Is exercise really the key?

Lilmrsbardeen

In order to loose weight, i know a healthy diet is always the key, but is exercise the key too? I mean I do exercise, occasionally, Some times, i'm so tired that i can't motivate myself. I get really bad migraines that prevent me from going outside and actually walking, or jogging, and I live in Florida...Go figure. I have a pool, but its way too cold right now to go swimming. I have the Wii and a Stationary bike and I have been using both. Any suggestions on how to get motivated and what other kind of exercising I can do with migraine issues. Thanks for your help!

July24Lioness

Diet is 90% and exercise is 10%.

However, if you want to look toned, it is best to get steady amounts of exercise and strength training.

Sarah219

Hi ...for me personally exercise is the key ...it keeps me motivated and on track ...and after using all the energy to exercise in the gym or fitness class i think to myself ..all that work ...i dont want to spoil it by pigging out !! ..thats how it works for me anyhow

BComley

There are 3 factors in weight loss. Nutrition, Exercise and Rest! Nutrition is the most important. Exercise is very important to help burn those calories and tone up your body. Lean muscle mass burns calories at rest. You must get enough sleep to allow your body to rebuild. If you don't get enough sleep your body tends to hold on to weight. Stress is a very negative factor in weight loss. Exercising is a very BIG positive factor in relieving stress. It is hard at times to get motivated but once you start and get into a lifestyle of exercising you no longer have to be motivated. Start with short walks or just body squats in front of the TV set.

You need to track your calorie intake to see exactly what you are taking in. Then start to counter that with some exercising.

Migrains are a pain. Are you drinking plenty of water?

gym_rat

I wouldn't go as far to say that diet is 90% and exercise is 10%. Yes, you can lose weight by just eating right... but are you building muscle or are you just becoming "skinny fat?" Exercise is crucial to a healthy lifestyle.

Lilmrsbardeen

Yes, I drink plenty of water, but I'm not sure why i get those stupid migraines...ALL THE TIME and it's soooo annoying...I use the WII a lot and that helps out because if i get dizzy i can just rest at home and not have to worry about getting home..Thank you for your reply though, it makes a lot of sense.:happy:

Ang8178

For me exercise is important :happy: If you are having headaches so bad it interfears with your day, I'd see a Dr. As for the motivation thing... Heck yeah there are days I really just don't want to workout!!!!!!! I almost throw a fit my first 5 mins of working out :laugh: Then I think of how geat I'm going to look when I reach my goal, then how great I'm going to feel when I get to go new clothes shopping, hiking, swiming... etc. Best of luck to you :flowerforyou:

pbankson

Exercise helps me the most in that it gives me more room for "cheating" by adding calories- at least on this site!

BamaRose0107

I think it all depends on what your overall goal is. Weight loss can be accomplished without exercise yes, however exercise does so much more for the body other than just burn fat. Exercise strengthens the heart, strengthens lungs, helps build and strengthen muscle for an overall stronger body, helps eleviate stress, helps flexability and can even be used to control depression. So I guess in my opinion exercise leads to better overall health and well being plus weightloss.

jrbowers83

I had the same kind of headaches as well as issues with vertigo as you are describing. Heck I still do. BUT I started forcing myself to get up and do some kind of light exercise every morning at about 5:30 am. It really helped kickstart my day, fend off depression, and helped with my appetite control. Now that I've lost some weight, I'm exercising about 1 hour a day, and sometimes pretty intense. I still get the headaches, and sometimes they'll last a couple of days, but getting that workout done early in the day means that I have time to rest when one hits later in the day, and I've still got some calories to work with and eat a little more. This is just what works for me, and each person is different, but anytime I've tried just dieting alone, I binge and I just don't feel healthy.

chicynth

Exercise is important! We'll just get that out of the way. However, I also deal with migraines, which are not just a simple headache...making that clear, as well.

I exercise daily, in some form or fashion. But...when I sense a MIGRAINE coming on...I decrease my activity and prepare to rest for awhile...watching what I eat and sticking to about 1200-1300 calories.

We are all made differently and our metabolisms function at a different rate.

Medical conditions of any kind can be hinderances to losing weight but they don't have to be. I deal with more than MIGRAINES. I take medications that can potentially cause weight gain, which is not good news to a person like myself trying to lose weight. But I have learned to take advantage of the days I feel really good and kick things up a notch in the exercise department. And, on days when it is not going so well...again, I really focus on my caloric intake.

May you discover what works for you and have good success!

(Migraines are diagnosed by tests and a physician...we don't just decide we're having a Migraine because we have a headache: this is a little side NOTE for those who do not understand the debilitating effects of MIGRAINES).

