> In my experience, if I want to stop gaining I need to cut out sweets and sodas, and that takes some effort and will, but I feel okay replacing my mountain dew

> In my experience, if I want to stop gaining I need to cut out sweets and sodas, and that takes some effort and will, but I feel okay replacing my mountain dew with carbonated water and tea. I do the exact same thing! I get absurdly cheap sparkling water and leave it chill in fridge. Sometimes I add crystal light lemon or cherry. > I have successfully gotten down to a normal BMI this way, but if that's how being thin feels, I don't really see the point. Sure but a chocolate bar just tastes incredible if you haven't had one for a long time. I think sweets are much harder to kick than fats. > I ran a lot when I was thin, but as a fat person, trying to run enough to stress the cardiovascular system properly usually resulted in minor injuries that prevented me from running often enough to get into shape Don't bother running! Walking is shown in study after study to make you more creative. Better yet walk in a forest (maybe you saw the plant research thread?). A mysterious journey in the brain happens when physically walking. > if you really believe that man is an incredibly efficient machine, well, you probably have not seen me engage in any sort of sport. Take a look at hurling. It's like a sport found in Harry Potter but without broomsticks. I think it is worth improving physical coordination abilities. You might be bad at it but improving in weak areas should improve seemingly unrelated areas in your brain. Even if it didn't, you will live longer. > I personally have a goal of 5 hours a week of intense (read: I'm dripping with perspiration) cardio every week. Trust me, you're the 1%. Your gym's existence depends on the fact.