Why do people say weight loss is all about diet?

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Replies

  • Zangpakto
    Zangpakto Posts: 336 Member
    Yea... because you know... the saying that abs are built in the kitchen and not the gym... yea...

    That is why...

    Eating alone wont get you good abs as wont build muscle, however even if you trained like a demon, without proper nutrition you will NEVER have abs no matter how you train...

    The kitchen is where being lean is made.. not the gym... The gym helps, but isn't the factor that decides it...
  • michellekicks
    michellekicks Posts: 3,624 Member
    My average TDEE is 2850 calories. I can easily eat over 3000 calories in a day... and I'm a girl. And not fat.
  • TheEffort
    TheEffort Posts: 1,028 Member
    Depends on your Total Daily Energy Expenditure. If it's below 2500 and you're eating 3000, then no, burning 500 calories per day through exercise won't help you lose weight. That's why weight-loss depends mostly on diet. Exercise can increase your TDEE and allow you to eat more, but there is still a calorie threshold. Eat above it, you gain. Eat below it, you lose.

    This.

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  • BrianSharpe
    BrianSharpe Posts: 9,248 Member
    i w ont lose weight eating 3000 calories ........ and burning 500 um no...........
    everyone is different
    noone should be eating 3000 calories

    I have days when I'll eat 3,000 cal and still be below my target...

    Surprisingly, everyone is not "different" other than the amount of fuel they need (barring a metabolic disorder or medical condition). The laws of thermodynamics apply to all of us.

    http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/1032429-you-re-not-special
  • twinketta
    twinketta Posts: 2,130 Member
    Having just spent 10 days in Orlando to visit Disney and seeing all the obese/overweight adults and children stuffing their faces at the parks and in the hotel breakfast buffet, not to mention the buffet in the Golden Corrall.

    Children above the age of 3 and 4 years old being pushed around in strollers, adults taking mobility scooters to get around.

    Then I would categorically state a lot of it is to do with `diet`

    I think exercise for a lot of people comes way down the list of things to do
  • KeithAngilly
    KeithAngilly Posts: 575 Member
    i w ont lose weight eating 3000 calories ........ and burning 500 um no...........
    everyone is different
    noone should be eating 3000 calories

    There are plenty of people that routinely eat 3000 calories due to their fitness goals and routine.
    Lets say you are fat and eat 3000 calories a day. Then say you start doing exercise everyday and burn 500 cals a day. You will eventually start losing weight right? So there you go, exercise equals weight loss. And you still eat the same 3000 cal diet. Some people might get hungrier because of the exercise and eat back the cals but I think its a hell of a lot easier than doing no exercise and trying to eliminate calories every which way. Thats where people break down mentally.
    Just a thought I had

    Because in the absence of exercise, you can still lose weight but even with exercise, without proper calorie calculating, you can still gain weight.

    Exercise can aid weight loss but only eating can cause weight gain AND loss depending on calorie intake.

    good posting!

    btw...today, counting excercise, my intake is supposed over 3000. 8 miles in very humid conditions will do that. :o)
  • sarahc001
    sarahc001 Posts: 477 Member
    It all depends on the person. If you are maintaining at 3000 cal, you will lose weight if you create a 500 calorie daily deficit through exercise, to the tune of about 1lb/week.

    Sadly (or not,) as your body adapts to the exercise and you lose weight, you burn less for comparable exercise and therefore lose less. Right now I burn about 72 calories/mile when I run, (70-75 depending on effort per my HRM.) That means that if I run 50 miles, I only use about 3600 calories. When I started running my heart rate was higher (ie I had to work harder) and I burned more.

    If your weight is higher or you have not been exercising, it will require more effort to move the same amount as someone who is lighter and/or has been exercising and has become stronger/more efficient. Using Phelps (or any elite athlete) is beside the point- the volume of training they do on a daily/weekly/monthly basis is more than most of us could wrap our heads around. Swimmers notoriously burn more than any other athlete, (according to the tour guide at the USOTC in Colorado Springs where I took my competitive figure skaters, who incidentally burn among the least of elite athletes. :) )
  • castelluzzo99
    castelluzzo99 Posts: 313 Member
    I am a classic example of why exercise is less than 20% of weight loss and diet is 80%. Two years ago I started P90X. I didn't finish because I got pregnant and morning sickness pretty much ended all exercise. But I worked out hard, improved in performance, felt like a million bucks. I wasn't taking measurements or weekly pictures, so I'm not sure how things went that way, but the scales barely budged. Maybe a couple of pounds in 2 months. I think it was because I upped my calories. I wasn't following the eating plan.

