Travelling Alone to Thailand for Weight Loss

Does it sound dodgy for a middle aged single man to go to Thailand by himself, should I go somewhere else, where would that be at similar price?

Reason for Travel:
I want to travel for a few weeks to get into a fitness kick / satisfy my want to travel. I want to do it alone because I am a fairly introverted person and enjoy my own time.

I saw a couple of weight loss camps in Thailand but due to cost am going to get a personal trainer to write up a plan and head over. Being out of my normal environment means I don't really feel the need to drink to socialise and also I usually stick to 1 main meal a day. Its fairly easy for me to be regimental / exercise / walk around all day and lose weight.

** I don't really want to go to Bali. I do want a hotel with a pool and gym reasonably priced.

Comments

  • +9

    Any middle aged white man travelling alone to South East Asia will unfortunately be accused by some people of going there for sex tourism or worse….

    • +16

      As a white middle aged man travelling alone I didn't have any grief from Thai or Australian immigration. It's unfortunate that some people have this image of a particular gender/age/racial group, but that's their problem and not the OP's.

      • +10

        As a white middle aged man travelling alone anywhere in the world you'll be stereotyped by predominately desperate and divorced white females that are jealous because you're free and not under their control.

        • -2

          As Jesus i am everywhere, including Thailand. Never had a problem. Bless you my son.

        • Username checks out.

        • -4

          Because everyone likes a BBC (I mean the news).

          But seriously, wouldnt marrying a man be seen as being too dependent and thus contrasting the strong and independent woman image that feminists are thriving for?

        • +10

          This is one of the most insulting posts towards men I've ever seen.

          1. You're saying that men don't get sex when they want it are paedophiles who commit sex crimes.
          2. You're calling men invading women stealers.
          3. You're suggesting that SEA men can't protect their community.
          4. You're suggesting that white men are racist who resort to committing crimes against Asians because they can't 'get' white women.

          The truth is that most people go through periods of loneliness in their lives, where they can't find someone to save themselves. Sometimes this goes on for a long period, sometimes it's short. Most people deal with it. Maybe they watch porn, maybe they have a pull, maybe they distract themselves at the gym or throw themselves into work. Suggesting that men become pedo criminials because they're going through a dry spell is just gross.

          • -2

            @MessyG:

            You're saying that men don't get sex when they want it are paedophiles who commit sex crimes.

            1) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMcjxSThD54
            2) That's a strawman argument.
            https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straw_man
            3) Why didn't you respond to KozieSeller, who made that claim in the first place? I'll quote them again in full for you:

            For good reason too, and alot of the time isn't it true? alot of desperate and poor bogus males go there for cheap hookers? disrespectful in my opinion.
            Also alot statistics showing abusiveness happening between these caucasian and asian meet ups, cause they like bend the rules, not forgetting to mention peadophile activity tendancies

            Got any problems with the assertions made here? Talk to them about it.

            You're calling men invading women stealers.

            1) This is just semantics. If the word "steal" offends you, feel free to open a thesaurus and replace it with a similar word (EG. take, obtain, acquire)
            2) Whatever word you choose, that doesn't change the outcome of white men going to foreign countries and taking the local women. The outcome is less local women for the local men and this inequality can either be unaddressed (increasing numbers of local men due to shortage of local women) or be externally addressed (EG. white women and non-white men pairing up to offset the white male/Asian female pairings).

            You're suggesting that SEA men can't protect their community.

            You're making a lot of opinions you think I hold. I think SEA can protect their community if they choose to. So, your assertion above is false.

            You're suggesting that white men are racist who resort to committing crimes against Asians because they can't 'get' white women.

            1) That is yet another strawman argument and I never made such a claim. My assertion is simply that since white men are increasingly for whatever reason finding it difficult to hook up with their fellow white women, they travel overseas to meet their needs. Crime doesn't enter into my argument at all. KozieSeller is the one that brought up crime.

            3) As for racism, I don't think white men are racist so you'll probably want to address KozieSeller directly who brought up race in this first place. I'll quote:

            Also alot statistics showing abusiveness happening between these caucasian and asian meet ups

            3) Since you brought up racism, evidence shows that white women are more racist than white men: https://imgur.com/A50EPtl

            The truth is that most people go through periods of loneliness in their lives, where they can't find someone to save themselves. Sometimes this goes on for a long period, sometimes it's short. Most people deal with it. Maybe they watch porn, maybe they have a pull, maybe they distract themselves at the gym or throw themselves into work. Suggesting that men become pedo criminials because they're going through a dry spell is just gross.

