Weight loss with no exercise?

stagemaniac

And for me to lose, I need that exercise component, it's a 50/50 split. Watching my calories and tracking was doing very little. Added cardio in, suddenly I am losing. It was very different when I was younger, I could lose without a lot of effort. Now that I hit 40, different story. Every person is different, I would find something you love doing. A dance class, playing ball, walking a dog, there are many ways to exercise without it feeling like exercise!

walkonfire5

Why do you see exercise, as a dirty word. Dont think of it like that go for walk bike ride walk the dog buy a dog go for a walk along the beach join a new hobby get a trampoline take up self defense classes. Doesnt mean you have to be stuck in a gym on a treadmill getting bored its all about being more active get out enjoy the fresh air and do something go play mini golf. Go bowling go to a ice rink ect

goldfishgoo

SandyBVTN wrote: »

I lost 18lbs last summer/early fall with just calorie control. For a lot of reasons, I think exercise would have been beneficial too but for me it's best to make one major change at a time and I felt food was more important.

I'm not exercising as I really should. I am at the very beginning. I use the fitbit one and with it I've been just trying to up my steps. It is not a fast "I have to make those steps and exceed every day" kind of thing. I've 'been there done that' and eventually I lose steam and quit. So this time I'm paying attention to what I do normally and gradually adjust to what I know I can maintain. So far, so good. The same goes for eating. If I dive in head first with a tight routine, it just won't work. I eat a serving size (according to package) of that item I choose. I check it over and ask myself: "was it worth it? " Sometimes the answer is "no". Sometimes it is: "yes". Again, so far it is helping.
I'm trying to drink more water and my goal is to give up soda. I hate hate hate water! Sorry, but I really do. That is the hardest thing. I've often heard to add lemon. Nah...only if sugar is added too. Bad habit. So I skip that add flavor thing. It would not work at all for me.

rachelchase40

I would love to start exercising more but just being on a pound per week calorie deficit and not adding any more exercise (occasionally my fiance and I go on walks, etc) i have lost 27.2 in about 5 months (I want to lose 60 lbs total). I would say it is pretty good progress and I am really happy with it.

lizde217

80% diet, 20% physical activity, 100% mental!!! I have lost 43 lbs since August 2014, mostly by changing my diet alone. I have a long way to go, but 1 lb and 1 day at a time...you'll get there!

ssanford77

I lost my first 50 lbs without exercise. It took me about 5 or 6 months to do that. After that I hit a wall, I couldn't drop anymore. I had to start exercising at that point. I hated exercising too but I found after losing that weight exercise wasn't as bad as it had been. Just stay committed to your diet change and you should see results but keep in mind that as you get closer to your goal you may need to make further changes in order to tone. You can do it!

astrose00

My sister lost almost 40lbs in 3.5 months without exercising. She was recovering from a broken foot and is doing nutrisystem. It can be done. I exercise (a lot) but I also love to do it. I don't anticipate weight loss from cardio or weight training. But in the <4 months I have been at it, I lost almost 50lbs and I feel in shape, strong and energetic. I'm still in the low 190s but wear a womens size 12 (US). I have seen people 40lbs lighter than me (or more) in a size 12. The higher the muscle-to-fat ratio, the leaner you will look and the faster will be your metabolism, all others things being equal. It's a win-win.

I understand everyone can't or doesn't enjoy exercise. So to each his own. My sister is working out now and I have to say that I am noticing she is smaller. She does body and free weight strength training and cardio for now. I remember walking with her in the mall and she was breathing hard after a flight of stairs (I remember those day - oh, about 4 months ago???). Not fun.

astrose00

Montemuscle1970 wrote: »

A calorie deficit will force your body to pull the missing calories from body fat. One pound of fat contains about 3500 calories. Most diets recommend a calorie deficit of no more than 500 calories a day. So 7 x 500 = 3500 calories. So at that rate its about a pound of fat per week.

The most important thing to do when dieting is to find a sustainable plan for yourself. Use the built in calorie calculator in the MFP app to find your specific calorie requirements, then you can tinker with the numbers to find what works for you. If you diet too hard or too fast, you tend to rebound because its too extreme for your body. Plus being in a calorie deficit can affect your mood if its deep. Find what your daily calorie expenditure is approx. and reduce it by 10-15% and just sit back and relax, and before you know it fat weight is disappearing! Hope that helps!

I mostly agree. One point to note is that our bodies will use our stored fat AND muscle for energy while a caloric deficit. It would be great if it only burned fat but it doesn't. That's why a lot of people get that "skinny fat" look when they lose weight; they are smaller, weigh less but have very little muscle and look soft, flabby and have slower metabolisms. That's why many feel it's so important to do strength training when you are trying to lose FAT. It's virtually impossible to gain muscle while in a caloric deficit but strength training and upping proteins in your diet can help maintain the muscle you have. So your bodyfat% will decrease as you lose weight (mostly fat, hopefully) because your lean body mass is not decreasing (as much). Just my two cents!

tulips_and_tea

mskinner1091 wrote: »

Thanks everyone for your replies! I've been doing well with my calorie deficit. I'm just so anxious to hurry up & lose weight so I guess I'll try & incorporate exercise. Blah! Lol. Congrats to everyone who has mentioned their weight loss! I was 193lbs, 5'7", 24 years old. I'm down to 179 now but can't wait to finally reach my goal!! Thanks!!

Is it cardio that you dislike? Because, yes, that can be boring and monotonous. You don't have to go all crazy, but start either lifting weights or doing body-weight only exercises. Just a couple every day. Try not to rest in between sets. It will elevate your heart rate a bit and you'll start to see results.

