又中又英——A Lean And Mean Company

　　Most people, especially men, like to be lean and mean. Businesses also like to be lean and mean. A lean and mean person is someone who is thin but strong and healthy. Athletes are lean and mean. Ordinary people can also be lean and mean if they eat healthy foods and work out regularly. The expression “work out” can be used in several ways but used this way it means to do vigorous exercises either in the gym or jogging or cycling outdoors. A lean and mean company is one that is efficient and has just enough staff to make it profitable. A lean and mean sports team is one with players ready to work hard to win.
　　When I lived in Hong Kong I tried hard to be lean and mean by eating healthy, working out in the gym, and going for long walks in the country parks but did not succeed fully. I was lean (thin) but not mean (strong and healthy) because I had a weak spot. A weak spot is a weak part in something, either physically or mentally. My weak spot was I loved to eat potato chips in the evenings with wine, whiskey, or martinis. That meant it was hard to be totally strong and healthy even though I had a healthy diet. Now that I am in the US, my weak spot has become even weaker!
　　I have been living with relatives in different US states. They all have big houses. They either cook big meals or do take-outs from restaurants to eat at home. Restaurant food is not always healthy. I have been eating French Fries, hamburgers, pizzas, Mexican food, and heavy American-style food. I am already gaining some weight because I no longer go to the gym. Walking is not always possible because most people drive. I recently went to a restaurant with American-style food and ate too much. I will write about that in my next column.
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　　大多数人尤其男士，都想 lean and mean，企业也想 lean and mean。A lean and mean person就是精瘦但健壮的人。运动员都是精瘦而健壮的（lean and mean），一般人若吃健康的食物，定时做运动锻炼身体（work out），也可以精瘦而健壮（lean and mean）。习语“work out”可以有几种用法，但在这里则是指做剧烈的运动，不论是在健身中心操体能，抑或在户外跑步或踏单车。A lean and mean company就是精简而有效率的公司，用仅仅足够的员工就能赚钱；a lean and mean sports team就是一支准备好豁出去、破釜沉舟也要努力取胜的运动队。
　　我还在香港居住时，我很努力变得精瘦而健壮（lean and mean），吃得健康、去健身房锻炼身体（working out）、到郊野公园远足，但从来不算十分成功。我确实精瘦（lean），却未能健壮（mean），因为我有个weak spot ——a weak spot 就是弱点，可以是生理也可以是心理上的。我的弱点（weak spot）就是我喜爱在晚上吃薯片，佐以葡萄酒、威士忌或马天尼。这意味着，即使我已有健康的饮食，但要真正的健壮就很难了。现在我身处美国，我的弱点（weak spot）变得更软弱！
　　我住在美国不同州份的亲戚的家里，他们人人都拥有大屋，不是煮大餐就是从餐厅买外卖回家吃。餐厅的食物都不健康，我一直在吃薯条、汉堡包、薄饼、墨西哥菜，还有重口味的美式食物。我体重已经增加了一点，因为我再没有上健身房操练了。走路散步也不大可能，因为大部分人都驾车。我最近去了一间美式餐厅，也吃太多了。我会在下一篇专栏中再说。
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中译：七刻
Michael Chugani 褚简宁