Diet vs Exercise

Inzie2016

Hi everyone! So I stared using MFP a couple weeks ago and had a little bit of a rough start. I was wondering how many of you focus more on better eating then exercising? I am trying to get my diet under control and in a better place before I start working out more because I know I tend to give up when I try to make a lot of changes all at once. I still have days where I go a little off and I havent really lost any weight except for 2 lbs since and that gets me down a bit but I am trying to not let that scale get me down. One thing I struggle the most with is sweets in the evening..anyone have tips on curbing those cravings? I have also latest tried to get myself walking more too.

caroldavison332

80% of this is diet. Concentrate on that.

USLJH10

Diet

TeaBea

Getting a handle on food first is a good idea. Whatever helps you stay consistent. Exercise isn't even necessary for weight loss.....but it is an excellent thing for your health & fitness.

I crave sweets too. So I "allow" myself a treat every day. I look forward to that treat, it's makes me focus on what I really want. Not a cookie here, and a handful of M&Ms there. No mindless grazing allowed, that's when I get in trouble.

If I'm sitting in front of the TV, I keep a glass of ice water (lemon wedge or a few berries) and then keep my hands busy. Crochet, cross-stitch, solitaire, anything to break the TV snacking habit.

scoii

The difference between a good meal and a bad meal is, for example, 500 calories. 3 meals and snacks could be 1500 calorie difference. Much more in the morbidly obese.

Half an hour of strenuous exercise is 200 calories.

Get the diet sorted. Exercise is a bonus and is fun

SophieSmall95

Diet. Because it is far easier to cut out a few hundred calories from your diet than it is to burn a few hundred calories, this gets more and more true the more weight you lose as you expend less energy the less you weigh.

RainaProske

I started my weight loss journey at age 60, on my birthday. I was not in a hurry to lose; after all, I'd been overweight for 40 years! But I lost 50 pounds before my 61st birthday and a total of 100 by my 62nd. I've heard most of my life that at that age, it could not be done, I would need surgery, I would need pills, I would need some diet club, and I had to exercise. Over the next two years, I lost 23 more pounds, bring my weight to 113 - 115 pounds.

Well, I thought I was real smart, because I thought to exercise only once; still the weight came off.

NOT smart!

I became weak. I am still weak. Like a 99-year-old woman. I am having to start from the very bottom, trying to build up strength.

Don't do this to yourself! I suggest that you exercise to keep up your strength and to build strength. Forget exercising to use up calories. Exercise to prevent the weakness I have to deal with daily!

sunnybeaches105

Both. And, with regard to exercise, both cardio and strength training.

jemhh

If you are a very beginner, I think it is wise to look to your diet first. I started out with just looking at my diet, trying to eat a more well-rounded and balanced diet, less junk, etc. After a month I started out with really easy exercise--walking 3x/wk. After another month I added in some bodyweight training on the in between days. From there I just upped my activity level gradually. I didn't actually start counting calories until after 4 months and 30 pounds losts. YMMV but that worked best for me. There's definitely no need to change it all at once. Baby steps are good for adults as well as babies

RoxieDawn

I focus on both. Have been since the very beginning and diet and exercise are dual goals for me.

juanitagardner07

I think both is important. You say you love your sweets... I am a firm believer on not depriving yourself of all of the stuff you love. Eat it in moderation and budget it in to your calories for the day. I have found jello chocolate pudding that is only 60 calories... when I really want some chocolate that is my go to, if I have "extra" calories for the day.. You have to remember, don't make this change so strict that you end up quitting.. This is a lifestyle change not a "diet".

cain120

I understand where you are coming from. I have a friend that is a personal trainer and she always tells me diet is 80% of losing weight. I have a horrible sweet tooth and definitely eat way too much sugar. I roller skate for an hour and a half twice a week and feel like I would be in better shape if I would get my eating under control. I do want to increase my exercise and fitness as well but diet is my biggest struggle and main focus.

