If you do both, diet and walking/running, you will absolutely lose weight. That's what I did years ago. I lost 30 pounds 20 years ago and while I've gained weight over the years, I am the same size. I exercise a lot more now. I'm more toned and fit then I was back then.

I do a lot of walking now and never cut out anything at all. I just reduced my desserts/junk food to half my normal intake. Instead of 2 doughnuts, one. Instead of a box or Cheezits, half a box.

I walk 20 minutes to the metro for work, plus 10 more minutes to the office at the other end, so that's 60 minutes per day of walking, 5 days a week. I used to drive; no more. I love the exercise and fresh air. Walking to the metro for work helps me transition to work mode at the beginning of the day and to home mode at the end of the day. Once I stopped driving to work I lost 10 pounds over about 3 months. Once i reduced my beloved junk food I lost another 10 pounds in about the same amount of time.

Of course i could cut out all junk food but that would make for an empty life

It sounds like a good plan, OP. Start moving and then look at what you are eating. Cut out the obvious like coffee, soda, desserts. Then read more about other hidden carbs and sugar.

It is a start! Good Luck, make yourself proud! you can do it!

Anonymous wrote:I lost a lot of weight by walking. I wasn't even overweight.

This answer is key. Your diet was already good (therefore you were not overweight) and on top you increased you activity (hence the weight loss). To loose weight you need a calorie deficit. Incur in such is very complicated only by walking.

For me, diet is key. I could not work out at all, or work out every day, and it doesn't move the needle. But, working out encourages me to eat better (i.e., I didn't work that hard just to run the progress in 10 mouthfuls). Why don't you start walking/running more AND pick a couple of things to be mindful about as far as food, nothing extreme. See if you there's progress, and modify accordingly if not.

Dpn't forget to walk the stairs at work on your lunch time! I love the burning feeling in my legs and tightness of my belly as i ascend. I get a 45-minute lunch and use 30 minutes of it to walk flights of stairs. Voila, it is built into your work day.