Over the last two and a half years, I've had a lot of success controlling my weight, so I'm offering a list of the habits that I think are contributing to the success. Perhaps more importantly, I'm going to list some of the authors from whom I think I've gotten useful information and advice.
It's up to anyone reading this to also get good medical advice and use good judgment in deciding whether any of this makes sense in your own case. Be careful, please.
* In 2004, I lost my car in an accident, and so far, I've chosen not to replace it. One result is that I've been walking a lot more ever since and undoubtedly burning a lot more calories.
* I've often had a notebook computer and its accessories with me when I'm walking, in a backpack. Usually the pack has also contained a book, and often some healthy snacks. The total weight has often been 20 or 25 pounds, I think. Since I've worked hard to keep good posture despite the extra weight, I think the weight not only helps burn calories, but helps maintain my upper-body musculature and strength. (Be careful not to hurt your back or knees if you ever try anything similar.)
* I've cut my consumption of carbohydrates way down. To do so, I've simply avoided bread, rice, pasta, potatoes, corn, and most sweets other than dark chocolate. I eat a lot of very low-salt nuts for their omega-3 fats, but avoid seeds and peanuts, as both are said to add too much extra omega-6 fat to the diet. I drink a lot of low-carb protein supplements, mostly the Muscle Milk brand and the low-carb variety of Slim Fast, but also sometimes the EAS brand. Much of my the information on which I've relied in making food choices is based loosely on Arthur De Vany's web site and the books by Loren Cordain and Ron Rosedale.
* I've recently adopted an "up-day, down-day" eating routine. See Arthur De Vany's web site for the importance of varying how much you eat, and see James Johnson's web site for what seems to me to be a quite practical plan for varying one's intake.
* I think it helps that I've taken Adderall since 2005, for an attention deficit. Adderall is chemically similar to the old, ORIGINAL Dexatrim. For this, a physician's supervision isn't just a good idea, but also required by law.
* I take a lot of vitamin D3, to make up for our contemporary, indoor way of life. See the Vitamin D Council's web site, run mostly by John Cannell, MD, for more information.
* I take the Life Extension Foundation's dietary supplement they call the Life Extension Mix.
* I use a lot of relaxation techniques to recover from daily stresses.
