| Pages in topic: [1 2] > | Off topic: How do the colleagues working as translators only fit through their entrance doors?!?!?:-) Thread poster: Irene N
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Irene N
United States
Local time: 04:59
English to Russian
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After quite a long period of time I am busy with a fairly large translation assignment only, one whole week at a pace of ~3000+ words/day. Today I started at 6 am and I have already eaten 3 times!!!!!! Normally I run on coffee and cigarettes till lunch, my main meal, and then a dinner, which can be quite light. But now I get hungry as if I'm laying bricks! This work eats up so much energy, but not the fat... It shoud be mutually exclusive, but it is not... Or is it psychological, like food inste... See more After quite a long period of time I am busy with a fairly large translation assignment only, one whole week at a pace of ~3000+ words/day. Today I started at 6 am and I have already eaten 3 times!!!!!! Normally I run on coffee and cigarettes till lunch, my main meal, and then a dinner, which can be quite light. But now I get hungry as if I'm laying bricks! This work eats up so much energy, but not the fat... It shoud be mutually exclusive, but it is not... Or is it psychological, like food instead of cigarettes, or an excuse for a break? I hate it!:-) ▲ Collapse
| | | | Fabio Descalzi 
Uruguay
Local time: 06:59
Member (2004)
German to Spanish
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| Try eating less every time | Jun 24, 2007 |
Hi Irene,
I know this too well!
But... surprisingly, during the last months, I have been (discreetly) seen my weight get down...
First of all: I drink a lot of coffee without sugar - just to "get going" and keep my stomach "busy".
Second: I just eat a small dish every time. Sort of: at noon I lunch just a small slice of meat with salad, and I stand up and go after eating. Then, around half past 2 I take a slice of bread with margarine. And so on...
Believe it or not... See more Hi Irene,
I know this too well!
But... surprisingly, during the last months, I have been (discreetly) seen my weight get down...
First of all: I drink a lot of coffee without sugar - just to "get going" and keep my stomach "busy".
Second: I just eat a small dish every time. Sort of: at noon I lunch just a small slice of meat with salad, and I stand up and go after eating. Then, around half past 2 I take a slice of bread with margarine. And so on...
Believe it or not: it works! ▲ Collapse
| | | | Amy Duncan (X)
Brazil
Local time: 06:59
Portuguese to English
+ ...
| Are you hungry? | Jun 24, 2007 |
Hi Irene,
Before you eat anything, ask yourself if you're really hungry. Be honest about it!
If you're not, then don't eat. If the desire is very strong, have a cup of tea or coffee.
Good luck!
Amy
| | | | | My office ... | Jun 24, 2007 |
has a very wide entrance!
That's because I drink lots of coffee and I don't like coffee without chocolate... 
Oh yes, and we got ourself a very friendly dog, who takes me for a walk twice a day, so I'll get some exercise and a bit of fresh air.
[Bearbeitet am 2007-06-24 20:32]
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Claire Cox
United Kingdom
Local time: 10:59
French to English
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| Bowl of fruit | Jun 24, 2007 |
Hi Irene,
How about having a bowl of fruit in your office, so that if you feel the urge to eat, you can at least eat healthily and with relatively few calories!
Claire
| | | | Elizabeth Adams
United States
Local time: 02:59
Member (2002)
Russian to English
| thinking hard makes you hungry | Jun 24, 2007 |
I don't think it's all in your head!
My secret recipe is lots of water to drink plus almond or cashew butter on apple slices. Or mix a bowl of walnuts and raisins and keep it by the computer. The fat in the nuts keeps me going...
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Hi Irene
That's a good point - I do eat a lot (chocolate ! ) when working or in exam periods, along with liters of coffee, but I try to save one hour or at least 30 minutes a day to go jogging or to the gym when I have time - Plus it'a a great way to empty your mind and get some fresh air, relax and be happy, while keeping you fit !
[Modif... See more Hi Irene
That's a good point - I do eat a lot (chocolate ! ) when working or in exam periods, along with liters of coffee, but I try to save one hour or at least 30 minutes a day to go jogging or to the gym when I have time - Plus it'a a great way to empty your mind and get some fresh air, relax and be happy, while keeping you fit !
