However I do know that it moved the needle significantly in _my_ life by changing my relationship with food so it's valuable to me. Losing the extra ~10 to 20 lbs of weight people gain in adulthood is something that people do struggle with even if it's not as dramatic as someone fighting obesity.

Don't get yourself into a state where you need to lose 40kg. If you do, and lose the weight, you will have excess skin.

I like my new healthy self but actions have consequences.

I turn 50 this year and have committed to doing 50,000 pushups before 2024. It sounds like a lot, but after the first month, doing 200-300 a day isn't really that difficult (when broken up into smaller sets). Honestly, it's a LOT more of a mental challenge than a physical challenge.

It's all about showing up every day.

How so?

It could be as simple as you are less likely to indulge in a treat after a walk?

Climbing up the stairs directly burns 2 calories, and not eating the Oreo because you're climbing the stairs avoids 53.

Sounds about right to me. Even if it does require living in one of those places where it is not customary to store your Oreos on staircases.

You have to lose 10 at some point. The way you're putting it, it looks like losing weight would be some kind of drastic sprint with a finish line. I don't think it can happen that way. You have to lose weight and continuing changing your habit to lose 10 more, and the others 10 after, until it stabilises at healthy weight, then you start your healthy life, but it's not a finish line, the effort continues by fighting unhealthy habit for the rest of your life.

They said that when you're really big, the first 10 lbs is the easiest to lose, and can come from taking stairs and changing snack habits. It's the last 10 lbs that requires the diligent workouts and very strict diets.