            Good thing I'm not suggesting that. So this paragraph is irrelevant to my argument.

            So who is suggesting that claim? Again, KozieSeller. And Western (white) women who shame white men for travelling to Asia. Probably feminists (male and female feminists) in general. Got a problem with their suggestions? Talk to them.

          • -1

            @MessyG: He literally said none of that.

        • Why don't white women solve this problem by having sex with white men? That way white men won't have to go all the way to SEA and any potential abuse will be prevented. It's good for the local SEA men too so they won't have to watch their women get stolen by the invading white men.

          That's a very naive way of thinking.

          • @Ughhh: Got any solutions? I offered two.

            White women pair up with white men to address the imbalance.
            Or the white women pair up with foreign men (in this case, Thai).

            Interracial dating is a zero sum game.

            The other "solution" is of course for a certain demographic of men to die alone without having a chance to procreate.

            • @DeafMutePretender: No offence, but have you been in a relationship before?
              You don't have to answer. Life and relationships is not as simple as 1+1=2.

              • @Ughhh: Got any solutions? You don't have to answer.

                Life and relationships is not as simple as 1+1=2.

                It quite literally is 1+1=2

                AUSTRALIA
                If the population of Australia is 10 white men and 10 white women, and if we assume that "there is a person for everyone" then there will be 10 WM/WF couples.

                THAILAND
                10 Thai men and 10 Thai women equals 10 TM/TF couples.

                If a White Australian man marries a Thai woman, then the dating market will look like this:

                AUSTRALIA
                9 White men and 10 White women = 9 WM/WF couples. There will be 1 unpaired White woman.

                THAILAND
                10 Thai men and 9 Thai women = 9 TM/TF couples. There will be 1 unpaired Thai man.

                This equation can only be balanced by the White woman and Thai man marrying each other.

                • @DeafMutePretender: I take it that you're single and very very young.

                  • @Ughhh: That's not an argument. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ad_hominem

                    You didn't even read + thought about what I posted. Otherwise you would have taken more than 1 minute and 52 seconds to write a reply.

                    This conversation is over.

                    • @DeafMutePretender: It wasn't an argument, Im just stating my observations. Theres no need to when you make statements like:

                      It quite literally is 1+1=2

                      Perhaps in a world where assumptions are 100% accurate and variables are controlled, maybe your ideas work.

                      Also, conversation was over like a week ago, until you revived it…

                      • @Ughhh: I looked through your past posts and it seems like you're a woman. I understand that as a person who identifies as part of the group "women", it is hard for you to accept that can women take any criticism (since we live in a society that treats men as acceptable targets for criticism but will never attack women in the same way). So for that reason, I will take everything I said back and allow you the last word as well as allowing you to be the winner of this debate. Thank you and good bye.

      • You are a racist

    • Any middle aged white man travelling alone to South East Asia will unfortunately be accused by some people of going there for sex tourism or worse….

      Are you assuming the OP's race? Whites aren't the only race going there for sex tourism.

  • +9

    No should be fine, though customs may check your laptop/phone on the return flight to aus.

    • Curious, do they only do phone/laptop check, for people traveling alone?

    • Silly question, but are they checking for…questionable content?

      • +3

        yes

    • Has this ever happened to anyone except for 1 journalist a few years ago?

    • The feds have considerable power to check out all your gadgets on the way back - including insisting on password etc - something they just do not have the authority to do if they encountered you on the street.

      So encrypt and upload everything to the cloud before getting on the plane, then retrieve when you get back. They don't need your contacts list or SMS's.

      • -1

        Damn. Its not uncommon for new fathers to keep naked pictures of their kids on their phones (cus tey want to capture every moment and the kids will want to see their pictures later).

        How will they prove on the spot that those pictures are actually their kids if they travel alone?

        • +6

          "Hey dad, got any naked photos of me as a baby?" said no one ever.

        • +1

          Don't be silly - the album will have other photos of the same kid/s with their clothes on. And probably some will have mum or other close relatives in it too. It will be obvious they're family snaps, not kiddie pr0n.
          Context is all, and even Border Force turkeys know that.

        • I'd have to say it is uncommon.

          • @bmerigan: If you're saying it is uncommon for child nude family pictures nowadays, I believe you.

