Natural Born Health experts

[LatinSwede]

You guys with Russian/Ukrainian women know what I'm talking about.  It's been my experience with European women in general, that they make a big emphasis on eating right and exercising.  FSUW's seem a tad more zealous on the matter.  It's like every other e-mail from my fiance has something about making sure I eat right.  She also insists that "we go do sport together".  Bally's personal trainers would lose a lot of buisness, if more AM's hooked up with RW's.  It's like I can hardly eat anything without her reminding me of it's nutritional value.  If you're just getting started with your East European lady, get ready!  Besides being your sweetheart, she will become your dietician, and fitness trainer.  When we were first dating, I'd  get her a box of chocolates now and then.  Come to find out, she hardly touched it.  She'd just take a couple pieces and pass the rest of it on to her family.  Since then, I've been sending her big fruit baskets.  She said that's much better because, (drum roll.......) it's "healthier".  Ocassionally I'll throw in a small box of chocolates for good measure.  She shares everything I give her anyway, but at least I know she's eating a good deal of the fruit basket.  The nephew would rather get chocolate.  My significant other is also distrustful of prepackaged and prefabricated meals.  I guess chinese take away is out of the question. If dinner isn't made from scratch with all the raw ingedients, it's not healthy to her.  At this point I hope she doesn't make me go outside to hunt for the meat.  In the early part of our relationship she used to scold me for eating so much chocolate.  I avoid fast food like the plague, but I love chocolate.

Being physically active also seems to be important in the mind of the RW.  She's not going to bear you sitting around all day watching TV.  Recently, I told my darling Ukrainian about my plug and play games (btw the Star Wars Revenge of the Sith game is awsome), and how much fun at home I'm having.  Then I joked that while she's adjusting to her new life, she'll have the plug and play video games to keep her occupied.  Well, she went on a roll about how she's not just going to sit around all day playing games.  She went on a roll how it's not good to be inside all day, because there's nature, and we can go jogging/walking, play sport, yadidadida.........I got the feeling she's going to look in my cupbard find a box of cookies and cast in into the abyss.  Ukrainian women don't play around when it comes to nutrition.

THis past summer, I was hanging out a lot with Russian freinds that were guest workers.  Most of them were girls and also on the health kick.  WHen I brought them to my place for a get together, they asked me how I eat.  I told them hardly cook at home.  Usually I get take out, or pre-packaged meals from Wal-Mart.  Anya said "Joe, that is not good for health".  Hmm I think God sent those young women to train me and prapare me for my fiance's arrival.  Dmitri and girls came over to make borsch.  It was like the women were in total charge of the kitchen.

[andrewfi]

True that, there is a whole different culture of food and exercise. When Sveta comes over almost the first thing she does into check my fridge and pour scorn upon the paltry selection of vegetables therein and if I mention making food with some kind of sauce then there is a pantomime of face pulling ending with me promising not to make any sauce that contains flour or cream.

[Admin]

Did any of you ever have to deal with the 'milk mushroom' phenomenon??

I recall on one trip we even had to take the silly thing with us on the plane, lest it die from neglect on the countertop while we were away for a week.

- Dan

[andrewfi]

A former girlfriend had one of these, but as I sit here, I can not remember what on earth it was. It isn't a mushroom is it? I really can not remember!

[Albert]

LatinSwede, you are falling into the trap of thinking there is such a thing as a General RW/UW.  They come in all varieties with respect to a hundred variables.

With respect to exercise, most I have been with would rather die than do any of the traditional workout exercises.  Sure they will walk their asses off . . . . because they have to.  But mention some general full-body workouts to them and many turn up their noses . . . . not feminine.

Same with food.  Sure they will mostly go bonkers at the mention of fast food.  Yet some will slave over the stove all day to fill you up with lots of greasy food . . . . same as you can get at the local fast food places.

I have noticed in general, that FSU people can become brain washed very easily and do not actually think logically or critically about many things.  They are bombarded about the evils of the west . . . . we eat too much fast food, we take to many pills, etc.  Then, they turn around and prepare foods that are less healthy than fast food and rely on medical cures that remind one of coming right out of the jungle tribes of Africa and South America.

[Admin]

A former girlfriend had one of these, but as I sit here, I can not remember what on earth it was. It isn't a mushroom is it? I really can not remember!

Yeah, I think it is a mushroom that feeds on a diet of milk. The silly thing just keeps getting bigger - and every so often, Olya would sift the milk (seemed sour and horrible, to me) through some cheesecloth and drink it!

Give the stupid mushroom another bucket of milk - and in a few days, there she goes again.

It finally died because we were away and could not take it with us (thank God!). Got it off the countertop and don't have to look at that *stuff* anymore.

- Dan

[andrewfi]

You want me to find one and send it over in a fedex chiller bag?

[Elen]

I like that "mushroom" which should be fed with a tea Did anybody of you try such kind of drink?

[jb]

Dan,

We have an ample supply of the "milk mushroom" here if your wife would  like another starter fungus to make her own cottage cheese.

