Weight loss without working out due to medical reasons--anyone else?
Zara11
Posts: 1,247 Member
Hi all! For medical reasons I cannot work out. Anyone else doing this on diet alone? Would love to meet some people in a similar boat.
EDIT: I know how to work out, I know all about calorie deficits. I am looking for people who deal with physical limitations because weight loss is often more difficult when you also can't work out and it's nice to connect with people who understand the frustrations/added mental stress.
EDIT: I know how to work out, I know all about calorie deficits. I am looking for people who deal with physical limitations because weight loss is often more difficult when you also can't work out and it's nice to connect with people who understand the frustrations/added mental stress.
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Replies
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Sure - all you need is a calorie deficit. I lost 40 lbs before not doing any exercise.4
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Lost 16lbs since July 31st without exercise. Not because I can't, just because I didn't want to.3
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I agree that a calorie deficit usually causes weight loss, but it gets harder when there's less weight to lose. There is, however, a psychological difference between not wanting to work out and not being able to work out, which is a frustrating element in this that I'd like to find a support group for.6
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Moving is good for you and usually attainable unless you're paralyzed. You don't have to call it exercise for it to have an effect. Can you walk? Dance? Play? Housework?2
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I agree that a calorie deficit usually causes weight loss, but it gets harder when there's less weight to lose. There is, however, a psychological difference between not wanting to work out and not being able to work out, which is a frustrating element in this that I'd like to find a support group for.
But I only had 16lbs to lose. I started at 162, I'm currently 146lbs and 5'11. And almost 40. Weight loss with diet only works. No matter how able you are. So, what I'm saying is, no one NEEDS to exercise to lose weight. Eat less food. Period.
Good luck and I hope you find the support you are looking for.
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kommodevaran wrote: »
Not when you eat foods you have an intolerance or allergy to. Also, some medications mess with weight loss as well.0 -
kristen8000 wrote: »I agree that a calorie deficit usually causes weight loss, but it gets harder when there's less weight to lose. There is, however, a psychological difference between not wanting to work out and not being able to work out, which is a frustrating element in this that I'd like to find a support group for.
But I only had 16lbs to lose. I started at 162, I'm currently 146lbs and 5'11. And almost 40. Weight loss with diet only works. No matter how able you are. So, what I'm saying is, no one NEEDS to exercise to lose weight. Eat less food. Period.
Good luck and I hope you find the support you are looking for.
Yes, I'm aware of that. I didn't say it was impossible. Knocked out the first 10+ pounds on calorie deficit alone already. I said it was getting more difficult and emotionally taxing given health issues and was looking for others in the same boat.1 -
The problem with being lean is that it's harder to create a deficit because you have less room for error. Even trained professionals uncount calories in by as much as 400 calories. So there is a need to be more precise. Also, with some medications, it can mess with some water retention and/or hunger signals.
It's true that all you need is a calorie deficit. The harder part is, when someone is lean, it's harder to do so and in some sense, our bodies become more resistant.
I know you said you can't workout, but can you increase daily movements (maybe walk more)?1 -
kommodevaran wrote: »Moving is good for you and usually attainable unless you're paralyzed. You don't have to call it exercise for it to have an effect. Can you walk? Dance? Play? Housework?
Muscle/nerve issues. Limited movement. Most effort goes to maintaining job and standard chores. I already do housework, play/walk/dancing difficult to push boundaries on. I was pretty fit before this started.0 -
When you say you have less weight to lose, are these vanity lbs or lbs to get to normal weight? If they are vanity lbs, and you can't workout right now, is there an option for you to maintain until you can workout again? (just so you can maintain your muscle/body composition)
If working out is off the table for good or you are trying to get to a normal weight for health reasons, then obviously that will not be an option.
It will totally depend on your goals of course. All the best!2 -
The problem with being lean is that it's harder to create a deficit because you have less room for error. Even trained professionals uncount calories in by as much as 400 calories. So there is a need to be more precise. Also, with some medications, it can mess with some water retention and/or hunger signals.
It's true that all you need is a calorie deficit. The harder part is, when someone is lean, it's harder to do so and in some sense, our bodies become more resistant.
I know you said you can't workout, but can you increase daily movements (maybe walk more)?