            But the culture nowadays being suspicious of all men (while I admit suspicious of some men makes sense, we all must also remember not all men are bad etc), probably means males are much more careful about having those pictures, or how you hug your daughter in public etc.

            30 years ago you could be a kid running around naked. Not really thought appropriate anymore is it? As a child I kissed my parents on the lips up to an age, not sure if I'd be comfortable kissing my own child on the lips.

            I don't know which set of cultural norms are better or more reasonable. What do you think?

    • I've never had that and I've been to Thailand many times.

  • +6

    Why do you care what other people think?

    • +4

      Isn't thinking like this is normal ? Also because of my work.

      • +1

        What's the concern with your work? How will they find out what you're up to unless you tell them?

        People go to all sorts of places by themselves all the time for all manner of purposes. As others have mentioned, you may be subject to some questions/searches on your return, but it's effectively nothing different to "random search" you might get at the airport at any other time.

      • +1

        It's good to be aware of what others think of you, after all we're all part of a society. But it's important to not let peoples opinions of you control your life.
        So that's what he's saying, why do you care what others think? If they think it's weird for a guy to go see another part of the would and meet some fitness goals, then stuff them. That's their problem, not yours. Enjoy yourself.
        You're also not required to tell them anything beyond you're taking time off. You're not a bad person for denying someone's attempts to try pry into your personal life.

    • customs may go through his phone/laptop, esp if he does this regularly, so a valid concern.
      he/she cannot refuse the search either. If they do, they'll get held up longer while their laptop/phone gets imaged.

      also, OP, if I was holidaying I'd naturally would be eating at cafes/restaurants all the time, instead of hunkering down trying to lose weight;
      but hey you might make it if you're on the right mindset.

      • +2

        My weight gain usually revolves around serving sizes and going back for seconds. I love to cook and I eat while I am making the food. this all adds up to one big disaster.

        When i travelled for work I found that I would find a nice place to eat but once I left there wasn't the option to cook in the hotel room and also if I did go out later looking for snacks I found it was because of boredom, walking and investigating the new place I was in kind of satisfied the boredom

  • +3

    Youre just travelling with some additional activities thats all

    From the header it sounded like you wanted to go there for surgery

    • No surgery, I just need to find a place where I can go and not be around friends and family . We are all so attached to food and drinking.

      • TBH going there for surgery sounds like a much better cover story than what you wrote in OP.

  • +22

    For accelerated weight loss, try the street food from the dodgy looking vendors selling chicken. ;)

    • "chicken"

      • +1

        "meow"

        Sorry, I mean… "b-gawk, cluck, cluck…"

  • +7

    Anyone else find this super weird

    • +3

      this is exactly why I am thinking twice :(

      • +3

        Nah you've justified it pretty well below and it makes sense. Have you thought about introducing less mind-numbing physical activities into your life? Like maybe a team sport or boxing/kickboxing? You could do some Mauy Thai classes over in Thailand. Fittest I've ever been was doing boxing/kickboxing regularly and I miss it heaps.

        • +2

          Yes but then I feel like i need to invite my friends or they whinge and moan I am antisocial and rude and it just ends up with us going to the pub afterwards which is exactly what i am trying to avoid.

          • @Fysh: Your friends don't sound like friends… not understanding ones anyway.

          • @Fysh: Having a pint after a boxing/ kickboxing session is definitely better than having a pint after doing nothing. Besides, everyone is entitled to some "me time". I don't even think spouses should live in each other's pockets, let alone friends and family

    • +9

      i don't know what you find super weird about it. i see a guy that wants to travel and much of society has given him such anxiety about travelling alone to a country that in some peoples minds is entirely revolving around sex tourism and that as a single male traveller he might automatically be classed as one of those.

      i find it absolutely ridiculous that we have gotten to that point where men are shamed for wanting to travel alone to rich cultural places but when women travel alone, go on tinder dates (ie. the same thing) and bang random foreign guys they're considered strong independent women!

      there's tons you can do in thailand without any real plans, i've cycled through thailand and would HIGHLY recommend that (even more so neighouring countries) but if you don't have the time to plan that you can easily just rent bicycles there and explore yourself and get a cheap bus/train between cities.

      walking around instead of taking tuk-tuks and taxis (eg. bangkok) will be fun and you will definitely lose weight if you just eat noodles and rice. the portion sizes are small and it's so hot i find it hard to eat in the heat. just stay hydrated and you'll drop the kilos in no-time.

      off the top of my head, don't miss
      - bangkok
      - kanchanaburi
      - ayutthaya
      - chiang mai
      - chiang rai

      and a bus ride/ferry to koh samet is a nice little island near bangkok that is mostly walkable/cycleable. or go further to koh chang - also nice

      i previously liked koh larn off pattaya but it's been overrun and overdeveloped now

      • I was more referring to the fact that someone would travel across the world to lose weight, but he's rationalised it below. If it helps, more power to him, but it sounds like a pretty multifaceted issue that I'm not sure two weeks in Thailand is going to fix.

