[OnyxCougar]

For the record, spotted dick ROCKS!!

When I was in croatia, I noticed something. The folks we stayed with didn't have a car. This meant we walked to the tram station (10 minute brisk walk), then took the tram to the nearest exit to where we wanted to go (usually Jelacica Trg) and then (since we were sughtseeing) we walked to the cathedral, walked to the cemetary, walked to the churches, walked to lunch (which was 4 links of pork sausage fried up and placed in a bit of pita-type bread served with a huge helping of raw onions and called salad) then it was off walking to the university, then thru the shopping areas, then back to the tram, then the 10 minute walk back to the house. By the time I got "home", I was exhausted.

Within two weeks of this every day routine, I lost literally, 20 pounds.

When I was living in Vegas and my husband (at the time) wouldn't let me take one of the cars to school or to work (don't ask), I had to hoof it 1 mile to the bus stop, walk to school, walk around campus, walk to the bus stop, then transfer, then walk 1/2 mile to my job. Got off work, walked 1 mile to the nearest working night stop, then 1 mile home. Lost a good deal of weight until I started having friends drive me. Gained it right back.

So I agree with the notion that we are a Driving People, and if we lived closer to where we worked, we'd be much better for it.