Thank you for your response. I'm trying to do that because a hundred calories is better than zero, but am limited in what I can do. Waiting for a few medical procedures to be completed so I can try if focusing on core work will cause less repercussions.0 -
The problem with being lean is that it's harder to create a deficit because you have less room for error. Even trained professionals uncount calories in by as much as 400 calories. So there is a need to be more precise. Also, with some medications, it can mess with some water retention and/or hunger signals.
It's true that all you need is a calorie deficit. The harder part is, when someone is lean, it's harder to do so and in some sense, our bodies become more resistant.
I know you said you can't workout, but can you increase daily movements (maybe walk more)?
Thank you for your response. I'm trying to do that because a hundred calories is better than zero, but am limited in what I can do. Waiting for a few medical procedures to be completed so I can try if focusing on core work will cause less repercussions.
What are your stats? How many calories are you eating? And do you use a food scale?0 -
Why would you eat food you are allergic to? Not that it hinders weight loss. Some medications can mess with appetite and cause lethargy, but they can't directly hinder weight loss.
Not when you eat foods you have an intolerance or allergy to. Also, some medications mess with weight loss as well.kommodevaran wrote: »1 -
The problem with being lean is that it's harder to create a deficit because you have less room for error. Even trained professionals uncount calories in by as much as 400 calories. So there is a need to be more precise. Also, with some medications, it can mess with some water retention and/or hunger signals.
It's true that all you need is a calorie deficit. The harder part is, when someone is lean, it's harder to do so and in some sense, our bodies become more resistant.
I know you said you can't workout, but can you increase daily movements (maybe walk more)?
Thank you for your response. I'm trying to do that because a hundred calories is better than zero, but am limited in what I can do. Waiting for a few medical procedures to be completed so I can try if focusing on core work will cause less repercussions.
What are your stats? How many calories are you eating? And do you use a food scale?
5'8", 145-150, aiming for 135-140, eating 1200-1700, averaging 1400-1500 most days, and I weigh meats eaten, and guess with fruits/vegetables.0 -
kommodevaran wrote: »
Why would you eat food you are allergic to? Not that it hinders weight loss. Some medications can mess with appetite and cause lethargy, but they can't directly hinder weight loss.
Not when you eat foods you have an intolerance or allergy to. Also, some medications mess with weight loss as well.kommodevaran wrote: »
I cut them out when it was discovered. I was just pointing out that a calorie deficit does not always cause weight loss. It does when everything else is working correctly.0 -
I am doing the same. Feel free to add me. Have to lose almost 25 lbs1
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The problem with being lean is that it's harder to create a deficit because you have less room for error. Even trained professionals uncount calories in by as much as 400 calories. So there is a need to be more precise. Also, with some medications, it can mess with some water retention and/or hunger signals.
It's true that all you need is a calorie deficit. The harder part is, when someone is lean, it's harder to do so and in some sense, our bodies become more resistant.
I know you said you can't workout, but can you increase daily movements (maybe walk more)?
Thank you for your response. I'm trying to do that because a hundred calories is better than zero, but am limited in what I can do. Waiting for a few medical procedures to be completed so I can try if focusing on core work will cause less repercussions.
What are your stats? How many calories are you eating? And do you use a food scale?
5'8", 145-150, aiming for 135-140, eating 1200-1700, averaging 1400-1500 most days, and I weigh meats eaten, and guess with fruits/vegetables.
Id start to weigh you fruits/veggies. I used to think I was eating an 80 calorie apple.. turns out, it was double. And when you eat 4 to 5 servings of fruit a day, it was astonishing how far off I was.
So I am lean myself, and trying to get abs has been a bish for me.2 -
The problem with being lean is that it's harder to create a deficit because you have less room for error. Even trained professionals uncount calories in by as much as 400 calories. So there is a need to be more precise. Also, with some medications, it can mess with some water retention and/or hunger signals.
It's true that all you need is a calorie deficit. The harder part is, when someone is lean, it's harder to do so and in some sense, our bodies become more resistant.
I know you said you can't workout, but can you increase daily movements (maybe walk more)?