    Then this year I started the Move It Mom program. At first, I didn't do the eating plan either, or count calories or anything. I just incorporated the exercises. Pretty much no change. I wasn't losing the inches I wanted to lose. So about half way through, I joined MFP and started counting calories. I started losing inches like crazy. Not so many pounds, but then, I also started working hard on strength (not heavy lifting, but body weight counts), and in the last month I lost about 4% body fat, gained a little LBM, and dropped several pounds of fat. I probably could have been more faithful with my deficit, but hey, I made progress and I'm happy with it. I've dropped a couple of sizes since I joined MFP, and I credit it to just not overeating, which I did too frequently before.

    So really, when they say diet is 80% of weight loss, it's true. Because as others have pointed out, simply adding exercise might just make you hungrier and then you eat more and net back at maintenance or above.
  • michellekicks
    michellekicks Posts: 3,624 Member
    For real, though, it's all about diet because it doesn't matter if you exercise or not. What matters is that you eat less than you burn... so no matter what you burn, whether active or from being sedentary, eat less and you will lose weight. Eat a LITTLE less, and you will lose mostly fat and a tiny bit of lean mass. Eat a LOT less, and you will lose a higher percentage of lean mass, but also lose fat.
  • LexiAtel
    LexiAtel Posts: 228 Member
    People are just lazy! Seriously... they DON'T want to exercise. Even if you ate a bunch of crappy foods and exercised(I did this accidentally when I was younger), you'd be skinny, but no one wants to do this.

    All I ever see is people trying to lose the weight fast, with no exercise and no "diet". Well sorry... it wont happen, something's gotta go to get this to work. And you can't lose it over night, you just can't.

    Anyway, when I started this "diet", it was right after my birthday (May 12th), I had eaten like a king, like a pig, you name it. I probably consumed like 4,000 calories that day... maybe more.

    On the 17th, I weighed myself. 187. I weighed myself continuously through out the "month", ending on June 17th. I weighed 182. One time I weighed 181, and one time I weighed 190(!!!) (between May 17th and June 17th). The only thing I did was have a 1200 calorie intake. I didn't exercise. I ate fast food, but I proportioned it, ate junk food, you name it. I lost 5lbs between May 17th and June 17th.

    This cycle, I started exercising. 3 days out of the week I do a 20 minute strength exercise, and each week I walk (at least) 2 hours with each session being at least 20 minutes long. In just the first week (June 17th - June 24th), I lost 3lbs. On June 26th, I had lost another 2lbs. This can't be TOO accurate, but tomorrow I will weigh, and I am pretty sure at least 2lbs will be off.

    I don't usually feel faint, but I do notice the day after I weight lift I tend to want to eat more. This is fine. I go over my 1200 calorie limit with no worries, because I know 1200 calories is pretty low. In fact, I will likely to change the stats pretty soon if I keep this routine up much longer.
  • elyelyse
    elyelyse Posts: 1,454 Member
    People are just lazy! Seriously... they DON'T want to exercise. Even if you ate a bunch of crappy foods and exercised(I did this accidentally when I was younger), you'd be skinny, but no one wants to do this.


    lololololwut? no

    I used to exercise like a fiend. One summer many years ago... 5 days a week, I'd hike 3 hours, 2 of those hours being steep uphill, AND go to an intensive yoga workshop in the morning before my hike for 2+ hours, and I didn't lose a single pound (gained!), because once that part of my day was over I ate like I hadn't eaten in a month. I ate too much crappy food, and no amount of exertion could burn that off.

    (actually, the quoted statement is so ridiculous, i'm wondering if i missed some sarcasm, or trolling or something)
  • gertudejekyl
    gertudejekyl Posts: 386 Member
    why can't we all just be intelligent here....
  • knitwit0704
    knitwit0704 Posts: 376
    Lets say you are fat and eat 3000 calories a day. Then say you start doing exercise everyday and burn 500 cals a day. You will eventually start losing weight right?

    Depends on your Total Daily Energy Expenditure. If it's below 2500 and you're eating 3000, then no, burning 500 calories per day through exercise won't help you lose weight. That's why weight-loss depends mostly on diet. Exercise can increase your TDEE and allow you to eat more, but there is still a calorie threshold. Eat above it, you gain. Eat below it, you lose.

    But if you burned 750 calories per day, you WILL lose weight.

    so will you continue this math until someone has to burn 2000 calories per day to lose weight? or they could stop killing themselves on the elliptical and just not order fries with the burger

    Of course there's a limit. There's always a limit. I'm just saying, reasonably, do a reasonable amount of exercise along with eating right to net below your TDEE, and you will lose weight. :) So, no, I'm not saying 'until someone has to burn 2000 calories a day'. Both go hand in hand.
  • AllTehBeers
    AllTehBeers Posts: 5,030 Member
    why can't we all just be intelligent here....

    spock-meme-no-signs-of-intelligent-life.jpg
  • ttippie2000
    ttippie2000 Posts: 412 Member
    Um, I'm a guy who has an active lifestyle and some muscle mass to up my metabolism. 3k calories is below my maintenance. My typical TDEEs are above 4k and approach 5k on a hard day.

