Put up or shut up

[Zero_Time]

I say best of luck.

My experience is, eating is the root of weight loss. Everything else just contributes or doesn't.

There was a time where I worked out 4+ hours a day. I ate everything. Lost weight. Fantastic.

If you don't have 4+ hours a day to work out/can't handle that much impact, then diet is king.

I've also found that what matters about diets is ease of adherence. All diets do the same thing- make you consume less than you need. If hormones are balanced/normal (worth checking) then that is what diets do. What matters most is finding one that is the least bad. That depends on the person. Fad diets work; maintenance doesn't because adherence is #1. If you can only adhere for a short amount of time, then it's like invading a country with no exit plan. Choose something sustainable, and the least bad for you.

I have a huge sweet tooth. If I eat sugary things, my body craves it, and it's constant effort fighting to not eat bad things. When I basically exclude them from my diet, and other things that have that taste, my palate changes. It makes eating healthier easier, because I'm not fighting a psychological AND physiological war.

Find what best fits you. I will say I find limiting carbs to be highly effective, and research does seem to show that carb-restricting diets do have a (slightly) higher weight loss. Adherence is where everyone points fingers to the failure of diets. The big point is, it's NOT a failure of diet, it's a failure of FINDING the EASIEST diet for YOU to stay with.

Zero

 

[22-rimfire]

You know the bad stuff you really like to eat. I am assuming you like junk food as I do. Reduce the junk food that you really like slowly with the goal of eliminating it completely or just treat yourself occasionally. Take your own lunch to work. Eat good food and keep the fat intake down. You will almost always feel hungry.

I would suggest that you find a place that you enjoy walking and walk the trails and pathways. Time yourself and try to decrease your total time during the walk or increase the distance. Set a quick pace but do it safely. I would choose a park setting personally, but I would make sure I had cell phone coverage in case I got into trouble and needed medics. You should be able to see and feel a difference in a relatively short time. Pay attention to your body.

I would suggest fairly regular blood work at your doctors to check things (maybe six month intervals). Keep track.

Bicycles are fun and good exercise. You can change the scenery. You can also increase the speed and build endurance (cardio and breathing).
Swimming is great exercise but lapses are boring.

The time is now. It gets harder to loose weight the older you get.

 

[Hacked]

I've always struggled with my weight. And getting back into hiking, and backpacking has been more challenging being obese. Here is some advise I can give.

I find the first hike is the hardest so don't give up. By first hike I not only mean the first one you go on after years away, but also the first on a multi day trip. You get conditioned to hiking way faster than you think, and you might be surprised how good you feel on day two back on the trail.

Don't be afraid to stop and rest, but don't rest for too long.

Ditch cotton, this will be a major help in the hot months. Go with synthetic everything. Shorts, shirt, socks, and draws. They will dry faster and keep you cooler. This makes a huge difference!

Lots of water when you are getting back into it. I sweat like crazy on my first few hikes and I went through liters of water at a time. Invest in a Sawyer filter and resupply as you go, saves on weight.

Ditch the boots. A pound on your feet = ten on your back. Go with something light that breaths and drys fast. This is especially true when not carrying a heavy load.

Don't be afraid to get out there, a real hike may be harder than a walk around your neighborhood, but it is also much more rewarding and that can be all the motivation you need

 

[tiguy7]

I would add try biking and swimming. In the former, the machine supports your weight. In the latter, the water does. You might have less stress on your legs, joints, spine, etc. The good gel saddles lessen tenderness at your saddle contact point.

 

[Bob W]

I've been out hiking two days this week. Ugh. I really overdid it both days; I used to regularly hike for fun to the point of exhaustion, but my rebound is slower now. At least nothing ate me this afternoon while I was napping in a meadow.