Thank you for your response. I'm trying to do that because a hundred calories is better than zero, but am limited in what I can do. Waiting for a few medical procedures to be completed so I can try if focusing on core work will cause less repercussions.
What are your stats? How many calories are you eating? And do you use a food scale?
5'8", 145-150, aiming for 135-140, eating 1200-1700, averaging 1400-1500 most days, and I weigh meats eaten, and guess with fruits/vegetables.
Id start to weigh you fruits/veggies. I used to think I was eating an 80 calorie apple.. turns out, it was double. And when you eat 4 to 5 servings of fruit a day, it was astonishing how far off I was.
So I am lean myself, and trying to get abs has been a bish for me.
If it's of any help, when I could work out, got my abs from heavier weights, swimming, and p90x was pretty darn useful as well!0 -
Then what's the relevance?kommodevaran wrote: »
Why would you eat food you are allergic to? Not that it hinders weight loss. Some medications can mess with appetite and cause lethargy, but they can't directly hinder weight loss.
Not when you eat foods you have an intolerance or allergy to. Also, some medications mess with weight loss as well.kommodevaran wrote: »
I cut them out when it was discovered.
But it's not true. A calorie deficit means that you're taking in fewer calories than your body burns. This forces your body to eat on it's energy (fat) stores, and you lose weight. It happens for everybody, always.I was just pointing out that a calorie deficit does not always cause weight loss. It does when everything else is working correctly.1 -
The problem with being lean is that it's harder to create a deficit because you have less room for error. Even trained professionals uncount calories in by as much as 400 calories. So there is a need to be more precise. Also, with some medications, it can mess with some water retention and/or hunger signals.
It's true that all you need is a calorie deficit. The harder part is, when someone is lean, it's harder to do so and in some sense, our bodies become more resistant.
I know you said you can't workout, but can you increase daily movements (maybe walk more)?
Thank you for your response. I'm trying to do that because a hundred calories is better than zero, but am limited in what I can do. Waiting for a few medical procedures to be completed so I can try if focusing on core work will cause less repercussions.
What are your stats? How many calories are you eating? And do you use a food scale?
5'8", 145-150, aiming for 135-140, eating 1200-1700, averaging 1400-1500 most days, and I weigh meats eaten, and guess with fruits/vegetables.
Id start to weigh you fruits/veggies. I used to think I was eating an 80 calorie apple.. turns out, it was double. And when you eat 4 to 5 servings of fruit a day, it was astonishing how far off I was.
So I am lean myself, and trying to get abs has been a bish for me.
If it's of any help, when I could work out, got my abs from heavier weights, swimming, and p90x was pretty darn useful as well!
Thats awesome. I hope you get through all of your issues. I can understand the frustration as my wife is a medical nightmare with all her issues.
Personally, I am down to about 16% but almost all of my fat is in my belly. I actually have fair of definition and muscle in my arms, shoulders, legs and back.1 -
kommodevaran wrote: »
Then what's the relevance?kommodevaran wrote: »
Why would you eat food you are allergic to? Not that it hinders weight loss. Some medications can mess with appetite and cause lethargy, but they can't directly hinder weight loss.
Not when you eat foods you have an intolerance or allergy to. Also, some medications mess with weight loss as well.kommodevaran wrote: »
I cut them out when it was discovered.
But it's not true. A calorie deficit means that you're taking in fewer calories than your body burns. This forces your body to eat on it's energy (fat) stores, and you lose weight. It happens for everybody, always.I was just pointing out that a calorie deficit does not always cause weight loss. It does when everything else is working correctly.
The relevance was that when I was eating foods I didn't know I had a sensitivity to, I rapidly gained weight despite eating less than I burned. I thought I had read studies about medications causing rapid weight gains despite no dietary/movement changes, but will double check.3 -
The problem with being lean is that it's harder to create a deficit because you have less room for error. Even trained professionals uncount calories in by as much as 400 calories. So there is a need to be more precise. Also, with some medications, it can mess with some water retention and/or hunger signals.
It's true that all you need is a calorie deficit. The harder part is, when someone is lean, it's harder to do so and in some sense, our bodies become more resistant.
I know you said you can't workout, but can you increase daily movements (maybe walk more)?
