While that area is usually pretty quiet, it is pretty close to the on-ramp to the Bay Bridge. This is purely speculation, but it is plausible that the crime was perpetrated by someone from the East Bay looking for a quick getaway.
> And for exercise it would be just as simple. I would do weight training 3x a week, ala Starting Strength, because it's the only form of exercise I actually enjoy doing. That's it. Beyond that would just be whatever recreational activities we did with friends over weekends.
Weight training can be very helpful for weight loss in a way that is distinct from cardio exercise. Everyone's body is different though -- for some people cardio is all they need. See the book Cardio Sucks by Michael Matthews for a defense of weight training over cardio though.
And doing something that is fun -- something that you enjoy doing, is key. This applies to both diet and exercise and pretty much everything in life that you want to sustain.