Derek_McC

Diet first and then add in the exercise as you are able.

mom22dogs

I did it the opposite than most who have posted. I started working out first, to get into the habit of it. I started to feel better, and about 4-5 mos later, I wanted to start losing weight, so I started watching what I ate. To me, it's harder to get into the habit of working out than it is to watch what you eat, so I attacked that first.

sallyhilton106

Hi. I am new to the app. Find exercise you enjoy and then you will look forward to doing it. Brushing my teeth helps as snacks don't taste so nice after

JDixon852019

Exercising is for physical fitness, not weight loss. You can't out run your fork.

sunnybeaches105

jrulo16 wrote: »

Exercising is for physical fitness, not weight loss. You can't out run your fork.

What if your fork can't run very fast?

ryry_

Weight loss is all about how you can consistently stay in a calorie deficit. Whether that is by cleaning up your diet quality or adding in a hour of exercise whatever makes the calorie deficit as easy and painless as possible is the path to take.

walkdmc

I'm nursing a bad knee now so I'm focused solely on diet. I lost 105 pounds at one point and my regimen was probably, 80-90% diet and 10-20% exercise.

Exercise didn't help me lose weight directly but it definitely improved my appearance and mood. Plus, it helped me have a more moderate approach to eating, less of that dieter's black and white thinking. Exercise is great but it's not necessary for losing weight. For me, it's more essential for weight maintenance.

Philtex

Congratulations on the 2-pound loss! Great start.

BillMcKay1

Weight loss is all about the energy equation. Any weight loss is going to be a combination of fat,muscle and water. The benefit of the exercise (especially resistance/weight training) is it helps to limit the amount of muscle loss.

Another benefit of exercise is it gives you some extra calories to eat while still maintaining that deficit. That can go a long way in helping you feel full and satisfied, which in turn helps you stay on the calorie deficit.

SezxyStef

I would do the following

Get intake in order because there might be times you can't exercise
Find an exercise you like and do it.
Find an exercise you love and do it.
eat back those exercise calories to fuel your next workout
learn about macros for health and fitness
learn about lifting and resistance training and it's benefits and if you want to start doing it.

fanceegirl75

My focus right now is diet. I am getting back on track after falling hard off my program last year from losing 50 lbs 5 years ago. I've got to get back to eating the right foods and logging here. I also try to get in some workouts but it is definitely not my focus.

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gothchiq

Everyone's different but if I don't work out, even maintaining weight my body composition slowly changes over to more fat and less muscle and then I look gross. Must work out.

queenofpuppies

for the sweets in the evening, try to plan your meals so you have some calories left for a little bowl of ice-cream or some Greek yogurt with fruit in the evening. You don't have to give up sweets, just count calories and do it accurately. Mostly, just stick to it! Exercise is cool because it means you can eat a little more but it isn't going to be the thing that really shows on the scale.

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kshama2001

I feel better and sleep better when I exercise. (I'm also more productive at work.) This helps me stay in a calorie deficit, and lose weight.

I started slowly April 2015 - just walking. Then came gardening season. By summer I was swimming. In the fall I started lifting weights again, and went back to walking. I walked throughout the winter, no matter what the temperature. (I'm in Massachusetts.)

I have a moderate amount of sweets every evening after dinner.

orviske

I have been consciously on this going on three weeks. Nutrition is the biggest concern to me. I have come to realize that in my mid thirties, I can't just have what I want. My teeth are crumbling because I am not getting proper nutrition.

I'd say really FOCUS on your nutrition, and see if you can't just go for a walk for 30 minutes, 3x a week. Start there. Make it a habit. Ease yourself into it. Before you know it you wont' feel right unless you've done your regimen. If I miss my walk in the morning its like my brain can't really work right.

As for sweet cravings, consider adding more green leafy foods to your diet. Many people with sweet cravings are actually nutrient deficient.....usually magnesium.

If you keep good track of your calories, you can "budget" for a sweet treat as others have said. Depriving yourself isn't going to keep you going. Moderation is key.

capaul42

While you don't need to exercise to lose weight, I still think doing some during your journey is better for overall health.
I dove right into exercise because to me it wasn't about the weight I was losing. My goal was, and still is, to be more fit. I didn't have a lot to lose (45lbs) but I was extremely unfit. I'm getting there.

ryry_

You 100% can but it will likely be at the expense of muscle mass. If you have a sedentary job i would definitely at least recommend walking and light resistance/body weight training.