Many Americans are familiar with the curse of the "Freshman 15", after the excesses of college life deposit 15 additional pounds (6.8kg) on their waistlines during their first year at university.
Likewise, many expats can relate to the "Beijing 15". China's amazing cuisine manifested itself as 15 extra pounds on this writer's midriff after just a few months in the capital.
Fortunately a friend posted a jolting photograph of me on Facebook the same week a new gym opened near my office in Chaoyang district.
Called Hokay, it is a leader in the lower price range of gyms in the city, with 60 branches in Beijing. The facilities are as good as most I've seen at home in Australia. A yearly membership will only set you back 1,400 yuan ($206), about one sixth of the price of an Australian gym.
Yoga, aerobics and spinning classes at the gym, as well as dozens of cardio machines, have since helped me lose the pork-dumpling paunch.
Another option has been expensive swimming sessions (68 yuan) in a squeaky clean 50m pool at the International Youth University, located on Liangmaqiao Lu. I've also gone for 5km running sessions at the University of International Business & Economics' 400m athletic track.
My experience of gaining weight, and then working to lose it again, is hardly unique in Beijing.