MaxPower0102

Keeping carbs at 80g a day will get the body burning fat. This is my daily goal anyway, but when I get Achilles tendinitis flare-ups that keep me from being very mobile, it is even more important to stick to this.

mskinner1091

Is it cardio that you dislike? Because, yes, that can be boring and monotonous. You don't have to go all crazy, but start either lifting weights or doing body-weight only exercises. Just a couple every day. Try not to rest in between sets. It will elevate your heart rate a bit and you'll start to see results.[/quote]

Yes, it's the cardio I hate. I don't mind the strength training so much. Just can't stand the cardio. Lol.

poohpoohpeapod

Honojane wrote: »

Exercising is very hard for me because of joint pain. I have no trouble losing weight without doing any as long as I keep my portion sizes in line with my sedentary lifestyle. I wish I could exercise more though as the benefits outweigh the bother.

activity helps with joint pain in the long run.
I have spinal stenosis, 2 herniated disks, nerve impingement, blahblah. My specialist told me to try to move more, even if I have to rest every 5 minutes, because it strengthens

Prettyforafatgirl

i lost 27 pounds over the course of 7 months with killing myself at the gym and eating in a caloric deficit. I started following a new nutrition plan with NO exercise and i have lost an additional 41 pounds in 4 months! so im down 68 pounds so far and still want to lose another 50-55 pounds. For me i am happier, have more energy, and feel like i have more life balance without training so hard. I lose weight much better without the gym. feel free to message me if you have any questions about the plan i started following

snowflake930

I lost 90 pounds before I began to even walk more, so I lost weight just by eating less calories than I burned. I lost the first 90# in 7 months, but I had a lot to lose. I did begin exercising after I had lost 90, just walking for about 20 minutes at first. After about 6 weeks, and increasing the time I walked, I began working out in the gym. So, yes, you can lose weight just from staying within your calorie range for the day, but it is a good idea to try to move more as well.

One of my co-workers, runs a lot of marathons and tri's, and other races. He is super fit. He says the 80/20 is actually probably even higher, like 90% diet, 10% exercise for losing weight. All I know is, that I feel 100% better than I did 3 years ago when I began MFP. I have lost over 160# and have been maintaining for almost 15 months.

I would recommend doing whatever you can to move more. Start out slowly and build up the time and vary your routine. As long as you have no health issues that limit your ability to exercise challenging yourself to do more moving will give you a stronger, healthier body.

HeySwoleSister

mskinner1091 wrote: »

Is it cardio that you dislike? Because, yes, that can be boring and monotonous. You don't have to go all crazy, but start either lifting weights or doing body-weight only exercises. Just a couple every day. Try not to rest in between sets. It will elevate your heart rate a bit and you'll start to see results.

Yes, it's the cardio I hate. I don't mind the strength training so much. Just can't stand the cardio. Lol. [/quote]

OMG, I feel you.

My only cardio is chasing my dog, carrying laundry baskets up and down stairs, and dancing (badly) when none of my teenage daughters are watching.

Lifting heavy is FUN, and I find that most people who dislike cardio like to lift. (And, to be fair, I know a fair few who love cardio but hate lifting...they're usually those folks who actually get "runner's high" or some such craziness that I've never experienced, LOL)

mckat08

530roman wrote: »

You'll read this a lot here, but you will lose weight as long as you are in a calorie deficit. Exercise adds so many more benefits other than just losing weight. Try some new things and start slow. Finding and exercise you enjoy might be easier than you think. You'd be surprised!

I HATED exercising until I tried strength training. I have added at least 30 minutes of cardio every day and find the weight is literally falling off. 530roman has it right, take it slow and see if you find something you like. If you have a large amount of weight to lose, as I do, I would highly suggest some strength training to ensure you don't lose muscle. Best of luck to you!

trazter31

I lost 14 pounds in one month by eating 1200 calories a day and no exercize. I think I had been eating 2400-2600 a day and I'm 5ft, 6 inches.

kiwi_gros

Well i will just say the only way to do that is by partial starvation and muscle loss. With the amount of caloric restraint you would be deficit in basic nutrition. With the nutrition defecit, your bones will weaken, you will be constantly tired, your immune system will be Lowered meaning you will be constantly sick, the list goes on. This is called anorexia. There is a reason that it is unhealthy. Trust me, if there was a way to lose weight in a way that is healthy as well as lacking in exercise, we would all jump on it but that is not the case yet. The good thing though that it proves, like almost everything, that you have to work for accomplishment. If you dont try and push yourself, you wont ever feel "better" unless you triumph over the crappy parts. So instead of trying to find the easy way, prove to yourself that you can do what you need to in order to thrive in life. You will gain your energy just by exercising, not losing weight. And a balanced diet will help you feel healthier as well. Changing your lifestyle will make you feel better, not only lose weight.

silentKayak

I hate most exercise, too. But the more you do it, the less you hate it. Think of it like going to school or going to work, it's just something you have to do.

You'll definitely be happier with your body if you do some strength training.

For calorie burning/to accelerate your loss you don't have to do anything really intense. Even just going for a walk will burn calories to let you progress faster or eat a bit more. The more intense the exercise, the faster you can burn calories, but a little is better than none. I got an exercise bike at home and pedal at a moderate pace while I watch TV or movies. It's better than sitting on the couch, I estimate that 12 hours = 1 lb, so why not?

Carrie1083

The experts say it's 80% diet 20% exercise. I do exercise as it's important to me, but as long as you eat less than your tdee you'll lose weight without exercise