You can just do the math and see how much exercise you have to do to make any difference in your weight loss. You definitely can’t “walk” your way to weight loss
Walking 5 miles a day can be done in an hour and a half and can burn ~250-500 calories. That’s half a pound to a pound of fat per week, which is pretty significant.
250 calories is nothing and most people are going to think it gives them the chance to eat that extra bagel that’s going to be more than 250 calories.
Are you really suggesting that people walk and hour and half with the intention of burning 250 calories? There are a lot of reasons to exercise. But weight loss isn’t one.
You shouldn’t be eating excess cookies if you’re trying to lose weight. That doesn’t negate the effect of walking for an hour (the most base of exercises)
And just like the Nobel Winning Economist says about why people don’t save for the future, “none of us are Homo Economicus”. The same can be applied to diet. No one is a completely rational being.
You tell me that I have to walk an hour to burn off 250 calories, I’m not going to bother and neither are most people. Every study shows that exercise is a completely ineffective method to lose weight for most people.
I mentioned in another comment that yes I did eat like crap and lost and maintained weight by exercising in my mid 20s to mid 30s. I was also a part time fitness instructor, taught 10 hours a week (spinning, step, weightlifting, cardio kickboxing) and I trained for runs and I lifted weights three times a week. I had a commitment device to go the gym - regularly scheduled classes that I taught and got paid for. I had to be in shape. I would teach 2 hour classes on Saturday and Sunday and teach during the week.
Most people will never commit to that level or intensity of exercise. Even now, I have a home cardio gym and the only time I watch TV by myself is when I exercise.
