Dieting in the form of just eating less isn't really a good idea. However, cutting back on junk food & soda is. Having a regular exercise plan and sticking to it for an extended period of time is the best way to lose the fat.

It's the "regular" and "extended period of time" that are the hardest. Good luck. ^^

Badminton, ping pong and tennis (popular around here, eh?).

Not the crappy backyard net-between-two-trees type of badminton; Real badminton.

erm, just a heads up; i'm no longer 'praetorian.'

There seems to be a lot of people here who have taken lessons for a long time... what pieces are you currently playing/working on?