Less Calories, no exercise?

bloodbinds

I have an extremely hectic lifestyle, but i'm sat on my bum most of the day, whilst being very busy! I don't have time for exercise, at all, every moment of my life in accounted for, even now i'm staying up later than i should just to type this, lol.

So my question is, can i still lose a good amount of weight without exercising? Just by eating fewer calories? Say if i needed to eat 1700 calories a day to lose weight, what if i ate 1500 calories instead of running for 30 minutes? Will i lose weight just as easily by doing this, or is fitness really an essential part of losing weight?

justinvine

I don't think you would. When you raise that heart rate and increase your metabolism it can't be off set with a 200 calorie deficit. I would guess you would burn almost 500 calories in 30 minutes of running and benefit from sweating.

RNewton4269

For me I have to exercise in order to lose weight..it goes hand in hand with the counting of the calories. But exercise can be anything...he can be working in the yard....walking around your neighborhood...it doesn't haven't to necessarily be in the gym. As long as you are getting out and moving instead of just sitting still...I think it would help aid your weight loss..instead of just relying on the lower calorie intake. Just my opinion...but it is whatever works for you.

mcboyd1983

Exercise is good for toning too. Is there any way you can just run 10 minutes at a 6.7mph pace? The littlest bit will do wonders I promise Maybe just a run around the block or something.

popsicle0077

I lost 1 stone without exercising. But I only lost 1 pound a week.

hottamolly00

Someone wise once said:

"If you want to look good in clothes, diet. If you want to look good naked, exercise!"

music_lover_103

i think you would still lose weight, though probably more slowly because 200 calories isn't enough to make up for 30 minutes running. i burn more like 300-350 calories for a half hour running. losing weight has much more to do with eating and less to do with exercise. however, even though you'll still lose weight, you'll lose muscle, too. your scale will probably tell that you're smaller, but you won't feel smaller and your clothes won't fit like you're smaller.

this is what happens to me, anyway.

good luck!

lsd007

I barely ever exercise and have lost 19 pounds since mid-January. It may be slower coming off, but it still comes off.

Holton

When I started over a year ago, I knew that exercise was going to be my weak link, so only committed to exercise 2x a week for 30 minutes and that was typically walking. I lost weight fairly quickly without putting in a ton of gym time. I do think that exercise helps kick start your metabolism. My suggestion is to go for fewer calories (as long as you are not going below 1200) and given your hectic lifestyle see how it works for you BUT try to start building in time for a 15 minute brisk walk at lunch or some other time. You really will feel better too! Bottom line, you are not going to lose weight if you don't start doing something so do what works for your current schedule. You shouldn't gain weight by eating less that is for sure!

ngoat

Someone wise once said:

"If you want to look good in clothes, diet. If you want to look good naked, exercise!"

i like that!

tulaniq

MFP calculates a daily calorie allowance for you to lose weight without exercise. For example, if I want to lose 1lb per week I should eat 1500 calories per day, which creates a 500 calorie deficit per day (for me) or 3500 per week (3500 calories = 1lb). If you exercise it adds to your allowance to keep your deficit at whatever level you have set. So basically, you can lose weight without exercising or cutting off additional calories from your allowance. Just mark that you have a "sedentary" lifestyle and put in how many pounds per week you'd like to lose and let MFP do the rest.
HOWEVER, I have to put in a good word for exercise...it makes you feel amazing, it helps you get not only smaller but also leaner, stronger and healthier and it doesn't have to take a lot of time. You could maybe consider doing simple things at first, like parking at the far end of lots from where you're going or walking up the stairs instead of taking the elevator. I bet you'll be so addicted to how good it feels to get moving that you'll eventually want to make more time for it

lsd007

I barely ever exercise and have lost 19 pounds since mid-January. It may be slower coming off, but it still comes off.

**Correction, have lost 21 pounds, not 19. Silly me;)

tulaniq

Someone wise once said:

"If you want to look good in clothes, diet. If you want to look good naked, exercise!"

lol SO true!

RajwaJ

You might want to do some to rebuild muscle you might lose by cutting down on calories and also to tone your body and tighten your skin. You will end up losing weight but having saggy skin. But exercise comes in many forms.

sjaudio

You can lose weight without exercising. It's simple math, calories in versus calories out. If you burn 1700 calories a day sitting on your bum and only eat 1500, that is a 200 calorie deficit. That being said (or written), you will get better results by adding in some extra exercise into your daily routine. Even just adding a thirty minute walk into your lunch break will help.

