The Most Geek-Compatible Way to Lose Weight — Guaranteed
Three Alpha Geeks and I explain how we lost weight and kept it off
In working with the nanotech and open source software
communities, I’ve met lots of extremely bright people who have trouble
with their weight — and a few who once had that problem but solved it.
Weight Loss for Geeks presents their solutions, each different, along with my own.
Any of these methods should work better for you than
for the average person, because you have technical skills and this is a
science experiment or engineering project — not a test of willpower or
moral fiber. Pick the method that seems most likely to work with your
biochemistry and lifestyle:
The Hacker’s Diet (TM): The classic geek approach to weight loss. A quantitative method by Autodesk co-founder John Walker, with downloadable public domain software and Web-based online weight management application.
50 Tips: Search on ‘weight loss’ and you’ll find Chris Pirillo's 50 Weight Loss Tips in the top 20, often the top 10. Chris runs Gnomedex and the Geeks! online community.
Expert Assistance: Dewayne Hendricks — well-known wireless geek — chose an official, medically-supervised program with a known track record.
Incremental Deliciousness: If you are lazy or busy, can be a bit patient, can’t stand being hungry, and enjoy your food, my way may be the one for you.
Cheating: I’ll also look at a couple of other techniques that seem like cheating but can work anyway — if you’re careful.
Important: This video presents many ways to come at this problem and dozens of specific things to try, but you don’t need to do them all. Just a handful of modest changes may do the job. Start with the ones that sound easiest and add more if needed.
Join those who succeed
I hope you’ll give this a shot. While the standard success rate for 'diets' is only 5%, we believe that the other 95% can succeed
when they find the method that works for them. Here is a collection of
methods to try which have worked long-term for fellow geeks, which may
work for you. Try 'em, and find the one that works.
Christine Peterson has
served the nanotechnology community for many years, organizing the
Foresight Conferences on Molecular Nanotechnology and the Feynman
Prizes as Vice President of Foresight Institute. She promotes open
source sensing and is credited with originating the term “open source
software”.
Method 1: It worked for me. –John W. Method 2: It worked for me. –Chris P. Method 3: It worked for me. –Dewayne H. Method 4: It worked for me. –Christine P.
Q: Who won’t benefit from Weight Loss for Geeks? A: Everyone should benefit — in the sense of being healthier overall — but there’s one group who will probably find it hard to lose weight and keep it off: those who have had their weight go way up, then come way down, and then go way up again. In the video we discuss the special difficulties faced by this group, and a potential ‘silver lining’ for their situation.
Q: What’s the guarantee? A: 100% money back, including shipping, if not satisfied within one year.
Q: Why do you say that this is “The Most Geek-Compatible Way to Lose Weight”? A: (1) When we can, we give the technical rationale behind each technique; and (2) We give choices, rather than present the ‘one true pathway’ on this complex issue, enabling you to apply your own technical judgment. To quote Larry Wall's Perl of wisdom, "There's more than one way to do it."
Q: How do I know if I’m geeky enough to benefit? A: Does the word 'ratio' make you nervous? No? You're fine.
Q: I require my media to have very high production values: top-quality video, perfect sound, professional editing. Is Weight Loss for Geeks the video for me? A: No.
Q: If you are so into open source, why isn’t this distributed under a generous Creative Commons license? A: Good question. Profits from these videos, if any, go to underwrite my volunteer hours for the nonprofit Foresight Institute. If you’d like to support Foresight directly instead and get a charitable deduction in the U.S., I strongly encourage you to donate to Foresight (no DVD package, though).
Q: Are you going to do more videos? A: It’s up to you. Let me know which of these potential projects you’d like to see completed: Nutritional Supplements & Smart Drugs for Geeks Life Extension for Geeks Exercise for Geeks Stress Reduction for Geeks Better Sleep for Geeks Dating for Geeks Yoga for Geeks Delaying Dementia in Our Parents — for Geeks Health Insurance for Geeks
In working with the nanotech and open source software
communities, I’ve met lots of extremely bright people who have trouble
with their weight — and a few who once had that problem but solved it.
Weight Loss for Geeks presents their solutions, each different, along with my own.
About the editor