[Modifié le 2007-06-24 19:56] ▲ Collapse
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Early to bed, early to rise... we all know the rest, but I'd slightly rephrase it:
Restless night and early to rise
Make us eat and change our size.
If you wake up earlier for this project than you normally do, the problem may be there. This is an additional stress for your body, which it tries to compensate by additional food. "From morning till lunch" means one thing when you wake up at 9, and another thing, when you wake up at 6. And it's not just additional 3 ... See more Early to bed, early to rise... we all know the rest, but I'd slightly rephrase it:
Restless night and early to rise
Make us eat and change our size.
If you wake up earlier for this project than you normally do, the problem may be there. This is an additional stress for your body, which it tries to compensate by additional food. "From morning till lunch" means one thing when you wake up at 9, and another thing, when you wake up at 6. And it's not just additional 3 hours, but much more, because these hours are stolen from your sleep. This is just a guess, in case you really wake up earlier than you usually do.
It is also possible that you eat just because you need a break, and you can't find another good reason for taking a break. Usually this happens to me when the translation advances smoothly for some time, and suddenly I encounter a difficult phrase. Immediately I find myself in the kitchen. My mind doesn't even manage to think of a good reason for taking a break, but my body has already found it – hunger. Sometimes it helps, when I try to anticipate this behavior of my body. For example, I usually smoke 2 packs a day, but when there is a serious project, I don't smoke during work (It's hard in the beginning, but then you get used to it). As soon as one of such moments arrives, the reason for taking a break is already there - I need to smoke a cigarette. ▲ Collapse
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Steven Capsuto
United States
Local time: 05:59
Member (2004)
Spanish to English
+ ...
| It's not the profession :) | Jun 24, 2007 |
The secret, I think, is just not to have fattening foods in the house to begin with. You can't be tempted to eat what isn't in the kitchen in the first place. Of course, if you live across the street from a convenience store, it's probably more of a challenge.
I also make a point to get to the gym two or three times a week, and walk at least an hour on most other days. The nice thing about being self-employed is I can go to the gym during the day when there's little competition for ... See more The secret, I think, is just not to have fattening foods in the house to begin with. You can't be tempted to eat what isn't in the kitchen in the first place. Of course, if you live across the street from a convenience store, it's probably more of a challenge.
I also make a point to get to the gym two or three times a week, and walk at least an hour on most other days. The nice thing about being self-employed is I can go to the gym during the day when there's little competition for the equipment.
[Edited at 2007-06-24 21:07] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Irene N
United States
Local time: 04:59
English to Russian
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | Thanks, guys! | Jun 24, 2007 |
First, the answer to Henrik''s question:
5:45 am is my normal wakeup time. 3-4 days a week I'm on site at 6:45 for a 7 am interpretation job - a 1-2-hour morning teleconference with one of the specialists team, often followed by another full-day assignment till 4-5 or so. When I don't work nights, that is:-(. This is my routine schedule. So I routinely run away from the fridge as I don't have time to mess with it. Correct, liters of coffee, but I don't bother with food till lunch an... See more First, the answer to Henrik''s question:
5:45 am is my normal wakeup time. 3-4 days a week I'm on site at 6:45 for a 7 am interpretation job - a 1-2-hour morning teleconference with one of the specialists team, often followed by another full-day assignment till 4-5 or so. When I don't work nights, that is:-(. This is my routine schedule. So I routinely run away from the fridge as I don't have time to mess with it. Correct, liters of coffee, but I don't bother with food till lunch and don't feel hungry. ISS program, which is a 24/7/365 deal + 6 to 9 hours of time difference with Europe and Russia sets some very specific requirements. I do get enough sleep overall, but not always at the regular hours. Like now, I just had a nap... Over whis week I plan to work and sleep whenever I feel like it. Normally I'd rather stay late than wake up early with the alarm clock for a translation job.
I will probably knock down a pound or so gained over this one week in a gym, but month after month after month... I don't have enough willpower when I am next to the fridge:-(. Also, not much love for physical exercise unless it's natural, like walking European streets or swimming in the ocean. I always drop a size after 7-10 days in Europe. Here it's +35C and 87% humidity outside. Walking in Houston is not an option... at least for me:-( If not for my prime interpretation contract I would have moved a long time ago... to a place where people use their lower extremities more often.