Let me know.

[dostogirl]

LatinSwede, you are falling into the trap of thinking there is such a thing as a General RW/UW.  They come in all varieties with respect to a hundred variables.

I'm the example  Hate vaggies, my husband has to make me eat them by not letting me start my dessert  till I'm done with the "grass" (that's how I call veggies and salads)  I love fast food, from time to time I sneak out when my husband is still asleep and buy myself a big fat burger. I love Chinese and just Asian food in general, I do not like Russian food, it's so greasy... I looove Americana..But my husband is the perfect example of a health food expert, counts callories and nutritional value of things. I can't even buy vegetables, cos every time I bring something home he says it doesn't have enough of nutritional value :? Anyway, we had our share of fights about food.. I'm not big on fitness, but last year I made myself go to a fitness club at least 3 times a week, I guess I have to do it again next semester. :X 

And don't show me any chocolate... I'll it it all

[NDOC]

My wife lands somewhere in the middle.  She's a certified yoga instructor that goes to fitness class six times a week.  I'd lay money she could kick the crap out of half of my officers or at least run circles around them until they were lying on the ground gasping for air.

Diet is another matter.  I haven't heard of the milk mushroom, but I'll have to ask.  Everytime I have a headache she wants to put wet cabbage on my head and the stuff for an upset stomach is too gross to describe.  She eats lots of fish and fish eggs, but also likes Baclava, chocolate, this pressed sunflower and honey paste stuff (don't now the name but it's hard as a brick), Russian tea leaves (not tea bags), and sushi.  She's also developed a taste for Thai and Indian food as well.  Donut was food item she asked for.

Then again, she swears by anything her mother tells her about food or politics.  She wont eat an apple because they are too perfect here and her mother says that whatever scientists put in them here to make them look good will attack her.  Her mother also says the United States will fall into the ocean, so take it for what it is worth.

[Voyageur]

One of the things that surprised me most about my RW, is her knowledge  and practice of eating healthy. She really can cook light American  dishes quite well, which was sort of a shock after I experienced the  kind of food (when I visited her) that is in mainstream diet - like  Plimeny (spelling), pork dishes and the salted fish. I do not care for  that type of heavy food, it is more traditional Russian fare.  I  always watch my weight, she can afford to eat more, but does not.   Frozen food is never allowed or considered, and her reaction to the  typical American diet of food is shock.

I am nursing a cold and sore throat now, and last night I made the  mistake of getting water with ice cubes to drink. When she saw this,  the ice cubes were history. She makes a very good chicken soup from  scratch and it is quite good.  I never had chicken soup from  anything but a can before in my life. 

We have an authentic Russian market near us in Pennsylvania and I have  found that for snacks (that are healthy) the frozen "bar" is great.  These are sort of like cheese-cake style, candy bar sized snacks with  chocolate coatings that have chocolate or vanilla or strawberry flavors  inside. They are definitely authentic Russian desserts and she tells me  that she many of her women friends eat these tasty treats one or two  times each day and still stay slim. 

[aikorob]

Elen,

Last summer when I visited Donna P. she gave me what she called "rat tea" -- the fungus looked like a rat had fallen in, but it tasted pretty good.

[catzenmouse]

I had a very bad head cold early this year and Elena used her grandmother's recipes on me. I was snorting onion juice and drinking charcoal tablets. It was a WHOLE new experience in cold remedies. Stuff did the trick though I have to say. Also have to say that I hope I NEVER get a cold again!

Ken

[Son of Clyde]

My wife is an outstanding cook but she was under a misconception that men must eat huge portions. Since her recipes usually involve rice, noodles, macaroni, potatoes or bread, my sugar level was extremely high when I had a recent blood test.

Maybe it was ok for her to eat this way in Ukraine because she did not have a sedentary job.

She is now adjusting my food intake and types of food I eat. Today she packed fresh salmon and vegetables for lunch, in microwaveable containers.

She really looks out for me and this issue with the doctor had her very worried. She is a very thoughtful, considerate person.

I'm now glad we bought the treadmill. 

[LatinSwede]

[user=130]Son of Clyde[/user] wrote:

My wife is an outstanding cook but she was under a misconception that men must eat huge portions. Since her recipes usually involve rice, noodles, macaroni, potatoes or bread, my sugar level was extremely high when I had a recent blood test.

Maybe it was ok for her to eat this way in Ukraine because she did not have a sedentary job.

She is now adjusting my food intake and types of food I eat. Today she packed fresh salmon and vegetables for lunch, in microwaveable containers.

She really looks out for me and this issue with the doctor had her very worried. She is a very thoughtful, considerate person.

I'm now glad we bought the treadmill. 

 

 

When I was at the home of my fince's family, her mother kept piling food on my plate.  I didn't want to be rude, but I told her mother I'd take the rest home with me.  She sent me off with quite a load.  The next day I didn't have to go a restraunt to eat.  Her mother and grandma are great cooks, and made a lovely layout on the table.

