Comment Re:Not surprising (Score 4, Informative) 144
This is almost exactly backward. Exercise is only tangentially related to obesity. Obesity is caused by eating patterns. Furthermore, sloth is exacerbated by being obese.
Exercise can move the weight-loss needle slightly...very slightly, unless you are exercising at huge levels. But even if you are exercising at huge levels, it is very easy to just make that up by eating. Exercise is neither necessary NOR sufficient to cause weight loss. Changing eating patterns is BOTH necessary AND sufficient to cause weight loss...with or without exercise. So you have to learn to eat less, no matter what. Meanwhile, exercise makes you hungrier, so it's either a net wash, or plausibly even a negative for weight loss.
Most people who try eating less just make a joke of an effort. Like they switch to diet Ranch dressing or something. I'm talking about, try eating a small meal once a day. Try eating every other day. If you must eat 3 times per day, try eating like, 200-500 calorie meals. Whatever it takes to cause weight loss. When you find out how much food that is, that's just how much you can eat without gaining wait. Prepare to be disappointed, but all it means is that you were over-eating before. Data shows modern people eat more than ever. If you simply eat like your grandfather you'd probably be a healthier weight.
Every year during Lent I fast from Sunday to Sunday. During this time, I sit on my ass and contemplate life. I usually lose 12-15 pounds. The rest of the year, I commute by bike, hike, kayak, and do other active things, and I eat food and drink beer and slowly put on weight despite the exercise.
There is an entire industry built around gyms, exercise clothes and equipment, coaching, "health food", "diet food", diet cookbooks, etc. etc. but the one thing that 1) works, guaranteed and 2) is about the only thing that does consistently work is the same thing that doesn't benefit absolutely anybody (except you): Eat less. A lot less. And repeat until desired results are achieved. You will never see an advertisement for this. Even the medical establishment doesn't promote eating less...they are making a killing with diet drugs (which do seem to work but stop working as soon as you stop taking them unless you...learn to eat less).
Exercise can move the weight-loss needle slightly...very slightly, unless you are exercising at huge levels. But even if you are exercising at huge levels, it is very easy to just make that up by eating. Exercise is neither necessary NOR sufficient to cause weight loss. Changing eating patterns is BOTH necessary AND sufficient to cause weight loss...with or without exercise. So you have to learn to eat less, no matter what. Meanwhile, exercise makes you hungrier, so it's either a net wash, or plausibly even a negative for weight loss.
Most people who try eating less just make a joke of an effort. Like they switch to diet Ranch dressing or something. I'm talking about, try eating a small meal once a day. Try eating every other day. If you must eat 3 times per day, try eating like, 200-500 calorie meals. Whatever it takes to cause weight loss. When you find out how much food that is, that's just how much you can eat without gaining wait. Prepare to be disappointed, but all it means is that you were over-eating before. Data shows modern people eat more than ever. If you simply eat like your grandfather you'd probably be a healthier weight.
Every year during Lent I fast from Sunday to Sunday. During this time, I sit on my ass and contemplate life. I usually lose 12-15 pounds. The rest of the year, I commute by bike, hike, kayak, and do other active things, and I eat food and drink beer and slowly put on weight despite the exercise.
There is an entire industry built around gyms, exercise clothes and equipment, coaching, "health food", "diet food", diet cookbooks, etc. etc. but the one thing that 1) works, guaranteed and 2) is about the only thing that does consistently work is the same thing that doesn't benefit absolutely anybody (except you): Eat less. A lot less. And repeat until desired results are achieved. You will never see an advertisement for this. Even the medical establishment doesn't promote eating less...they are making a killing with diet drugs (which do seem to work but stop working as soon as you stop taking them unless you...learn to eat less).