Sunsh1ne

Diet is more important because it's basically math - to lose weight, you have to consume fewer calories than you burn. The problem is that if you rely on diet alone, your body will lose muscle as well, and when you lose muscle, you burn fewer calories overall. Working out reminds your body that you need to keep the muscle, and it raises your resting metabolism. So the answer to your question is that diet decides your rate of loss, but exercise determines your body composition, which is every bit as important.

It also does other good things - when you work out, your body produces endorphins, so if you are feeling yucky, try getting your heart rate up for 20-30 minutes, have a good stretch and a hot shower, and see if you still feel gross. I started doing the Couch to 5K program and after a walk/jog I feel fantastic.

junipuni

It depends - what is your goal? To lose weight? To feel good? To look toned? You could lose all the weight you need/want to with diet alone.

For me though, exercise has been key for my back and neck problems. I no longer have constant pain from them and no longer battle with headaches each week. I am off my anti-depressant/anxiety meds and I really give a lot of credit to exercise though I'm sure good nutrition is good for that too.

My goal is to have a healthy lifestyle and feel good and BE healthy. So, for me, exercise plays a huge part in that.

mhotch

Really you should be eating to lose weight, and exercising to be healthy.

Having said that.... I have exercised w/o dieting and dieted w/o exercise. Neither worked, but together my weight fell off. So I would suggest to find a healthy combination that works for you. I too, suffered from migraines at least 2-3 times a month. Since I lost the weight the migraines are few and far in between. When I have one that is coming on I have found that a good session of cardio does the trick. It has been at least 3-4 months since I have taken my prescription med for a migraine. I am a mother with 2 college age boys, so headaches have not completely disappeared, but I would not classify any of them them as a migraine!

Wolfena

Losing weight is near impossible for me without exercise. Even when I'm eating healthy and staying within my calorie range, my weight won't seem to budge. Add even just a little exercise, and it just starts melting away.

teamplayer54

I just wanted to share a little info...i used to have terrible terrible migraines all the time. It impacted my life to the point of not being able to go far from home..taking care of my kids and all of that. I've found 2 things that have helped..well actually cured my migraines! The first was getting a NTI google it..you can get it at the dentist. you may be clenching while your sleeping that will irritate certain nerves which set off the migraine. The other is getting a temper-pedic. since i got a temper-pedic haven't had one single migraine...almost 2 years now and i would get 3 a week before..it was pure hell. even now i don't have to wear my nti's at night..i just don't get the migraines...success rate on just the nti's are pretty good and they cost a heck of a lot less than a temperpedic...so just wanted to share with you what i've found because i understand your pain all too well!=-) ~Sally

sallyfrvalley

Actually this is me (sally) that is...i didn't realize i was in my husbands fitness pal...=-)

courtney_love2001

Depends if you want to lose faster or not. You can lose by just dieting, or you can lose much faster by being active a few times a week. I would personally pick the quickest healthy way :bigsmile:

masanz1

I use to think exercise was a curse for dieting. I lost quicker when I didnt do it. But then again, I gain just as fast. This is my last diet this time, and exercise has been a big key for me. I feel better, clothes are a lot looser, and weight may not be dripping off at 4 lbs a week but I am losing. I hit the elliptical at the gym for 40 minutes 3 times a week now, started at 10 minutes. I am now walking also on my off days. I cant stress enough that although losing weight is great, exercise will make you feel great.

junipuni

I use to think exercise was a curse for dieting. I lost quicker when I didnt do it. But then again, I gain just as fast. This is my last diet this time, and exercise has been a big key for me. I feel better, clothes are a lot looser, and weight may not be dripping off at 4 lbs a week but I am losing. I hit the elliptical at the gym for 40 minutes 3 times a week now, started at 10 minutes. I am now walking also on my off days. I cant stress enough that although losing weight is great, exercise will make you feel great.

I totally agree with you. I was going to say that I think I actually lose weight faster without the exercise but I am losing inches with exercising and feeling great!

cmriverside

Migraines - I feel your pain. I used to get them a lot, and what the people posting here may not understand (except that one person) is that if you have a migraine, you are NOT going to be exercising. Or talking. Or eating. Or moving. You will be in a dark room with a cold cloth over your eyes, in complete SILENCE for however-long-it-takes. Sometimes days - in misery. Many times I said, "I would rather be dead." They are that bad.

I was diagnosed at a good neurologists practice after ending up in the hospital dehydrated and feeling like I would die. You can't eat or even drink water - you will just throw it up. Immediately . I had a five-day migraine, and really did think I was going to die.

That said, the original poster stated that she doesn't know why she gets the migraines. You need to get a good diagnosis and cause as your first priority. It could be a food you eat that triggers them. Common trigger foods are Chocolate, Citrus, Cheese, Caffeine, and Nuts. It could be the dental thing, and night guards work. It could be hormonal, and you can get treated. It could be a brain chemical imbalance,also treatable with inexpensive medications. It could be a heart defect (migraines are vascular), it could be a serious medical issue related to your brain or eyes, and you need to know what the actual diagnosis is. It could be a different type of headache. You said you don't know, so I would start there.

