Mysteries

So the biggest mystery in my life in Japan is why I am gaining weight and why I am so tired during work. I think the two go hand in hand. The schedule is tiring and teaching in general takes a lot out of me but I think it might have something to do with the school lunch. After kindergarten I come home and am absolutely exhausted. The kids wear me out, but I also feel like the food I'm eating is not the balance I need or am used to. I've tried cutting down on how much kindergarten food I eat, but then I just crave more food and snack all afternoon. Somehow I cannot justify coming home and eating a second lunch?? I'm definitely trying to eat balanced meals and exercising outside of work but somehow I've still gotten a freshman 15!!. Every time I talk to my mom we discuss what could possibly make me gain weight and make my hormone balance broken...still after almost 6 months. I guess as much as humans can easily relocate and adapt to different surroundings our bodies still have a difficult time adjusting. Even though mentally you don't feel the stress of all the changes the body does and reacts with anger. And right now mine still hates me!!

Take a look at what I've been eating for lunch the last while. We usually have a soup, a vegetable, cold salad and some fried meat/fish then I bring brown rice. Maybe it doesn't look to appetizing, but its not so bad. My favorite days are when we get fruit with lunch. Lately though, I am just sick of eating cafeteria made food. Coming from a place where we are given so many choices it is hard to have to eat this lunch every work day. Somedays, I just want a sandwich and carrot sticks so bad!!

I remember the first school lunch I ate at kindergarten. I am pretty sure all my manners were absolutely wrong. I can recall the students correcting me on how I ate and everything I did wrong during that meal. I swear I almost cried from the torture of being corrected by young children. They sure made me feel different that day! haha. Lunch has gotten better since then and I am enjoying the kids more and more as we can communicate a little better. I am starting to really see inside the complex character of a Japanese child. Below I have taken a video of the ending of lunch when we say thank you for the delicious food. I was trying to be discrete so that is why the aim is a little off!

As for the mystery of weight gain, I am unsure. Is it the food? Is it stress? or possibly from drinking too much?? If you have a chance please give your input on the topic.