[jyl]

Someone I know very well: 214 lb, smoker, sedentary, on multiple cholesterol and blood pressure drugs, blood sugar getting to borderline pre-diabetic, lots of other medical problems. Now 180, non-smoker, commute and shop and almost everything else by bicycle, not on any drugs and all medical issues gone away. You can do it. It will take some time, maybe even a couple years, but you'll see improvement fairly early on.