Here's a post from Europe. After 9.000 km (6.000 miles?) in my 2006 Prius, I gained 2 kg/4 pounds in weight. I spend about 3 hours/day in that car to get to work and back home, have been doing that in various cars for 10 years now and did not gain so much weight in so little time ever before. My theory: in a Prius, I tend to be much more relaxed. Heart rate slows down, metabolism slows down.... And that's how a Prius makes you fat!
You can make up for it by gettting out and pushing the car for a mile or two. Easiest car to roll I ever had.
Maybe we could get someone to make an aftermarket bicycle pedal system. We could have some exercise while stuck in traffic (or while cruising long distances), generate electricity and save some more fuel! :lol:
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Orf @ Jun 19 2006, 12:57 AM) [snapback]273324[/snapback]</div> Like that bicycling idea!
Re: Prius makes you fat! Thanks for the info, I'll tell the wife, that way she won't want to drive it anymore. Finally, the car is all MINE!
Hi All, Usually stress without excercise is linked with gaining weight, due to the impact on various hormones - cortesol and adrenalin. That does not jive with saying the relaxed Prius driver is gaining weight because of that more relaxed state. The first 9 months I had my Prius I lost 10 pounds. This was due to the less stress than driving the SL2 in Chicagoland traffic, and then getting more exercise. The SL2 was much more stressful driving mostly from other drivers not seeing the SL2 in traffic, and getting caught in stop/go traffic - which really killed its mileage, and resulted in noticable increase fuel costs. The first time I went over $30 for a week of gas, was shocking. There was also stress from the poor seat in the SL2, and how long I would need to sit in it, during traffic jams. Early on, there was stress in the SL2 from how poor its OEM tires were. The accident I had when the SL2 was 2 weeks old was the first accident I ever had with another vehicle in driving for 27 years. But that was resolved with the Michelin Hydroedges - probably lost a couple pounds due to that, alone! If GM would have offered the SL2 in brighter colors, and with the Michelin tires, I would not have had that accident at all. GM's colors are usually muted. Which is really bad for traffic safety. Then I had a leg injury, and was not able to get my usual exercise, which resulted in a gain of 25 pounds. I am only now getting up to about 1/2 of the exercise I used to do a year and a half later.
funny. But I have lost weight since driving the Prius. almost 50lbs I think. the little red car is good for me!
