Eero and Samuli went to Los Angeles and Las Vegas and compared the natural and healthy ways of life of USA with the rest of the world. Here's what they discovered.

Vahva Fitness Visits The United States

Recently we went on a trip to the United States of America, in what proved to be an enlightening and surprising experience.

The trip was prompted by an invitation from the production team of "Rob and Romesh versus," a popular British TV show.

The show, which airs on Sky TV in the UK, features two comedians exploring different sports and challenges. For this episode, the focus was on UFC and mixed martial arts, coinciding with the International Fight Week in Las Vegas.

Aside from shooting for the show, we had the chance to see a bit of the states. Our trip took us through the contrasting landscapes of Los Angeles (California) and Las Vegas (Nevada), offering us a perspective on these iconic American cities.

And it held plenty of surprises for us.

The Valley and Las Vegas

The Valley

Los Angeles greeted us with charm, challenging the stereotypes we had heard about homeless problems and dirty streets. Our base in Woodland Hills, an area known as "The Valley," introduced us to a side of LA we hadn't anticipated.

 
Nestled behind mountain ranges that separate it from the beach and city center, The Valley impressed us with its abundance of nature, pleasant weather, and numerous hiking trails.

The Valley offered a relaxed counterpoint to the hectic urban image we had of LA, highlighting the city's diverse landscapes and lifestyles.

Las Vegas

Our next stop, Las Vegas, presented a stark contrast to the natural beauty of LA.

Staying at the Venetian Hotel, we found ourselves in one of the most hyper-stimulating environments we've encountered.

The ground floor of the casino was an endless sea of slot machines and poker tables, with people seemingly glued to them, with lights and sounds flashing and screaming nonstop.

But what struck us most was the timelessness of the place - there was little difference between 6:00 PM and 6:00 AM. The casino never sleeps, it keeps its chaotic energy 24/7.

We realized that Las Vegas is designed to make you lose your sense of time, money, and perhaps even self. The energy and over-the-top attractions create a surreal atmosphere, like nothing we had experienced before.

First Hand Experience Vs. Social Media

Our journey through LA and Las Vegas reminded us of the importance of forming our own opinions based on first hand experiences.

What we see on social media and in popular culture usually presents an extreme or manipulated version of reality, and our trip highlighted this.

In LA, we had prepared ourselves for filth and urban decay, but instead found pockets of natural beauty and well-maintained neighbourhoods.

 
The homeless problem, while present, was not totally in your face as we had been led to believe. It reminded us that cities are very complex, with areas that can differ greatly from the stereotypical images portrayed in the media.

Conversely, Las Vegas, often depicted as a non-stop party of glitz and glamour, has a less glamorous side.

 
While the famous Strip certainly lived up to its reputation for extravagance, we also witnessed the less glamorous side of the city. The 24/7 nature of the casinos, with people gambling at all hours, shed light on the darker aspects of the entertainment industry.

 
The contrast between LA and Las Vegas, and between expectation and reality, emphasized the need to approach new experiences with an open mind, just like we do with our approach to health and fitness. 

USA was not an exception in this regard, rather the same has happened many countries we have visited. Especially China and Australia were very different from our expectations, and so are many Middle-Eastern countries.

Go Big or Go Home

A vacation in America wouldn’t be complete without some world-famous American hamburgers.

However, after trying at least seven different burgers (we really did our best trying to find a good one!), including the renowned In-N-Out Burger, we were surprised to find that they didn't live up to our expectations.

 
We’ve had better burgers in European countries and even in Dubai. We also had amazing burgers in Melbourne, Australia. 

Our assumption that America, as the home of the hamburger, would naturally offer the best versions of this iconic food was proven wrong.

Eat Till You Drop

One memorable dining experience was at the Heart Attack Grill in Las Vegas. The restaurant has a hospital-themed decor, and "punishes" customers who don't finish their meals. The whole place felt and looked like a mental asylum.

 
The establishment proudly advertised its 5,000-20,000-calorie burgers made with lard, glorifying unhealthy eating habits. People have died after eating these burgers.

 
It highlighted how some American establishments use shock value and potential negative health effects as selling points, a marketing strategy that we found both fascinating and disturbing.

But that wasn’t the only concerning trend in American food production we discovered.

Always Read The Label

We've learned about the use of food coloring in farmed salmon to enhance its appearance, and in some fresh fruits to make them look more appealing tricking the mind of the customer.

 
In USA, the prevalence of high fructose corn syrup instead of sugar in many products was another surprise, as this ingredient is less common in European foods.

In Italy how they process wheat and make pasta is a lot longer process than in the US. They also use more "ancient grains" which has a much lower gluten content. This is why people can digest foods such as pizza or pasta much better there.

 
This made us more aware of the differences between American and European food standards. The US seems to prioritise appearance and shelf life over natural quality of food.

A particularly funny experience occurred during our road trip to Las Vegas.

 
At a rest stop in Barstow, we encountered a juice bar advertising "real fruit". However, upon inquiring about the ingredients, we discovered that the "juice" contained only ice, sugar syrup, and artificial flavors - no actual fruit.

In many countries, you can get freshly squeezed juice almost everywhere, whereas in USA only very health focused places have it available. 

 
This incident underscored the importance of being vigilant consumers and not taking marketing claims at face value.

Takeaway Lessons From The USA

This journey challenged our preconceptions and broadened our perspectives. While some aspects of American culture and cuisine left us perplexed or disappointed, others pleasantly surprised us.

Overall the trip was amazing and we were pleasantly surprised by the friendliness of American people. In many areas US is also doing fantastically well but when it comes to the food and natural living, there is plenty of room for improvement.

Ultimately, this trip reinforced the importance of approaching new experiences with an open mind and a willingness to look beyond surface impressions.

Stay strong!