When I got migraines, I couldn't exercise at all. Couldn't even get hot, and I had to move away from South Florida where I grew up because the heat kept me indoors all the time. The sun on my face would trigger a migraine.

So now that they are medically under control, I am able to go out in the sun, exercise, and I have my life back. But I had to get the right treatment, and it was a long process, sometimes involving a lot of trial and error, and many years of searching for help.

Godd luck to you.:flowerforyou:

muth3rluvx2

something else to consider - excercise helps balance hormones, loosen tendons and increase blood flow - ALL of which could possibly be contributing to or acting as triggers for your migraines.

1) high androgen hormones can have all kinds of rotten effects on some: acne, migraines, hair loss and weight gain.
2) tension headaches can trigger a migraine and tension can come from your daily stress - which we all have or just from not keeping your body somewhat fluid
3) same tension can pinch nerves and constrict blood flow causing numbness, weakness and pain in your limbs. Additionally, it can constrict flow to your brain (not to the point of damage) and this can lead to headaches as well.

I get migraines periodically as well - just recently, during my visit with TOM. I had no idea that - for me - there was a corrolation; until I started living healthier. I knew such existed, just had no idea it applied to me. I've also stopped my BCP's for a while to see what happens. I found out they were high androgen and I have a high androgen system as it is, as it turns out.

I do wayyyyy too much research. LOL webmd is a wonderful tool. :bigsmile:

I guess the short answer is no. exercise isn't "key" to losing - but it's key to health.

thinn10

FLORIDA??? I am in cold Ohio :sad: We are heading down on spring break to orlando for a week...yes, going to Disney for only 1 day ($$$$ stops more)....Will be glad to get down there! Anyway, do you have a dog? My husband has our dog in a habit of taking a walk every day. I took her out today for 15 minutes. I know you said you have headaches, but maybe on good days? I am sorry to hear that. My older sister gets them and they are pretty devastating :sick:

We received a free 30 day trial to a local little gym we signed up and are going our first day tomorrow....yey....

Glad you sent a message...I know I can use all the help and support I can get. I have only been on here about 1 1/2 weeks. I would like to lose 50 lbs.

cmriverside

muth3r,

If she can exercise. You and I posted at the same time. I could not exercise because if I began to get warm, I would get a migraine. I wanted to exercise, but I couldn't.


Now my migraines are treated not only prophylactically, but I have drugs to stop the migraine once it starts. BUT - when I do exercise, the side of my face where I get my migraines (left side) - turns bright red - but the right side of my face remains it's normal color. There is a line right down the center of my face. It's freaky weird - which convinces doctors even more that it is vascular. As you said, blood flow to the brain is the physiological cause of migraines. But it is the dilation and contraction of the smallest blood vessels involved in migraines , and until the vessels shrink again, the pain remains. The body is weird. 'Splain that one to me........


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jrbowers83

I have never been officially diagnosed with migraines...so I always call them "one of MY headaches" around friends and family that know what I mean. It is completely different than the stress or migraine headaches that I get also, to where I can't move without teeth jarring pain, have to put a cold rag over my face and lie in a dark room, and even then it feels as though my skull may split open and the whole bed feels like it's going to fall out from under me. Sometimes it is accompanied by nausea or vomiting. I didn't realize how serious migraines could be though, so I'm very glad some more experienced have posted on this topic. I think maybe I should get them checked out. I was wanting to share with the OP that exercise did decrease the frequency and duration of these headaches and that since my headaches usually hit in the afternoon to evening hours, if I got my exercise in early in the morning it was done and over with before one would strike. I absolutely agree that you would be completely unable to exercise during a migraine, and it's possible that exercise could trigger a migraine, but luckily it's helping mine so far. And if heat is a trigger, I started out with moderate step or low-impact aerobics and an oscillating fan to ease into exercise, so maybe that would help to get started with SOME sort of exercise?

kaikowa327

For me exercise is the key bc without it you're just dropping pounds, you're not toning or strengthening your body. Speaking from experience, I dieting once without exercising not 1 day and dropped 20lbs in 2 months. After I stopped dieting, ALL the weight came back. A few years later I dieted again but accompanied it with a steady exercise routine. Again I lost an average of 8-10 lbs a month but my body was more toned which means it looked like I lost even more weight. And on top of that, after I stopped dieting & exercising for a while (6 months) and ate all the bad stuff, I did not gain any of the weight back bc the muscle & metabolism I gained through exercise helped sustain my weight.

So in short, if you want lasting results, exercise is the key!:happy:


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