    I think a lot of people on this site are focused on looking good. That's cool, but it does explain the difference in perspective. I'm focusing on performing at an elite level in a sport with weight loss along for the ride. It's a bit different when you approach cutting weight that way. I'd be interested to hear if there are any people on that wavelength on this site.
  • SteelySunshine
    SteelySunshine Posts: 1,092 Member
    You can just eat less. But, there are only so many calories you can cut. Most people aren't coming from eating 3000 calories. Some are for sure, I might have been I really don't know cuz I started cutting back rather by accident. Anyway, cutting back from whatever to whatever was about 500 calories a day. I started losing weight of course, I had an inkling I was eating less because grocery bill. So, anyway I lost about 4 or 5 pounds a month up until March. Then I started exercising. I am losing just a bit faster, mostly because I wasn't quite as sedentary as I thought I was so, the extra hour I thought I was putting in is really more like an extra half an hour. I think the bottom line is if you exercise more you need to watch your diet more so you don't get a false sense of security and think you can eat 5,000 calories a day, because I have done that.
  • Kamikazeflutterby
    Kamikazeflutterby Posts: 770 Member
    As many people have said, if you don't pay attention to your diet you can easily eat back your exercise calories and never notice it. Eat less to lose the weight, exercise to look hotter at the lower weight.
  • Brad805
    Brad805 Posts: 289 Member
    Well, you did indeed have an idea. Maybe not a great one...
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,984 Member
    Lets say you are fat and eat 3000 calories a day. Then say you start doing exercise everyday and burn 500 cals a day. You will eventually start losing weight right? So there you go, exercise equals weight loss. And you still eat the same 3000 cal diet. Some people might get hungrier because of the exercise and eat back the cals but I think its a hell of a lot easier than doing no exercise and trying to eliminate calories every which way. Thats where people break down mentally.
    Just a thought I had
    You forgot to add what calories are needed to maintain weight. If it's 2200 and that person is eating 3000 and burning 500, then the net is still 2500 meaning that they are still in 300 calorie surplus.
    It's about calorie deficit. Diet is just how you reach it.

    A.C.E. Certified Personal/Group FitnessTrainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • linsey0689
    linsey0689 Posts: 753 Member
    Not necessary.... let's say at the 3000 calories you are really gaining weight slowly. So if you add in the 500 calories of exercise you are just at the level to maintain your current weight. So that is why diet is key!
  • phjorg1
    phjorg1 Posts: 642 Member
    can you gain weight while doing crazy amounts of exercise?? Yes, of course.

    Can you lose weight while eating too much?? No, you cannot...

    Seriously, the amount of dumb in this thread is bogglingly me.. On the plus side, at least most of the people in here get it.
  • Joehenny
    Joehenny Posts: 1,222 Member
    i w ont lose weight eating 3000 calories ........ and burning 500 um no...........
    everyone is different
    noone should be eating 3000 calories

    My maintenance is right over 3k. I have friends on here who maintain on 4k. I need about 3500 to consistently gain weight.


    STAHP
  • jamielynas
    jamielynas Posts: 366 Member
    i w ont lose weight eating 3000 calories ........ and burning 500 um no...........
    everyone is different
    noone should be eating 3000 calories

    moronic
  • SteveStedge1
    SteveStedge1 Posts: 149 Member
    Lets say you are fat and eat 3000 calories a day. Then say you start doing exercise everyday and burn 500 cals a day. You will eventually start losing weight right? So there you go, exercise equals weight loss. And you still eat the same 3000 cal diet. Some people might get hungrier because of the exercise and eat back the cals but I think its a hell of a lot easier than doing no exercise and trying to eliminate calories every which way. Thats where people break down mentally.
    Just a thought I had

    MM hmm so how's that been working out for ya?
  • knitwit0704
    knitwit0704 Posts: 376
    You can just eat less. But, there are only so many calories you can cut. Most people aren't coming from eating 3000 calories. Some are for sure, I might have been I really don't know cuz I started cutting back rather by accident. Anyway, cutting back from whatever to whatever was about 500 calories a day. I started losing weight of course, I had an inkling I was eating less because grocery bill. So, anyway I lost about 4 or 5 pounds a month up until March. Then I started exercising. I am losing just a bit faster, mostly because I wasn't quite as sedentary as I thought I was so, the extra hour I thought I was putting in is really more like an extra half an hour. I think the bottom line is if you exercise more you need to watch your diet more so you don't get a false sense of security and think you can eat 5,000 calories a day, because I have done that.


    Exactly. There's a limit to cutting calories, and there's a limit to exercise. Do too much of either and it will be harmful. Pure and simple.