I ate, drank, and didn’t gym for a year in Europe… and still got fitter. What happened to my body shocked me

Dave Alastair eats whatever he wants and hasn’t set foot in a gym – yet somehow, he’s completely transformed his body in less than a year.

The only thing that changed? He moved from the US to Europe, where he credits the shift in lifestyle and better food quality for his dramatic results.

Striking before-and-after photos of the 33-year-old show a clear difference: his pot belly is gone, replaced by a defined chest, sculpted obliques, and a healthy glow.

But it’s not just about appearances – Dave says blood tests back it up.

Before leaving America, his cholesterol levels were flagged as ‘elevated.’ Eight months into his European life, new tests revealed his numbers had not only dropped, but hit ‘optimal’ levels.

Dave, who previously lived in Reno, Nevada, claims he made zero conscious effort to lose weight or get fit.

He insists he didn’t overhaul his diet or start working out. In fact, he leaned in even harder to indulgence.

‘When I arrived in Europe, I didn’t follow any diet plans,’ he said. ‘I drank copious amounts of wine and beer and ate all the local delicacies wherever I went.’

‘I wasn’t about to pass up the pain au chocolat in Paris or the duck and dumplings in Prague.’

Despite his indulgent diet, Dave found the pounds dropped off and he puts this down to a variety of differences between Europe and the US when it comes to food and lifestyle choices. 

Firstly, the YouTuber believes that ‘food in Europe is much more high quality and doesn’t have things like additives, fillers (ingredients added to food products primarily to increase volume and bulk), genetically modified organisms and chemicals’ in it. 

Ingredients distributor Tilley Distribution highlights why this difference in ingredients occurs between the two regions. 

It notes: ‘In the US, the FDA takes a notably more hands-off approach to testing and inspections, often allowing new food ingredients unless proven harmful. 

‘This includes ingredients, for example, GMOs, growth hormones and chemical preservatives.

‘In Europe, the EFSA requires additives to be proven safe before approval and has banned the use of growth hormones and several chemical additives.’

Experts believe the ultra-processed nature of US food versus European products may play a role in weight gain. 

For instance, many pasta brands in the US use thickening agents, coloring agents and additives like emulsifiers which prolong their shelf life which have been linked to bloating, sluggishness and diabetes.

Pasta, meanwhile in Europe, is usually made with just semolina wheat flour and water, leaving out the preservatives.

And science suggests the lack of processed foods could have real benefits.

A 2022 study in The Journal of Nutrition, for example, found pasta that is less processed tends to digest slower, slowing down the rate that glucose enters the blood.

Amie Alexander, a registered dietitian at Nutri Peak in Australia, previously told DailyMail.com that portion sizes also tend to be smaller in European countries such as Portugal, Spain and Italy, which could help with digestion. 

She said: ‘Meals are also combined with other nutrient-dense foods, such as vegetables, which can further blunt blood sugar responses.’

Next up, Dave says he has observed how Europeans drink lots of coffee and smoke more than Americans, which could help in curbing hunger pangs. 

Numerous studies have shown that coffee may be beneficial for weight loss when consumed in moderation and without excessive added sugar or cream.

One 2023 study followed the coffee habits of more than 150,000 participants and found that drinking unsweetened coffee was associated with a modest reduction in weight gain over four years after adjusting for other lifestyle variables. 

With each additional cup, the coffee drinkers gained about a quarter of a pound less than their peers. 

Meanwhile, it is well known that nicotine in cigarettes suppresses appetite and increases metabolism, and also serves as a distraction from hunger or food craving, despite the massive increased risk of cancer.

While he didn’t change his workout regime, Dave said he started walking lots more after relocating to Europe. 

The globetrotter reveals: ‘There’s no doubt that when I’m in Europe I walk so much more than I do in the United States and I think this is by design.

‘During the automotive boom in the early 20th century many deals were done to invest heavily in highways instead of trains and that’s how America became such a car-centric culture.

‘I do think this contributes to Europeans walking a lot more on average than Americans.’

Walking after a meal has consistently been shown to help food digest more quickly and gas move throughout the digestive system easier, preventing bloating. 

One 2022 study even found that a two-minute walk after eating helps lower blood sugar levels because muscles will soak up extra glucose in the bloodstream. 

Lastly, Dave says that food in US grocery stores is generally more unhealthy than in Europe and the fast-food culture is another major culprit in the obesity epidemic.

He explains that in America breakfast cereals are ‘just made up of corn and sugar’ while organic grocery stores such as Whole Foods are only accessible to wealthy shoppers. 

Meanwhile, in Europe healthier food is more accessible, he says, with more fresh produce and farmer’s markets. 

On the topic of fast food, he tells viewers in one of his YouTube videos: ‘I also think it is the culture as well where people in the United States choose the easier faster option. 

‘It’s such a fast-paced life in the United States that sometimes it’s easier just to go through a drive-thru.

‘Now, there are fast food drive-thrus in Europe but most people choose different, healthier options and eat fast food in moderation.

‘The fast food in Europe is much smaller portioned than the ones in the United States.’

To conclude, Dave says he doesn’t claim that ‘if you move to Europe you will magically lose all of this weight and be super healthy but for some strange reason this has been the case for me and I kind of don’t even know how it happened’.

After posting about his weight loss experience in Europe, many viewers responded with similar tales. 

One commenter wrote: ‘I lived in Barcelona for a year and the same thing happened to me. And I ate all the things; fresh bread and other baked goods, fried things and drank wine everyday.

‘ When I returned to Los Angeles I was lighter than I ever was, and had zero food allergies. 

‘Here in LA I find it beneficial to eat low carb, gluten free and abstain from alcohol if I want to feel good and not gain weight.’

Another viewer revealed: ‘I noticed the same thing when I was over there. My first two weeks in Europe were in Portugal and that’s where I noticed the biggest difference. 

‘I was walking/exploring more. My stress level dropped to NOTHING and my food seemed much healthier. 

‘I went over with a 31′ waist and came back to the US at nearly a 30’ waist. My two-liter became a six pack again and I honestly felt 10 years younger. 

‘We had Sangria and Gelato on a regular basis but I just have a feeling that everything was more natural and not full of preservatives.’