I note that not only is a person’s abilities to lose weight, build muscle, etc. unique to each of us, those abilities also change over time. By the age at which I had the time to work on things like running and lifting, my body was too beat up from athletic injuries of my youth to be able to run or jump!
As to regional variations within the USA, I have spent a lifetime experiencing them. I have lived in the major cities of the west (Seattle, Portland, SF, and LA), the northeast (Boston, NY, Philly), the mid-Atlantic (DC, Norfolk), Texas (Houston, Dallas, and Austin), plus a few others, not to mention a few in the UK, France, and Italy. The regional differences within my stratum (overeducated and somewhat professionally successful) are significant. The regional differences among those in other strata tend to be beyond my ken. When I am in the PNW or the northeast, diet tends to involve slightly smaller portions, more fruits and vegetables, and more local seafood. In Texas beef rules, and enchiladas, barbecue, burgers, and steaks are special treats…everyday special treats. Portions are dauntingly large. If you order enchiladas it is assumed you will want a couple of baskets of chips and salsa while you wait, three enchiladas, refried or charro beans, and rice. I have, happily, trained my regular wait staff that I just want one chicken enchilada verde, black beans, and an Arnold Palmer. “Regular” burgers are often two patties. Cheese, bacon, and other excessive burger toppings (onion rings!) are close to ubiquitous. Fortunately, I eat out maybe once or twice a month.
Also snack options are different here. In Oregon, gas station snacks are things like chips, crackers, and candy. In Texas it’s all that plus breakfast tacos, sausage wraps, and sometimes klobasniky and kolaches! And then there’s Buc-ee’s…OMG.
Today is the Texas-OU game, and there will be over the top tailgating parties and home TV parties featuring chili con queso, seven layer dip, sliders, hot dogs, chili, Frito pie, chips and dip, and more. I do not mean a choice among those. I mean ALL of those. There will be no salads to be found, not even a turkey sandwich.
, and trying to identify a tree in a neighbor’s garden, when I tripped over a vent (it was getting dark already). That was in 2021. A trip to the ER, where all I got was an x-ray, a sleeve, and no PT instructions. I was back to driving two days later.
