I lost 40 pounds in retirement over 4 years. Yes, it’s really slow. I decided to eat better and exercise more when I retired. The near elimination of stress was a key factor supporting my focus, as well as the available time. I can see from the line on my Fitbit chart where the weight loss during stressful times spilled over into weight gain over the past 6 months. I knew stress was a factor in overeating, but the Fitbit chart proves it.
I moved to Portland, Oregon, where there are more vegetarians and more natural food stores, emphasizing fresh ingredients, whole foods, and independent restaurants. Outdoor activities, including walking and hiking, are also emphasized. My son, who lived in the Midwest during his youth, said his physique resembles an “Oregon” physique more than a middle-aged physique. He is lean and embraces healthy food and an outdoor lifestyle, shopping at Rei.
When I first moved, I was taken aback by the extensive organic section of grocery produce and somewhat high prices at farmers' markets. Now I embrace both, and purchases of processed foods are minimized. The growing season here is longer, and the Willamette Valley is filled with truck farms instead of fields of beets and corn. Minneapolis has many food cooperatives and Whole Foods stores, so it’s not that there are no options. They just weren’t as mainstream as they feel here.
I was shocked by two recent news articles. One was on CNN, and the company said it is reviewing strategies with Ozempic and other weight loss drugs. Food companies may need to rethink how they sell food and create smaller portions. Smucker recently acquired the maker of Twinkies, but it reported that there will always be a place for fasting. According to Walmart data, Ozempic users are said to purchase smaller food baskets.
This story sounds like companies are following customer choices, but companies also shape customer choices. I was scared when traveling and could choose between fast food or snack aisles at small service stops. Sometimes nutritional choices come down to sugar or fat.