UAE. Dubai airport used to sell it, and presumably will again when travel once more becomes a possibility.
In the meantime there is a wealth of stuff up for free on Youtube from the world's great dance, opera and theatre companies. A charming Myanmar harpist is offering a daily recital on the Myanmar harp every day at 4 pm Yangon time, with hygiene advice. Look up Dr Su Zar Zar, harplady, on Youtube.
In addition to the lack of heavy working meals in fancy restaurants, working at home without airconditioning (reduces viral life in the environment, plus there's a power cut and we're running on the generator) in the full heat of a monsoonal summer has done wonders to reduce my desire to eat. It also does make a difference that it's work, I think. I'm not eating from boredom, the way some people say they're doing.
Basically my appetite is minimal because of heat and lack of serious exertion, my housekeeper is giving me small healthy meals, and even with a couple of squares of chocolate a day (a Kuwaiti friend very kindly gave me a big box from Patchi, the famous Lebanese brand, as a pre-Ramadan present just before we were all shut down) I've lost another kilo in the last week. Hopefully the last five kilos until I hit my target BMI will be relatively straightforward too. I am very pleased. I will need a fair amount of reconditioning once I can swim again, but that should not be too hard. I trot up and down the stairs from time to time, get up every half an hour or so to refresh my teacup so I don't fuse to my desk chair, do stretches with a resistance band, and every so often chase Lap-cat round the sitting-room when he gets tired of lap-sitting.
Should any readers be at any point in the Middle-east, I can recommend Patchi, though I prefer the ones made in Lebanon, which are less sugary than the ones made in the UAE. Dubai airport used to sell it, and presumably will again when travel once more becomes a possibility.
In the meantime there is a wealth of stuff up for free on Youtube from the world's great dance, opera and theatre companies. A charming Myanmar harpist is offering a daily recital on the Myanmar harp every day at 4 pm Yangon time, with hygiene advice. Look up Dr Su Zar Zar, harplady, on Youtube.