Wanderlust: Expat Life & Style in Thailand December 2014 / January 2015 | Page 24

HEALTH & well-being

It Stretches
Text: Brenda Vermeulen
Photo: Shutterstock

B

efore moving to Thailand, people said to me, “Oh, wow, I know
of people who went to visit
Thailand, and they came back with
suitcases full of clothes.” Having heard
this and as a newcomer to Bangkok,
I have been looking forward to purchasing new clothes and looking
as fabulous as a lot of the women
in Bangkok do—stylish and elegant,
matching bags and shoes, exquisitely
tailored skirts, and a confident smile
to match.

SURPRISE!
Yes, there are plenty of beautiful items of clothing to purchase.
This much is true. There is a catch,
though. You need to be of a more—
how can I say this—ah, yes, petite
build. Voluptuous is not really
24 WANDERLUST

a sought after shape in Thailand.
A JLo style behind is not really the “in”
thing, nor are Sophia Vergara’s ample
chicas.
I discovered this on a trip
to Mega Bangna one Saturday
when I enthusiastically headed
off for a shopping spree. Truth

"I MANAGED TO
GET THE DRESS
ON. THERE WAS
ONLY ONE SMALL
PROBLEM. THERE
WAS NO WAY THE
ZIPPER IN THE
BACK WOULD
EVER ZIP UP."

be told, I have been battling
the bulge for many years. Kilogram
after kilogram has become firmly
attached to my flabby muscles,
and they have formed such a strong
bond that neither wants to let go.
I am overweight, and ver H]X