Steven, you are right - empty fridge is the best cure!
[Edited at 2007-06-24 22:38]
[Edited at 2007-06-25 00:09] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | It's the glucose! | Jun 25, 2007 |
You feel hungry because you are consuming your circulating glucose. The brain only makes up 2% of your body mass, but it consumes 20% of the energy. It's about the equivalent of a 100W light bulb for normal activities, but when you are translating, it could go up to 120-150W. It is a very intense undertaking, cognitively. The trouble is, your brain ONLY uses sugar as energy. Not fat, not protein.
Since it takes a while to convert your stored fat into glucose, your blood sugar d... See more You feel hungry because you are consuming your circulating glucose. The brain only makes up 2% of your body mass, but it consumes 20% of the energy. It's about the equivalent of a 100W light bulb for normal activities, but when you are translating, it could go up to 120-150W. It is a very intense undertaking, cognitively. The trouble is, your brain ONLY uses sugar as energy. Not fat, not protein.
Since it takes a while to convert your stored fat into glucose, your blood sugar drops and you feel hungry. However, when you eat, you don't just take in glucose, you also take in fat, protein, etc. These substances end up getting stored instead of consumed by your brain.
My advice. . . . Eat fruit while translating. The fructose is absorbed rapidly and immediately ready for use by your brain. Any fat you consume will only be stored as fat. By the time your body can convert it to glucose, it doesn't need it anymore.
Remember that coffee and nicotine suppress your apetite, so by the time you feel hungry, your circulating reserves have been all used up! (I drink coffee by the liter, so I can sympathize). Caffeine is a diuretic, so get plenty of water in between cups. Also, sweeten your coffee with honey instead of sugar. It won't rot your teeth and it takes less insulin to absorb.
And get plenty of sleep!
SaludoZ!
Jason ▲ Collapse
| | | | Henk Peelen
Netherlands
Local time: 11:59
Member (2002)
German to Dutch
+ ...
SITE LOCALIZER | Get a beer, mate | Jun 25, 2007 |
No kidding, when you work a lot behind your desk and subsequently are not really hungry, but instead do have a desire for food, especially around 5 pm, a beer might do very well. Of course, not then of them! As far as I know a beer doesn't contain so much sugar like soft drinks and pops and don't leave you with an empty feeling like fruit juices might do. After a beer appetite is much lower and you coud skip a cold lunch.
Furtheron, I think the basic foods don't make you heavy, beca... See more No kidding, when you work a lot behind your desk and subsequently are not really hungry, but instead do have a desire for food, especially around 5 pm, a beer might do very well. Of course, not then of them! As far as I know a beer doesn't contain so much sugar like soft drinks and pops and don't leave you with an empty feeling like fruit juices might do. After a beer appetite is much lower and you coud skip a cold lunch.
Furtheron, I think the basic foods don't make you heavy, because their volume and nutritive value are well-balanced. Three years ago, a good client of mine called me up to tell me a project has been moved up and contracted. Since I did like to do it and tot do it allone, for three months I had to work about 80 hours a week.
My experience: never skip regular breakfast, dinner and kind of things. Take regular sandwiches with not too nutritive filling, and a nutritive meal with lots of potatoes and greenstuff and a limited amount of meat / fish. Replace potatoes only limited with rice / millet / sorghum / pasta because you already eat a lot of grains in sandwiches and other bakery products. Anyway the potato / grain group excellently dispels any hunger feelings.
Next to that, every day force yourself to do some moderate excercises. For instance, buy some plants and change your garden a little bit, paint the front door of your house, better your shed, or much better: get a bike and you camera, cycle for an hour and take pictures, Walk or cycle to your granny or a friend 10 km further on. More heavy sports might encompass the danger of giving an inresistable desire for a good dinner.
But the most important thing, in my opinion: only sparely consume all that food in boxes and bags from the supermarket or special shops: chocolates, biscuits, chips and so on.
Might sound odd, but I found that waking up early makes more hungry than working late. Nevertheless I prefer waking up early. ▲ Collapse
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| Take breaks in between | Jun 25, 2007 |
but not for eating - turn the music on, move around the house, do some cleaning or funny dancing, stretch your muscles...
