what counts more - Exercise or diet?

PJilly

Yes, it works. I'd just caution you that 1200 may not be your magic number. I suspect it's considerably higher than that. It is for me, and it is for most people. Let MFP tell you what your number should be and start there. Don't be alarmed if you gain a little at first, depending on now long you've been eating so few calories. Your body may be thinking you're not going to give it what it needs and might hold on to those bonus calories at first until it trusts you're not going to deprive it.

yargls

I would be willing to bet you drink more water, or whatever, on the days you work out a pint is a pound after all. The whole "am I gaining lean or losing weight" thing I found too much trouble and not measurable enough, so I'm primarily focusing on losing weight this time around (I'm an old dieting/gonna get back in shape pro). Please be sure to drink enough water. I weigh myself daily and use software that charts a moving average of my weight so I can better ignore the day to day fluctuations.

You will gain some lean just walking around the block, but you won't really gain a lot of lean unless you're doing some weight training.

Good luck!

bachooka

I don't know, but I do know it's dangerous to your body and harmful to your metabolism if you aren't netting at least 1200 calories a day. There is also the argument that working out builds lean muscle mass which 'weighs more' than fat, so that's a possibility too. And there's the factor of when and how often you weigh yourself. Your weight can fluctuate by up to 2 or 3 pounds in a day, so if you're not weighing at the same TIME when you weigh in, that could be why too... also weighing daily is not highly recommended because of similar day to day weight fluctuations... So really, it could be a number of reasons. I would recommend that you try to get your net 1200 calories in every day and weigh in once a week in the morning (like when you get up) and see if those fluctuations are still happening...

My net should be 1200?? I thought that I have to eat 1200 and exercise doesn't count.

I'm afraid that if I eat net of 1200 every day I will not lose anything does it really work?

I used to be petrified of eating my exercise calories... and I lost just fine...for five months, but then I didn't lose even a pound for two months and I was freaking out so I upped my intake to 1371 and I started eating back my exercise calories... after 2 weeks more of nothing... I lost 1.4lbs in 4 days.

I am all about eating back the exercise calories.

flutterqueen04

There are many many MANY benefits of exercise! It is not only a way to help lose weight and rev your metabolism but it builds muscle and the more muscle you have the more calories you burn daily just to maintain your body. It is also very good for your heart! It gets your heart working and pumping blood through your body so it stays strong and works. Exercise is also good for relieving stress and oxygenating your blood. I cqn go on and on and on.

Yes the main way to lose weight is your diet and portion control but don't just automatically rule out the need for exercise at all. How about on the days you exercise - DON'T weigh yourself the next day! Weight loss isn't instant, sorry

elliecolorado

Both are important! I have lost weight in the past by just changing my diet and also by exercising and not changing my diet and have always gained it back! I think to lose weight and keep it off it takes both.

alaskabrat

In my experience you should definitely net more than 700 calories on excercise day. I eat 1200 cals on no excercise day, and I make sure I eat a total of 1500 (still net 1200 cals!) on the days I do excersie. It works AND it's very healthy!!

Good luck!

McKayMachina

My net should be 1200?? I thought that I have to eat 1200 and exercise doesn't count.

I'm afraid that if I eat net of 1200 every day I will not lose anything does it really work?

I've lost 26 lbs. in 3 months eating 1700 and burning off 500 resulting in a net of 1200. So, I vote yes. Your metabolism will thank you.

AmandaArnwine

70% Diet.... 30% Exercise !!!!

343paul

I think its like 90/10. Not just total calories but total CLEAN calories!