        As to all your other points, you can rage against society's perceptions all you want, but the fact is people are going to judge you for travelling to Thailand solo as a middle aged man. I've been there and seen the reasons why. You seem to have a bit of a chip on your shoulder about women that's really irrelevant to his issue.

      • i find it absolutely ridiculous that we have gotten to that point where men are shamed for wanting to travel alone to rich cultural places but when women travel alone, go on tinder dates (ie. the same thing) and bang random foreign guys they're considered strong independent women!

        If shaming men is acceptable, then women should also be shamed for the same thing. The difference would be that when women are shamed, it's actually being done for their own good. Because it seems like Government-run travel advisory guides didn't work for these people:

        Murders of Louisa Vesterager Jespersen and Maren Ueland
        https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murders_of_Louisa_Vesterager_J…

        A Dream Ended on a Mountain Road: The Cyclists and the ISIS Militants
        https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/07/world/asia/islamic-state-…

        and for something closer to home:

        How an Australian woman, 30, travelled to Pakistan to meet the man of her dreams… only for him to lock her up, force Islam upon her and abuse her daily
        https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-6625447/Survivor-Mu…

      • +1

        i find it absolutely ridiculous that we have gotten to that point where men are shamed for wanting to travel alone to rich cultural places but when women travel alone, go on tinder dates (ie. the same thing) and bang random foreign guys they're considered strong independent women!

        There is no wide industry peddling men for sex the same way there are industries peddling women and minors for sex. So perhaps you need some perspective to see why they may be treated differently.

        • because there doesn't need to be :)

          think you need the perspective. it's all supply and demand.

          • -1

            @cynicalmike:

            it's all supply and demand.

            Nice, you just elucidated exactly why men do cop more scrutiny when it comes to exploiting sex workers.

            • +1

              @fantombloo: believe me the 'sex workers' often aren't the ones being exploited.

              • -1

                @cynicalmike: Making light of sexual violation as you just did is exactly why our gender are often seen as creeps and shamed, and why the OP has proper concerns.

                • @fantombloo: i really don't think you're part of the male gender based on your narrow minded comments here.

                • @fantombloo: @thevofa i didnt know paying for sex was a sexual violation? Why is it legal in NSW?

                  • +1

                    @gumbo45c: Sex work is like porn - there is nothing wrong with it in and of itself, but the industries around it are usually exploitative, especially when unregulated (ie: regulated by "business people"), and I'd suggest a small look into it would uncover all sorts of sex violations. There is a reason why men travel to SE Asia for sex even though they can buy it in NSW, and it's not just about money.

                    • @fantombloo: So what is the reason?

                    • @fantombloo: So what's your argument again?

                      Is there potential abuse between foreign men and SEA prostitutes? Yes. If there are, solve the problem.
                      Is there above board interactions between foreign men and SEA prostitutes? Yes.

                      Is there potential abuse between local men and local prostitutes? Yes. If there are, solve the problem.
                      Is there above board interactions between local men and local prostitutes? Yes.

                      So perhaps you need some perspective to see why they may be treated differently.

                      So what is the perspective that we are missing?

                      • -1

                        @DeafMutePretender: The heavily exploitative aspect. The fact that sex trafficking is rife in SE Asia and with victims who are scared for their lives and will therefore perform against their better judgements or will, and little regulation to control it. It's the same perspective that knows that 98% of women don't care to have their faces cummed on, even though that's what most porn might make you believe. If you can't see that I can't help you further.

                        • @fantombloo:

                          It's the same perspective that knows that 98% of women don't care to have their faces cummed on, even though that's what most porn might make you believe.

                          2 questions:

                          1) Assuming what you say is true, does this make female porn stars complicit in the promotion of this perspective?

                          2) Do you think that women have agency?

