Which is more important - Diet or Exercise?

sigsby

They are equally important!

slucki01

For weight loss it's diet and calorie deficiency. Exercise is important for overall health and it can give you some extra calories to burn or eat.

I agree with previous posters -- if you're not measuring/weighing and logging you're probably eating more than you think

slashypotterness

Technically-diet, realistically...they are about equally important. By that I mean, when losing weight you WILL NOT lose without proper diet, whereas you CAN lose with proper diet and no exercise. With that said, I personally don't understand why anyone would want to lose weight without the added fitness to it (in less perhaps they are morbidly obese and aren't mobil enough to exercise).

In less you are losing about ten pounds or so, losing weight without a good strength training regime is what leads people to be skinny fat. In other words, you become a smaller version of what you already were but don't look any leaner...in fact, some people end up looking worse with lose skin and flabbiness.

So to answer your question, no there is no way to lose weight without proper diet so it is what you should pay MOST attention to, but exercise is such a close second that you might as well consider them equally.

lsgibbs83

I track my food and exercise. I know I can lose lbs by better eating alone; however, I have found that exercise helps.

I work with a nurse on my weight loss plan. She has told me that muscle burns more calories than fat and to build muscle strength training is necessary. I combine cardio and strength training for 1 hour 5-6 days a week. I used to be the person who didn't like to sweat. Now I love it. As a bonus, at my age (I will be 50 in the spring) I was starting to get night sweats. Since I started exercising the night sweats have completely stopped.

I say do what works best for you. If you have a support system of professionals (your physician, a workplace wellness program, etc...) work with them to develop a personalized plan. If you don't like exercise you will be miserable, it will feel like a chore, and you are less likely to stick with it.

Lastly, I not only measure success by the scale, I also take measurements weekly. On weeks when the scale doesn't move as much I have found that my measurements go down a little more.

maram29

Measure. Every day. Every damn thing. It matters. You will see. You are doing so many amazing things for yourself. Do this one more thing. Every thing. Every damn day.

MrsMizart

If you want to lose weight, reduce your calories.
If you want to look good in your clothes, do lots of cardio.
If you want to look great naked, lift weights.

Love this!

I think that, if I may, I'll print it out and have it framed :-D

suppakana

You can't out-exercise a bad diet.

bramble345

I started off doing exercise to lose weight, it didn't work because I still ate whatever I fancied BUT I got hooked on exercise and have loads more energy and my shape changed for the better. Now I do the exercise for fun and count calories to get rid of the fat, and slowly its working.

WhoIsAmber

I used to be "conscious" of my portions. I'd eyeball my cereal as I poured it into the bowl, "that looks like about 2 servings," and I'd go off to eat. I bought a food scale and poured out about how much I usually would eat and it turns out, I was eating over 4 servings of cereal instead of just 2, giving me 200+ calories that went un-logged. Same goes for peanut butter which is also much higher in calories so, I don't even want to guestimate how many calories that made me go over in the past.

Invest in a digital food scale, I did and it was the best investment I've made so far when it comes to my weight loss. I use it multiple times a day so I know exactly how many calories I'm consuming.

*EDIT*
I think dieting and nutrition are most valuable when it comes to losing weight. I only do some cardio when I've really gone over my calories just to bring my net back down... I know, the wrong way to go about it, but eh~

lsgibbs83

If you want to lose weight, reduce your calories.
If you want to look good in your clothes, do lots of cardio.
If you want to look great naked, lift weights.

Love this!

I think that, if I may, I'll print it out and have it framed :-D

THIS!!

cheripugh1

Hi,

About 3 months ago, all I did was sit in front of a desk, barely moved. Ate a nice big slice of chocolate cake or any sugary dessert in the afternoon every single day. Weekends I did nothing either even though I had no excuse. My excuse was I was a working mom!

Now fast forward three months to today. I joined a gym. I have a personal trainer on Mon/Fri. I work out for 1 hr (stairmaster/elliptical/bootcamp classes) on other weekdays from 6-7am. Weekends I take my dog for a walk.

My diet, I wouldn't say is perfect. I don't measure everything. But I am conscious. I have started incorporating quinoa, oats, millet etc into my diet. My afternoon dessert has turned into pears/banana or grapes.
I thought I was going places!

After about 1 months ago, my trainer took my weight and body fat measurement. No change. Nada. Zilch!
I stepped on the scale today at home, again no change.

I have a couple of friends who are on Ketogenic (all fat diet!). NO carbs at all. They eat chicken/eggs. NO CARBS.
THey don't exercise at all.
I saw them lose inches from their waist. I was skeptical about hidden fat or clogged arteries.
They do take their statistics every month and their cholestrol/triglycerides etc are in control !!!

So I am disillusioned !! Hard work doesn't pay for the first time!!! Short cuts work. This is not the way the world is supposed to work. Now I am told by my husband that my goal is not weight loss but just being active and enjoy it. Well, sometimes I question, what my motivation needs to be! I have not given up hope but I probably it would be good to know when I can start seeing results with my new (better?) routine! Sigh...

My stats: 37 yr old female. 143 pounds. 5'6"

Thanks.

