Question about diet vs. exercise

Phoenyx78

Hi all... I have just started back on MFP and trying to eat healthy again after finally getting some medical issues cleared up and getting the green light to go ahead and try to get pregnant. I know it will make it so much easier to do that if I can lose some of this weight, however, it's been really hard for me to do. I've never been able to lose much without drastically cutting calories and/or working out every single day. Even then it isn't much.

So my question is this- is it possible to see a change just from changing my eating habits? I have a very hard time exercising and even get winded from small tasks like grocery shopping or taking a shower. This is embarrassing and something I want to work on, but I feel that if I can just get off some of this weight first, I will be able to make a better go at working out even if it is baby steps at first. Anyone been where I am and if so what did you do? Thanks for any and all advice!

MyouTakaraTriesAgain

Generally speaking, you CAN, but exercise is better for overall fitness purposes. However, I understand that when you're just starting out, exercise is pretty damn difficult.

80% diet, 20% exercise

If you follow MPF, you should lose weight even if you don't exercise. (By follow, I mean shoot for about 1 pound loss per week, 2 only if you have more than 75 pounds to lose. Don't eat less than 1200 calories, to make sure you're getting adequate nutrition).

To get started with exercise, I'd recommend getting a pedometer. You can usually find them in stores or online for less than $20. Track how many steps you walk in a day, and try to increase that by say 10% per week, until you're walking 10,000 steps in a day. It seems like a lot, but you can get there!

shadow2soul

Losing weight is about 80% diet and only about 20% exercise. So yes, just watching food intake will help you lose weight.

As far as exercise is concerned. Start small. For example:
March in place for 5 mins
The next day go for 6 mins
and continue increasing the time.

Last year walking a quarter of a mile would leave me winded to the point of needing to sit down. This year I can walk 6 miles while pushing a stroller with ease. So now I'm working on actually running, but I have to remind myself every so often that I started barely able to walk a quarter of a mile with a BMI of around 44.

jenniferb_00

It is totally and completely possible to lose weight just by changing your eating habits. I lost at least 40 pounds this way. But, and i learned this the hard way, exercise is always a plus, and i kind of wish i used exercise more thought my original weight loss then i actually did. You feel so much better then if you just diet alone.