[lacampbell]

None of those things exert many calories at all. People usually over estimate how much exercise contributes to their weight.

Last year I had a job where most of my commute was sitting or standing in a bus. Now I have a 10km round trip which I cycle or walk. It's had no effect on my weight what so ever.

[onlyrealcuzzo]

You're correct. The affect of exercise is vastly overrated on weight loss [1]. The more you exercise, the hungrier you get, the more you eat. That being said, you're healthier if you're overweight and exercise than if you're overweight and don't exercise. BUT, if you're going form COMPLETELY sedentary to walking to and from train stations, up and down stairs, and standing on the train -- that's likely to have a dramatic effect. Completely sedentary lifestyles and depression and obesity tend to go hand and hand because of hormonal / neurotransmitter issues.

In any case, changing your diet is likely much more effective for losing weight.

[1] https://www.dietdoctor.com/does-exercise-promote-weight-loss

[csydas]

I would agree that those alone will have little impact, but they also tend to be indicative of an overall different life-style. It's hard to over-shop for groceries, for example, when you have to carry everything home on your person, and soft drinks tend to be more difficulty to acquire in bulk because of the weight.

You do have to adjust to a different life style when you rely entirely on public transit, and it allows for more positive choices just because of necessity.

[lacampbell]

I don't own a car and usually walk or cycle everywhere I need to go. This has been my lifestyle for practically all of my life. And none of what you say rings true to me. It's very easy to me to carry to go to the supermarket and walk out carrying an absurd amount of calories.

I actually eat worse when I go out walking, because I am more likely to stop at dairies (convenience stores). In a car I am I tend to go out of my way slightly to get some better food.

[csydas]

Well, I will grant there are exceptions to my expectation, and it might just be my own bias coloring it; I tend to avoid "bad" foods pretty regularly, cook my own meals, and I am not very tempted by convenience stores at all.

I would easily accept that it's still subject to personal bias more strongly.