So far as I read (1st page) no one seems to have noticed, you are at normal BMI range, your BMI is 23.1 and normal range for 5'6" is 18.5–24.9, so the reason you aren't losing wt. is most likely you are not eating near normal calories (you are eating too little) plus it is much harder to take off pounds the closer you are to normal and since you are in normal... you should do inches/measurements and if you have a GOOD Trainer that is what they should be doing and telling you, all this work should tighten you up and take down a few inches not pounds.

flumi_f

Diet / Cal deficit for weightloss.

Cardio for fitness (and a few extra cals)

Strength exercises for muscle build up.

It's all in the mix of the three IMO.

cvcman

so you guys are saying IF I burn 700 cals running and that puts my eating at a deficit I wont loose weight ?...All I can tell you is I dropped over 50 pounds eating what I was eating before but started biking and running an hour a day every day of the week ! FAce it exercise burns cals

catsmeat

so you guys are saying IF I burn 700 cals running and that puts my eating at a deficit I wont loose weight ?...All I can tell you is I dropped over 50 pounds eating what I was eating before but started biking and running an hour a day every day of the week ! FAce it exercise burns cals

Don't be stupid. It's obviously about calorie deficit no matter how you get there. If you get there by exercising for hours a day, that's great for you. Most people don't have the time or drive to exercise enough to make up for a high calorie intake, so stop muddying the water.

It's much easier simply not to eat 500 calories than it is to burn it off, and that's a fact.

For most people, that's the message that is needed.

Zerodette

so you guys are saying IF I burn 700 cals running and that puts my eating at a deficit I wont loose weight ?...All I can tell you is I dropped over 50 pounds eating what I was eating before but started biking and running an hour a day every day of the week ! FAce it exercise burns cals

You said it yourself: AND THAT PUTS MY EATING AT A DEFICIT. If you exercise and aren't at a deficit, you won't lose. That is what we are saying.

cvcman

well thats a no brainer...my point is WITH exercise you can eat more cals...because the exercise burns cals....ALSO with the exercise my HDL went from 55 to 122....LDL went from 133 to 79.....and I did NOTHING else except exercised.....and increased my cals to cover the exercise

cvcman

and if you loose weight with NO exercise you will NOT be in the same condition health wise as if you had exercised...

extra_medium

well thats a no brainer...my point is WITH exercise you can eat more cals...because the exercise burns cals....ALSO with the exercise my HDL went from 55 to 122....LDL went from 133 to 79.....and I did NOTHING else except exercised.....and increased my cals to cover the exercise

Correct. But many people work out like crazy, then think that means they can eat anything they want, and end up gaining weight in spite of their hard work in the gym. The point is that you still have to watch your intake whether you work out or not.

leggup

Your friends have had luck because they (intentionally or unintentionally) are eating at a calorie deficit.

It's great for your cardiovascular health, endurance, and strength that you're working out. However, you're eating too much.

It is possible to overeat on quinoa and pears.

cvcman

I burn 600 or more cals everyday,,,add that to the 2k this site says im supposed to eat ....I dont even come close to 2600 a day...yesterday I burned 1700 cals running then biking in the afternoon...it said I still had 2700 remaining

C5North

It's 99% diet. Sorry to break it to you.

The reason the 'shortcut' of cutting carbs works is because carbs are high in calories and don't always fill you up compared to protein and fat, so when you cut carbs, you eat less calories... usually. People who lose weight on low carb are eating less calories than they used to... the people who make up for the carbs in protein and fat won't lose weight either.

I don't really call it a shortcut though, because unless you're planning on eating low carb for the rest of your life, the day you put them back in your diet, you're more likely to gain some weight back.

But pretty much, eating less is what you need to lose weight. You don't have to cut anything out... just eat more sensibly, eat high calorie foods in moderation and fill up with veggies, fruit and lean protein.

THIS! This is what I am finding is working for me. Down about 25 since I joined MFP and down 35 overall since July. Yes, I am exercising but it is the calorie deficit that is doing it. Also, I am not really denying myself anything. I am eating way more sensibly than I ever have and finding ways of substituting ingredients. We even had pizza last weekend. Flatbread pizza with a small amount of cheese and chicken, a little garlic. It was awesome and I was full after having only had a couple hundred calories.

Right now I feel that I am eating the way I will be eating for the rest of my life and I am losing weight while doing it. I won't have to go off of a fad diet when I reach my goal because I will already be eating what I want. Just the right way.

DopeItUp

Depends on your goals.

cvcman

if all you want to do is loose weight and dont car about your cardio health or are too lazy or whatever then just cut cals and yo will loose weight...but for me ...I wanted to be healthier ...ALL over not just loose weight....so I added biking,running,weights into my better eating habits...I didnt really cut cals,,,in fact I probably eat more now but because im burning so much thru exercise I can eat more...

Its all about what you want to look, feel, and be...my blood work is probably better than someone half my age...my weight is about what it was in high school...although the weight is in different areas

I dont feel good if I dont get up early and run 6 miles or bike 20 miles,,,7 days a week ! It works for me ...