[Voyageur]

Yes, the portions of food that are served to you are very large. This  caused a slight problem for me when I went to my fiancee's parents, for  the engagement dinner. I could not eat everything and many questions  were asked (in Russian) about me, such as "is he sick?" or "how can he  not eat?".  The food and dishes were strange to me, I'll admit  this also.  I am not that adventurous when it comes to eating  something I know nothing about. :?

In fact, when my wife came here from Russia, her friends and Mother would always  ask about my eating for the first week or so. My wife is an excellent  cook and eating her food is the least of my problems.  But she  cooks more heathly Russian and American dishes, than what is normally  served for Russian parties. Often, this food is a mechanism to allow  extreme drinking, and - in my experience - is only meant to facilitate  the use of great quantities of vodka:D.

[TigerPaws]

I am going to agree with the general thread here, my lady is a wonderful cook and I will be damed but she is getting better as time goes on. She cooks very healthy meals and is always concerned about my health, she keeps on telling me that she wants me around for another 40 years. I could only be so lucky to live so long.

[Maxx]

Everyone up thread should read Albert's post at least 10 times

Just about everything they do except their limiting their caloric intake is unscientific. Body fat ratios, lean mass ratios, the right amount of protein to maintain or increase muscle mass thus speeding up the metabolism, essential amino acids and all that, you may as well be talking Greek to them. Mine was supposedly an aerobic instructor and yoga enthusiast. I couldn't get her to buy shoes that didn't have high heels. Even when we shopped for sports shoes they had to have 3 inch heels with platform soles.

Maxx

 

 

 

[TigerPaws]

Everyone up thread should read Albert's post at least 10 times

Just about everything they do except their limiting their caloric intake is unscientific. Body fat ratios, lean mass ratios, the right amount of protein to maintain or increase muscle mass thus speeding up the metabolism, essential amino acids and all that, you may as well be talking Greek to them. Mine was supposedly an aerobic instructor and yoga enthusiast. I couldn't get her to buy shoes that didn't have high heels. Even when we shopped for sports shoes they had to have 3 inch heels with platform soles.

Maxx

Maxx, and you point is what?

 

[Maxx]

No slam on RW but their understanding of scientific principals of Sports and Nutrition science is more 18th Century (not even 19th Century). They are fit mostly because they restrict their caloric intake and do more walking and carrying groceries etc. than Westerners do. One of the first culture shock issues when they arrive is "Where are all the people who walk on the sidewalks?" Well they are in their cars. Plus the ladies we usually go after are mostly mesomorphic (athletic body build) as they usually have more attractive figures. Because they look good doesn't always mean they understand healthy eating or the best exercise routines for getting and staying in shape.

Maxx

  

[Son of Clyde]

I am learning very much from this thread. I saw the alleged "milk mushroom" that she is constantly drinking from. Never in my life had I seen anything so horrid until she prepared the pig feet with the gelatin coating. Yecch!!! 

[Jet]

And don't show me any chocolate... I'll it it all

 

This is my wife as well. Her favorites include Pizza, cheesesteaks, tacos, and of course McD's doubleCheesburgers. She absolutely hates "rabbit food". She does however dine on the above delacasies in moderation so as not to aquire the trademark "American @ss"  after 2 yrs and 4 months stateside she tips the scales at 128 (not bad for being 5'8") She doesn't do much gym or aerobic type excercise, but we do continue to enjoy evening walks regularly.

[TigerPaws]

No slam on RW but their understanding of scientific principals of Sports and Nutrition science is more 18th Century (not even 19th Century). They are fit mostly because they restrict their caloric intake and do more walking and carrying groceries etc. than Westerners do. One of the first culture shock issues when they arrive is "Where are all the people who walk on the sidewalks?" Well they are in their cars. Plus the ladies we usually go after are mostly mesomorphic (athletic body build) as they usually have more attractive figures. Because they look good doesn't always mean they understand healthy eating or the best exercise routines for getting and staying in shape.

Maxx 

Maxx,

 I will agree there is very little "science" in their madness to stay healthy, most is folklore and hand-me-down information from mom and grandma. Ok if it makes them happy who the Hell cares, my lady cooks healthy, watches her calorie intake, swims and or dives almost every day (not much else to do a 57' boat?). We take hikes throughout the various islands we are visiting and do not eat much if any junk foods (she really has a destine for junk food).

 Ok when she first arrived in America she wanted to try almost everything but quickly learned that our fast food was also a quick ticket to the fat farm (Oink, oink!). 5-1/2 years later my lady is 5' 7" 120 lbs (this morning) and never felt better.

 She IS getting better about the sicence of eating healthy vs. folklore but it is a long process.

 

[MandM]

I find it slightly disturbing that some of you know how much exactly your wife weighed this morning and that you feel the need to share this information with internet board. Do you actually weigh them daily to make sure they haven't gained extra pounds? Or do you casually ask them at breakfast 'and how is our weight this morning, my dear?' I wonder if they share the same kind of information about you on Russian forums...