Why I've gained weight living in Japan

Japan's an interesting place when it comes to health. You often see data saying that Japanese people are some of the healthiest in the world, with life expectancy rates that blow most other countries out of the water. There's much more of an emphasis on day-to-day physical activity here than what I'm used to back home (plenty of walking and cycling), and food portion sizes are much smaller than when I've lived in Australia and the United States. In saying that, I've still found myself gaining kilograms since I've been here.

On reflection, here are three of my main reasons why I think living in Japan has seen me gain rather than lose weight.

FOMO

I'm convinced that part of my struggle with losing any additional kilograms I'm holding onto owes to FOMO, otherwise known as fear of missing out. Since our time in Japan depends on work and study visas (my husband and I are both foreigners) I struggle with that idea of not experiencing everything to the fullest while I'm here. Sometimes that means I indulge a little more than what I would back home, which adds to the calories I consume.

I miss foods from home, and when they're not available here I opt for comfort foods that are

I'm sure that many expats can agree on the fact that it's not always easy to find foods from home that we like. I often find myself craving certain western foods, and when they're not available I turn to the western foods that are...things like potato chips, chocolates, and tasty bakery breads - all things that aren't exactly up there in the healthful stakes (as for high calorie though, they get a 10 out of 10). The short term "I'm eating something that's delicious and tastes familiar!" doesn't bode well for the longer term result on the scales.

My kryptonite - Japanese bakeries...

The expense of health filled foods that I like

There are plenty of foods packed full of nutrients and health benefits here in Japan - bur sadly, I don't really like them. Natto and beansprouts? Hard pass. Raw fish? Yeah, it's got Omega-3's, but when it comes to fish I prefer mine battered and fried! Things I do like? Grapes. Stone fruits. Berries. Peppers. Those items are all priced well in excess of what I'd expect to pay back home, and with that comes a level of guilt for spending what I deem to be exorbitant amounts for produce. And yes, there is the saying "health equals wealth", but at the end of the day there are bills that need to be paid and other expenses that come before paying 1000 yen to indulge in a small punnet of strawberries -- no matter how delicious they are. At the rate I enjoy fruit at, I could easily smash a punnet a day, and a 7000 yen a week strawberry budget is kind of ridiculous.

A page from an online grocery store in Australia. $5.50 AUD (just under 400 yen!) for an entire kilogram of grapes. Mercy!