Why are the Japanese so slim? Tap into This Unique Japanese Method of Weight Reduction and Control.

(It’s easier than you think!)

Weight Loss and Japanese People. Japanese People and Weight Loss

These two things appear to go hand in hand.

But the Japanese are not innately slim by nature. They are slim by choice, and that choice is driven by a process. A very clever but simple process.

Living in Japan for 25 years and having a Japanese spouse has taught me many things. But this is one of my favourite things that I learned and I’m always happy to share.

If you’ve been to Japan or eaten in Japanese restaurants, you’ll notice something consistent each time. That is, the different foods are often separated on different dishes and plates, almost as if they don’t want to mix the flavours (well, that is actually one of the reasons!).

There are actually several reasons for this, but for the sake of brevity in this article and to keep the writing on the topic, I’ll save the other reasons for a different time.

So here is the secret…drum roll…

‘Hara hachi bun me (‘me’ is pronounced ‘meh’) (or in Japanese, 腹八分目)

Hara-hachibunme is a Japanese practice of eating until you are 80% full.

The phrase “hara-hachibunme” comes from a Confucian teaching that says “fill your stomach to 8 parts out of 10, and leave the remaining 2 for the gods.”

But this doesn’t mean that it’s 80% for food and 20% for dessert and drinks!

This practice is commonly observed in most areas of Japan, specifically in Okinawa, a region of Japan famous for its longevity, boasting the world's oldest living people.

The concept behind hara-hachibunme is to avoid overeating and to give the body enough time to register when it is full.

By stopping before you are completely full, you avoid putting too much stress on your digestive system and potentially overloading your body with unneeded calories.

This practice can therefore help not just with weight loss, but with weight management, as well as promoting better digestion and overall health.

Weight loss is not that difficult, maintaining the new weight is.

How To Do This Yourself

Firstly, to practice hara-hachibunme, it is important to eat slowly and mindfully, paying attention to your body’s signals of hunger and fullness. If you eat too quickly, you won’t read the signals that your body is giving you.

Secondly, ‘hard wire’ your meals to support this goal. Use smaller plates or bowls to encourage smaller portion sizes.

Taking breaks during meals and engaging in conversation can help slow down your eating pace and prevent overeating. This will help you not only master this new practice, but you’ll also put some renewed and welcomed nourishment into your relationships with the people that you’re sharing the meals with.

With this double-act, you’ll be watching your tummy shrink and the depths of your relationships grow at the same time.

Food Boundaries

Japanese are generally slim not just because they just eat healthy foods, but because they have food volume boundaries.

It’s easier on the digestive system, your body recovers quickly and you’ll have more energy given you’re using less energy to digest.

So start the habit and watch your body change. Ditch the 100% and go for 80%.

Your body will be thanking you, you’ll be thanking your body, and your friends and loved ones will be thanking you for the extra time and conversations that you’ll be enjoying with them.

Now that’s a win-win if I’ve ever heard one.

Short story #1 from the series ‘7 Secrets of Japanese Success.’.

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