                          • -1

                            @DeafMutePretender: Most people work because they have to, many in roles they'd rather not. Some have less choice in what they do or how often they have to do it. I have agency yet I sometimes put up with my clients' BS because I think I need to in order to keep getting work. I think it's a safe bet that most workers including porn actors do similar.

  • +7

    my friend lost so much weight when he came back from Thailand.
    It was the worst food poisoning he ever had. lost at least 5kg. possibly 8kg

    • +1

      maybe I don't need to go for the full 3 weeks I can just fly over eat at the dodgiest places and fly back.

      • +8

        To be honest you can stay home and lick some 10 day old raw chicken and drink the raw sausage juices in the bottom of the tray.

        • +7

          Almost threw up just reading your comment. It works!

    • Agree, my worst food poisoning from a trip ever was from some tour in Bangkok eating 'buffet' food from some shack on a river… true toilet hugging time then.

  • Unfortunately people back home may make some assumptions but all you can really do is share your truth and forget about the rest.

    Also, if you're successful in losing weight then you have some tangible evidence too.

    • +2

      I agree, I have set out a good schedule planned with different things every second day I'll take heaps of photos if I go. I think health wise its almost a necessity for me to do something like this. I can possibly drop 10 kilos and i need to lose 40 to be at ideal so its a very good kick start.

      • +3

        Very best of luck to you. I have lost 35-ish kg from my heaviest weight so I know what you're going through.

  • Why cant you lose weigh at your home or join a private training session?

    • +2

      Its the exposure to friends and family that increase my calorie intake, I find it hard to say no. Being slightly introverted I just want to please everyone I guess. I also enjoy working out but don't want the pressure from the people I know to achieve results. I wouldn't be telling them I'm going for weight loss.

      I went away for work for 2 months 3 years ago and lost 20 kilos as I was only eating 2 meals a day , not drinking and was on my feet all day (no gym work).

      Just to add, I have a house mate who I share meals with, so even though I am single I am kind of not alone on that front which makes adds to difficulty on a daily basis .

      • +3

        Hi dude - if you don't change your home routine, any weight lost overseas will just be regained when you come back.

        I'm all for going on holiday, but you should look at changing your daily routine, bit by bit.

        • This is true

        • Yrs. Maybe try seeing a psychologist to find out how to manage your relationships so that they don't sabotage your efforts to take better care of yourself. CBT can also help you to be more assertive.

      • Fair enough. Personally I tend to put on weight when on holiday from eating in restaurants all the time.

  • +5

    How are you planning to keep your weight down after your return?

    • +11

      In the grand scheme of things its taken me 10+ years to get to this weight so I am hoping it wont immediately go back on. My strategy is like this.

      • 21 days to break eating habit ( late night snacks , sweets, second servings)
      • I work 10kms from home - I want to get my cycle fitness up so I can ride to work (hence the need for a gym with excersize bike)
      • I use to swim a lot when i was younger , there is no way i would take my shirt off atm. losing 20 kilos will allow me to get back into the pool.
      • +6

        Very good answer, that 20km a day bike will be great.

      • +3

        Brilliant. You seem to have things planned out and I would say go for it. Enjoy your time away as well. Good luck with your journey :)

      • This was my main concern when reading through this post, what happens after? well. good on ya buddy. You've got a plan.. stick to it. don't worry about what others think. yeah this kind of thing has a stigma, it's not going anywhere, and frankly I'm not sure there are other cheap enough places OS to go. I went to Koh Samui with my family earlier this year… loved it, the place the people the food… go enjoy! if you get searched you get searched, just pretend it's "random".. you never know you might get passed over too.

      • If you aren't really into having regular meals (esp breakfast), have you thought about doing the 16/8 protocol? https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/16-8-intermittent-fasti…
        I've started doing it myself. Its piss easy if you usually skip breakfast anyway. And lifestyle wise its piss easy to stick to because there isn't really a list of stuff you can and can't eat.

    • +3

      Very good question, the area in which most weight loss diets fail to cater for.

  • There's not much point in spending money on a trip to lose weight that clearly wont be sustainable when you return. You're better off trying to get into better habits at home. Start off small, like limiting the days you drink or binge out to the weekend. Find a routine that works for you, and that you enjoy, otherwise it wont be sustainable. Being an introvert doesn't mean you have to be a push over. It's your goal that you can achieve, why let others get in the way of that?

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