Don't Let Your Environment Destroy Your Lifestyle

I saw a post recently about Japan's 4% obesity rate compared to the US's obesity rate of 40%. I really focused on the lifestyle differences. While Japanese culture seems to be very walking oriented (and generally spending time outside, even just doing very light activities), US culture is seen as more indoor and driving oriented. I couldn't help but think about how even different parts of the US have very different regional lifestyles.

In fact, I've observed the same discrepancy in American cities and towns. It's a well known fact that some regions of the US have much higher rates of obesity (southeast and parts of the Midwest) while other regions of the US have much lower rates of obesity (the west, mountain west, and much of the northeast).

Cities and towns with lots of sidewalks, green belts, easy access to nature and places to walk outside (nonetheless transport from place to place by foot) have way lower levels of obesity. Cities/towns that have minimal sidewalks, lots of suburban sprawl, no shoulders on the roads, less easy access to outdoor activities (found via hills, mountains, rivers, lakes, oceans, green belts, trails, parks etc) have way higher rates of obesity. I've seen it throughout the various places I've lived (grew up in the northeast, have lived in most states in the southeast, and spent 2021-2026 in the mountain west).

I recently moved from a city (west/mountain west region) that is literally built into beautiful nature, and the infrastructure is designed to make that nature (foothills, mountains, river, parks) very accessible for people. Trails everywhere. Parks everywhere. The city is built along an awesome river. Green belts all over town that all connect back to one main green belt. Sidewalks in most areas of town. Most parts of town you're able to walk or ride a bike to the grocery store, restaurants or coffee shops, gyms, etc. Most people are healthy and active. Outdoor and recreational hobbies are abundant. The city prioritizes this lifestyle for its residents.

3 weeks ago, I moved BACK to a city (in the southeast) that's similar in size (a little bigger, actually) but is generally sprawled out. Very few neighborhoods have sidewalks. Those that do, usually just have sidewalks in their own little subdivision. Most areas don't have access to walk out of your neighborhood (to places) because there are no sidewalks, or even shoulders on the road where you could walk. 

The sad thing is there's some really beautiful nature in this area, but much of the city and surrounding towns aren't built in a way that maximizes being able to enjoy the special geography in a physically active way. I mean, you can do it, but it's a lot more work to get to enjoying it than I think it should be. 

Anyway, here most people are overweight or skinny fat, and, the people that do exercise, rely on the gym for ALL of their physical exercise. Very little supplemental exercising – like outdoor, physically active recreation – takes place.

Luckily, walkability is a non-negotiable for me after what I experienced in my last home of 5 years. So, my wife and I found a house in a neighborhood that IS walkable to restaurants, a little quaint town center, a grocery store, and even a green belt along a creek. It's actually splendid! It feels pretty similar to my previous neighborhood I was living in on the other side of the country. 

I feel very blessed because I know how rare that lifestyle is in this city, but there certainly are a few parts of town that are built for this luxury (and people that live in these parts of town tend to be dramatically healthier and friendlier). I didn't have it in the house I previously lived in when I last was living in this city.

I guess this leads me to conclude: while there are options for that healthy, walkable, outdoor lifestyle in most places – in some places it's just much harder to find than in others. And as a result, people just bite the bullet, settle for the norm of that particular city or town, and default to driving and sitting in traffic and staying indoors. It's a sad way to live. But I reckon some people feel that somebody's gotta do it.

The good news is that you're in control. So while general American culture is strip malls, interstates, suburban sprawl, sitting in traffic, not taking the time to appreciate the world around you...that doesn't mean you also have to settle for that lifestyle. General light physical activity may not be as ingrained on this side of the pond as it is in Japan, but I'm telling you, in my current neighborhood and my previous city, I see people outside taking walks every single day. I'm walking down to a green belt to stare at a creek or walking to a restaurant to eat any chance I get (or, in the case of eating out, whenever someone wants to eat at a restaurant with me). If you have to drive to a place where you can walk around or hike or do some roller blading while yo-yo-ing and basket-weaving, then suck it up and drive to the place that allows you to do that fun stuff. Don't just settle in and sit on your couch, sit in your car, and sit in you office seat at work before laying in your bed and scrolling until you pass out. 

What's that? You go to the gym several days per week? That's great, but it's not enough. Especially if you're just sitting on one machine after another, looking at your phone, awkwardly, between sets. You have to get outside and walk. You need to stand up. This is one reason why I'm such a fan of strength training exercises that are ground based and prioritize the use of free weights (but that's for another rant). 

Walking is so easy, so enjoyable, and has incredible return on investment as far as the "feel gooder" category is concerned. Please, lift weights 2-5 days per week(!), but also adopt a lifestyle of getting some general light movement and activity outside each and every day.

I don't mean to brag, but, I'm going to use my own schedule as a sample guide: I start my day with my 3 minute morning recharge (10 Hindu squats, 10 pushups, 10 glute bridges, 10 reps of an ab exercise) within 30 minutes of waking outside on my back patio. Later in the day (usually around lunch time during a gap between training clients), I lift weights either in my garage, on my back patio (the simple backyard gym), or at a gym where I work (the current gym I work at has an entire outdoor section, fully equipped and covered by a solid roof – it's a nice touch). Then, every afternoon/evening I go for a 30-60 minute walk with my wife and dogs. That's an easy way to start scheduling in more recreational activity away from screens. 

If you do nothing else, lift weights a few days per week and take a 30 minute walk outside, daily. 

On weekends in my previous city, my wife and I used to do longer walks down by the river, hiking in the foothills, or fishing, playing tennis, tossing a softball around at a local park, and in the summer we'd go rafting down the river. 

Since moving here 3 weeks ago, weekends have been jam-packed with – ironically – unpacking, organizing, cleaning, and home renovation projects. But, as we get settled in, we plan on picking back up with some quick, relatively easy outdoor weekend activities, whether that's longer walks on the green belt, hikes in these foothills, kayaking, fishing, playing recreational sports, etc.

It doesn't have to be fancy or difficult. Just find ways to take the pros of Japanese culture – which seems to be doing more walking, both for transportation and for relaxation and exercise – and you, too, can revolt against the norm. And who knows. Maybe some of your neighbors or townfolk will become inspired and join you.

Thanks for reading tonight's rambling.