Thank you for your response. I'm trying to do that because a hundred calories is better than zero, but am limited in what I can do. Waiting for a few medical procedures to be completed so I can try if focusing on core work will cause less repercussions.
What are your stats? How many calories are you eating? And do you use a food scale?
5'8", 145-150, aiming for 135-140, eating 1200-1700, averaging 1400-1500 most days, and I weigh meats eaten, and guess with fruits/vegetables.
Id start to weigh you fruits/veggies. I used to think I was eating an 80 calorie apple.. turns out, it was double. And when you eat 4 to 5 servings of fruit a day, it was astonishing how far off I was.
So I am lean myself, and trying to get abs has been a bish for me.
If it's of any help, when I could work out, got my abs from heavier weights, swimming, and p90x was pretty darn useful as well!
Thats awesome. I hope you get through all of your issues. I can understand the frustration as my wife is a medical nightmare with all her issues.
Personally, I am down to about 16% but almost all of my fat is in my belly. I actually have fair of definition and muscle in my arms, shoulders, legs and back.
Thanks, I hope so too. Driving me up the freaking wall, especially as I was extremely active before. I can just FEEL what working out was like, and it's upsetting knowing that if I tried, I'd be in so much pain that I wouldn't be able to walk for days. Really hoping it's solved in the next year or so. (It's been several years already.) Hope your wife also gets better!
My brother was frustrated with muscle building everywhere but not showing as much as he'd like in stomach, so he tried p90x and has been getting pretty decent results so far. 16% is great, though! Sounds like stomach might be the last place for you to lose weight. For me it's thighs, hah.0 -
I have some medical issues that keep from working out for days to months at a time. I've lost 33 pounds so far mainly by staying in a calorie deficit. I exercise when I can for my health and do chair yoga it seems to help my muscles. I take medications that cause me to gain water weight so I pay more attention to my measurements than I do the scale. I hope you get to feeling better soon2
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happyauntie2015 wrote: »I have some medical issues that keep from working out for days to months at a time. I've lost 33 pounds so far mainly by staying in a calorie deficit. I exercise when I can for my health and do chair yoga it seems to help my muscles. I take medications that cause me to gain water weight so I pay more attention to my measurements than I do the scale. I hope you get to feeling better soon
Thanks!!! I'll look into chair yoga. As for measurements, do they not fluctuate as quickly as weight, i.e. maybe stomach bloat but everywhere else is steady? Hope you also heal quickly.1 -
When I broke my ankle, I was on the couch for 7 weeks with my leg elevated - and then it was several more weeks to learn to walk really.
The fact that I couldn't really get food for myself helped me stay in the right calorie range!
My bigger problem was when I started to become more mobile - after the time of zero activity, I found even small amounts of exercise and physiotherapy exhausting and felt like I should be eating lots more to compensate....but in reality, though those things were difficult, they weren't burning a lot of energy! It was a bit of an adjustment to really have to watch my calories quite carefully - I was previously reasonably active, so had a bit more leeway in my calories. As a short, sedentary person I really had to be quite strict on myself.
I am a couple of years down the track now, so not in the same situation, although recently been having a few issues and may have to consider taking out the metalwork in the ankle....but I don't really want to have to do even the 2 weeks or so of rest.
More recently, I have found Tai Chi great - gentle exercise, and I have noticed an improvement in my range of motion.
Hope you get better soon and can get back towards your previous activity levels!1 -
Hi there. I have to lose weight for a hip op and am down 20 lbs in nine months. Very slow but a lot better than nothing. Eating fairly low fat but not cutting out any particular food group. Seems to be working. Good luck! I am trying yoga but still finding it painful but helps with movement and stops me from stiffening up. Consultant has advised me not to exercise although swimming helps until the bit where my leg seizes up!!2
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Hi. I have cerebral palsy and rheumatoid arthritis and am very limited in the exercises I can do. For me, stretching is exercise. I have tried to limit my calories even more (1000 to 1100 per day) but then I struggle mightily with hunger and giving in to cravings. I have been looking into adaptive yoga, which seems somewhat doable and is specifically made for people in my situation. Some days I hurt too much to do anything. And the chronic fatigue is hard to explain to people. The struggle is real and daily. But I am very slowly losing pounds and refuse to give up.4
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