Naomi91

weight loss is 80% diet an 20% exercise. You will lose without exercising. Just make sure your diet is healthy

TashaP2011

If you are sitting all day, are there stairs in your building? You could try a hike up the stairs a couple of times a day.
Good luck!

bloodbinds

Ahh, you've all been really helpful! thanks!

There are stairs in my building but i'm only on the first floor. But could still try walking up and down whilst eating my lunch (can i lose weight while excercising and eating at the same time?! Lol)

I'll try figure out something i can do exercise wise - don't want saggy skin and would like to tone up too!

melaniecheeks

This isn't really a calorie burner, but for general toning, do 2 sets of 20 each push-ups and squats each day. I can usually manage the squats while the kettle boils!

cherrieruns

Someone wise once said:

"If you want to look good in clothes, diet. If you want to look good naked, exercise!"

this hits it on the nail. If you keep your calories to what MFP recommends in order to lose then you will lose but when you are finally able to add in exercise you will see other differences.

Not passing judgement (in any way) but we all find ourselves incredibly busy - is there any way you can schedule a 1/2 hour of you time when you can do a short walk/run or lift some weights? I know for myself, for years I was too busy doing what I needed to do for everyone else in my life. Several years ago I realized that I am just as important and now I fit in my workouts and those around me know it and don't try to take that time from me. Good luck to you!

CatseyeHardcast

I exercised on a regular basis for 3 years. Gym classes etc. I didn't lose a thing (in fact I probably put on weight). WHY? Because I ate what I wanted. I didn't eat bad food. All meals were healthy home cooked meals, I just wasn't watching my intake.

Since watching what goes in my mouth (about 2.5 months now) I have lost almost 14kg.

As they say weight loss and healthy living is 90% nutrition and 10% training. Focus on your nutrition and the results will come.

Take a look at http://fitdeck.com/fitness-bodyweight-only/ They do a deck of fitness cards called "Office" There may be some little exercises you can squeeze into your busy day.....after all....you want to look good naked too right?

drvvork

I have lost a great deal of weight not exercising - due to health issues and my limitations but would give a Shar-pei shivers to see the sags and bags that I have but it is possible to lose weight by just watching the calorie and your nutritional intake. Just remember that you dare not eat too little in calories due to the body going into that dreaded starvation mode. :flowerforyou:

tladame

I have also lost weight in the past by diet alone without exercising. Of course exercise helps, but you can do it on diet alone. It just takes longer to lose the weight.

I don't have much time for exercise either, but I squeeze in about 15-20 minutes each morning before getting ready for work and getting the baby ready. I also walk around the park near my work. I don't have time to go to the gym so I don't belong to one!

carrie_lebel

I agree with the post that you exercise to look better naked. You want to tighten up not be skinny fat. IMO and my husband's too I am looking quite tight in the buff. I have dieted without exercise and I have gotten to a lower weight but I look so much better now. I got toned and I even fit in smaller pants! Explain that! So I would say if you want to keep it off exercise!!!!

eg872904

I started trying to lose weight last january (2010). I didn't start working out until March and stopped really working out around August (I, too, have no time). I've lost 64 lbs in a little over a year, so you definitely don't need to work out to lose weight. However, losing weight is easier when you work out. Exercising builds muscles which burns more calories and as you lose weight, your calorie requirement will go down too. I am currently having a hard time meeting my calorie goal just to lose 1 lb a week, so I've recently tried to start going back to the gym (to little avail) and I've been using my Wii fit (which doesn't burn a lot, but enough to maintain my goals). Working out doesn't have to be typical, gym workouts. Do something fun. Find workouts you can do at your desk, or try to schedule in 10 minutes here and there to try to get active. I've realized that I have more time than I previously thought, just by making sure to schedule workouts. If you have a droid, there is an app called "cardio trainer" that has a workout schedule that alerts you to remind you. Its a good app. Good luck!!! :happy:

jenellie

someone on here said more calories burnt than in how do you figure out how many calories a day you burn? thanks

dls06

I have lost all the weight I wanted WITHOUT exercise. I just stay within my goals. Have been maintaining for 8 months.
Too old to care what I look like naked. I look great in my clothes.

H_Factor

the answer to your question is YES...you can lose weight without exercising. I lost my first 23ish pounds this year without exercise of any sort. I added exercise at that point because I wanted to enjoy the benefits that come along with exercise...but if we're strictly talking weight loss, you can accomplish that by simply creating a caloric deficit in the food that you eat.