Question About Working Out vs. Daily Calories

Nysportsred

Little background first: For about 6 years I have worked out a lot (for me that is).
was 5X per week, then when my first daughter was born it was 4X a week. My youngest was born on December 20 and I started doing 3x a week. I have seen a lot of people on here say that having a kid/kids shouldn't hinder someone's ability to exercise 5-6x a week. Well, with me it has, but most of it is since I wanted to spend more time with them too so that is a big reason I have slowed down lately.

Slowing down lately has also allowed me to heal some nagging injuries I have had for a while that I realize I never really gave them time to recover and heal.

I have been doing 3x a week (the last 3 weeks I only got in 2 workouts). I have lost 2 pounds by sticking to my daily calories the last 3 weeks. If I stick to my calories, even with the reduced work out schedule, is it still possible to maintain weight loss/waist size or is the recent weight loss more of a temporary thing brought on by the recent change?

I ask because since I started my weight loss with MFP there has never been a time I didn't work out as much as I said above so I am not really sure which is more important- the calorie counting or the exercise itself.


Here are the two main reasons for my slow down

__TMac__

You can lose weight by reducing calorie intake or by increasing calorie expenditure. So working out less is fine, as long as you're also eating less.

Working out for fitness and health is another calculation.

Stella3838

Calories are king. If you stick to your target, you don't need exercise. I've heard it said "Calories for weight loss. Exercise for health."

ETA: Or maybe even better put "You can't out exercise a bad diet".

Nysportsred

Stella3838 wrote: »

Calories are king. If you stick to your target, you don't need exercise. I've heard it said "Calories for weight loss. Exercise for health."

ETA: Or maybe even better put "You can't out exercise a bad diet".

I like that!

Stella3838

Aww dude, the girls are beautiful! Can't blame you for wanting more time with them!!

PrincessMel72

Your kids are ADORABLE. And yes, as long as you eat at a deficit, you'll continue losing weight without any exercise at all!

NorthCascades

Nysportsred wrote: »

My youngest was born on December 20 and I started doing 3x a week.

I was born on December 21. Your youngest has a cool birthday! Mention that when they're old enough to understand. And don't ever skimp on the birthday presents because it's so close to xmas - ask me how I know.

Nysportsred wrote: »

If I stick to my calories, even with the reduced work out schedule, is it still possible to maintain weight loss/waist size or is the recent weight loss more of a temporary thing brought on by the recent change?

There are people who have lost weight and maintained their loss with no exercise at all. It's just about calories. Exercise is great for your fitness, and it buys you more calories so hopefully it makes your job easier.

Nysportsred

as far as stretching:

for example I am going to do a workout today (cardio) and I haven't worked out since Saturday. What is the best way to stretch without overstretching before the work out?

Nysportsred

I figured I'd update here how it's been going:

I have ended up working out 2 times a week this month as things have gotten busy the last few weeks. My goal will still be 3 (sometimes 4 a week), but paying closer attention to calories.

So far my body is feeling a lot better. Not as tired all the time, a few nagging injuries that haven't healed yet, but overall it is much improved than before.

I have also kept my waist the same size and I have lost .75 pounds. Each workout now feels like it has more of an effect. Hard to describe exactly what I mean, but I hope that makes some kind of sense.

I have had more time to play with my daughters and my mood, I think, is a lot better as my mind isn't thinking about playing with them, getting them to bed, starting a workout (usually at that point I wouldn't be able to get on the elliptical or start zumba until around 10) then not getting in to bed until around 1:30-2AM just to wake up at 7:45 and get ready for work. It was as if my mind was always racing and I didn't like the destraction when spending time with them.

My fear will always be someday, with the decreased amount of workouts, of being back to that 235 pound, 42 inch waist person I was, but I am hopeful that as long as I watch my calories and workout on days that I feel I am going over too much to get under that daily goal I will be ok. I have learned not to be so hard on myself for missed workouts and scheduling "life" around workouts days is a weight off of me as well.