This way, you'll get your mind off things for a moment, take in some nicotine-free oxygen and feel refreshed.
I stopped smoking almost two (2!) months ago, and when the craving hits me, it's what I do- instead of going to the fridge. So far, I haven't gained weight.
Get a move on!
All the best,
Carolin
| | | | Rafa Lombardino
United States
Local time: 02:59
Member (2005)
English to Portuguese
+ ...
| If you're really hungry... | Jun 25, 2007 |
The best thing you can do is have very small portions throughout the day. That will get your metabolism going faster and you'll avoid accumulating some fat and, consequently, the undesirable extra pounds. Try to have a container with healthy foods around. If can be anything from fruit, nuts, salty crackers (about 15 = 150 calories), or even gummy bears (17 = 130 calories).
On my desk, for example, I have a container full of a great variety of cereal bars. They range from 150 to 250 ... See more The best thing you can do is have very small portions throughout the day. That will get your metabolism going faster and you'll avoid accumulating some fat and, consequently, the undesirable extra pounds. Try to have a container with healthy foods around. If can be anything from fruit, nuts, salty crackers (about 15 = 150 calories), or even gummy bears (17 = 130 calories).
On my desk, for example, I have a container full of a great variety of cereal bars. They range from 150 to 250 calories and if you eat one of them real slowly in the afternoon and drink lots of water, that'll fill you up pretty good until dinner time. But beware! Always read the label before buying cereal bars, 'cause even some "diet brands" have nasty ingredients. The more organic, the better. In other words, if a product contains high fructose corn syrup, it doesn't deserve to be called a "cereal bar" and you must keep that away from you!
Try to slow down on the coffee too. I used to be a coffee junkie and, all of a sudden, I've left my habit behind and I now try to get a cup of green tea everyday to get some antioxidants. Apart from that, drink lots of water. Buy one of those sport bottles, fill it up with some nice cold water (maybe some lemon drops for flavor,) and keep it within reach. if you have a kitchen nearby, try to stockpile on fruit and if you feel you need something sweet, make some nice combinations for a fruit salad (banana & peaches is my favorite combo) or put it all in a blender with water and ice and have yourself a nice glass of juice or smoothie. You won't believe how full you'll feel just by taking in some liquid nourishment.
Besides these healthy tricks to keep your stomach from roaring back at you, you can always go out for about 15 minutes to just get some fresh air or walk around the block. Since you already wake up early, if you can organize your schedule around it, you can also use a couple of hours first thing in the morning to go to the gym or to the part to work our a little bit. You'd be surprised to learn that you may not have such an appetite after breaking a nice sweat.
Well, keep in mind that sometimes we just need some "entertainment" when we're under pressure or stuck on a sentence... So if you fall on this trap, keep healthy things around you and the damage to your body will be a lot smaller...
Good luck!
[Edited at 2007-06-25 19:00] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Irene N
United States
Local time: 04:59
English to Russian
+ ...
TOPIC STARTER | Jason and everybody, thank you all! | Jun 25, 2007 |
Jason, it was worth asking the question just to read your reply. I had a general idea but I could have never put it so precisely! Also, all advices are great and true. I am more of a carnivore than a fruit-lover, but a have a big bowl of cherry in front of me now.
There is only one question left - how do you guys keep that discipline for years?:-) In the last 7-8 years I have been translating not even every week and mostly 3-4 hours a day for 2-5 days a week in between my prime sche... See more Jason, it was worth asking the question just to read your reply. I had a general idea but I could have never put it so precisely! Also, all advices are great and true. I am more of a carnivore than a fruit-lover, but a have a big bowl of cherry in front of me now.
There is only one question left - how do you guys keep that discipline for years?:-) In the last 7-8 years I have been translating not even every week and mostly 3-4 hours a day for 2-5 days a week in between my prime schedule. I receive it on Fridays and when it contains too many gaps I call my oil buddies and ask for something with a reasonable deadline for the same week. With their continuous projects they can always find something nice and sweet for me. Oh well, almost always...
I can turn into a smart eater for a week or when I'm away from home, but forever, and next to the kitchen.........!!! You are my heroes, no kidding!!!
Have a great week, everyone, and the thread is still open:-)
Kind regards,
Irene ▲ Collapse
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