I’ve never been lazy exercise that way, but for a few years I stopped doing most exercise all together and shot up to 18.5 stone nigh on 260 pounds which is 70lbs over my ideal weight. I started off by walking around the castle vigorously, then when that didn’t really tire me out I started walking up the hill; the first time I did that I made it a 1/3 of the way up collapsed, then dragged myself 2/3rds of the way up and collapsed again, to the scorn and derision of my dog, or at least in my mind anyway. The next time I pushed myself so I didn’t stop after the first 1/3, which is the hardest and steepest part. I then the next time pushed to make it all the way to the top of the hill without stopping, then I did 1 lap around the top up and down the hill, about half a mile, then I tried for 2 and so on. I peaked on 4 times around and running along the top 3 times per week with 2 days of biking or 3 if the weather was crap. I’ve been told if you really push it, biking is as hard as running. It was monstrous, all of it, damned hard work, I had back pains the first week of hill walking too, until I strengthened my back up (old injury). Luckily it was near the end of summer so I had not so much trouble from asthma, and I found taking an antihystamine helped that. Now before this I was drinking and smoking regularly 10 cigs and a goodly amount of wine. So I cut that right out (treating myself just once a week) and although I wouldn’t say I rigorously dieted, I can say I cut my calorie intake. That was fricking hard, the aching stomach of hunger is murderous for the first few hours.
Anyway I lost weight, shock horror gasp, about 3 stone in 3 months. Then I had to give up to the cold and wet weather. One benefit of this is I needed much less medication than usual for SAD, and I didn’t suffer any depression at all, the only year this has happened since the condition started at 14. I am considering starting up again this year, to shed the last 3 stone. It’s not easy exercise but it definitely gives you an elevated mood/high, you feel healthier, you have more energy, concentration, and your mind is sharper, and after a while you don’t even mind so much the aches from worked muscles. A 2 hour hill walk, made me feel great. It’s ideal for losing weight as it’s not too intensive, so you burn fat but that’s by the by.
It’s not easy but it is damned effective in elevating mood, in my case because I was out in the sun, a double bonus, probably far more effective than SSRIs. I can’t stay stuck in a gym, it’s boring and expensive, so I found a cheap way to exercise, that at least is the easy part, the thinking.
It starts off being hell, but when you stop, you really really miss it. Trust me.