I'm about 20-30 lb above what I consider ideal and comfortable. A lot of people (in particular on Facebook) are pimping weight loss plans that cost money and/or require gym time. My method is much simpler. Commute on foot. 8 miles per day ~= 900 calories/day ~= 1.8 lb/wk. Simple, free, and I've been doing it every day, even in snow.

As an added benefit, leg strength has improved a lot and skiing is pretty effortless as compared to in the past. It's interesting that people in more primitive cultures (Amish, Amazon tribes) walk about 10-11 mi per day on average, and you don't see very many overweight people there.

8 miles of walking takes about 2 hours or more. How do you find the time?

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Whoever said there's nothing more expensive than a cheap Mercedes never had a cheap Jaguar.

83 300D Turbo with manual conversion, early W126 vented front rotors and H4 headlights 400,xxx miles
08 Suzuki GSX-R600 M4 Slip-on 22,xxx miles
88 Jaguar XJS V12 94,xxx miles. Work in progress.

"Smoking cures weight problems . . . eventually . . " S. Wright

Hitting the gym for an hour, going home to take a a shower, etc takes about an hour and a half. What's the difference?

Plus, as a practical matter, the equivalent commute by subway takes almost an hour round-trip, once walking to the station, waiting for a train, etc is taken into account. If anything, adding an hour to my commute takes less time than the subway + the gym and is somehow more rewarding since I can vary my route vs being a hamster on a wheel.

Gym + subway = 1.5 hr + 1 hr = 2.5 hr
Walking (quickly) = 2 hr

I'll probably start biking more in a few weeks, but right now it doesn't feel comfortable. Too icy for it to be safe.

It's what you're eating that got you 30 pounds overweight - eat less.

I gain easily, I'm "blessed" with a real mofakkin' slow metabolism. I don't eat much, eat reasonably healthy, and still gain weight. Only real way to keep metabolism up is to exercise consistently. I used to run cross-country in HS and college and generally hike in summers, so my body is used to that kind of burn, and when it doesn't happen, I gain weight.

Schedule in high school: 1 mile round trip to school, on foot. 1 mile round trip to the sports fields for practice after school. 1 mile run during gym class. 3 miles run during sports practice. 1 mile walk with my mom/the dog in the evening.

Total: 7 miles.

College was pretty similar since I lived and worked off-campus.

Cocaine can help boost the metabolism

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Never tried the stuff, though I've drank tea made with coca leaves, which is a very mild version (think coffee vs pure caffeine powder).

It also stretches out the heart muscle, reducing endurance -- not my goal. Besides, walking is cheaper than yeyo I do drink mate tea semi-regularly which is a mild stimulant.

I learned the "great secret" to weight loss many years ago. It's simple:

Don't put your hand near your mouth.

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62 220sb
67 250S
72 280SE 4.5
74 280C
77 300D
82 240D
85 190E 2.3
86 300E RIP 12/28/09
85 300SD
92 300D 2.5
00 E320 Current
Over 1,000,000 miles in Benzes, Since66

....and a whole passel of BMW 2002 and Tii

I think we all agree, "diets" don't work, lifestyle changes do.

Exercise increases metabolism. Hunger decreases it.

Good method for the reasons you describe. We're a walking species. Although some years ago I read a study of hunter/gatherers who had been exposed to modern cultures and were asked what was the best part of it--not having to walk so much.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Bingo

Stop eating carbs. Everything else is easy.

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CENSORED due to not family friendly words

I enjoy good food. I'd rather walk and eat what I want than starve myself like an anorexic martyr.