Staying within calorie goals. Effective? Without exercise?

I'm not big on excercise and would much rather get it from being active i.e in the summer therefore I haven't been doing any really. I have lost about 6lbs so far and that's having gone through a birthday weekend. I think because i used to eat so crappy before my body is adjusting to this new "lifestyle".
But I've noticed that my weight loss has slowed so I think I will have to start some excercise, even if it's only a few times a week.

Hello again,

You've started two different threads with the same question?? You must not like the answers to your first thread....but to quote myself and another:


QUOTE:

At least 90% of losing weight is about diet. Exercise is helpful but, at least theoretically, not necessary (yes, you should still do it too, but if your diet is off, exercise alone won't make much difference).


I totally agree with this^^^.

Exercise does not have to take a lot of time though--it could be a 15 min. walk once a day or some type of physical activity that will help to keep you healthy and active. No one has time or $$$ to see the doctor either, but sooner or later our bodies make us TAKE the time and spend the $$$--I'd rather it be on the preventative side. . Also, once you lose the weight, which if it is without exercise will be in the form of fat, water, AND muscle, and it will be more difficult to keep the weight off since muscle IS your metabolism. You will have to eat fewer calories to maintain your new weight, or risk putting it back on and then some--the "yo-yo" dieting syndrome. Plus, I'd rather be fit, trim, and muscular, than "skinny-fat". Just my two cents...

No matter how you ask the question, really, the result with your body will be the same....YES, it's possible....EFFECTIVE, probably not in the long run, but I'm no expert. Just want to be healthy, fit, and strong throughout my life, no matter what the scale says.

Being active is fun and helps to make sure that the weight you are losing is fat, not muscle tissue. I know the "fun" part seems unlikely, but you'll find as you lose weight, your energy increases, so why not find healthy ways to channel that energy?

But to answer your original question, yes, a diet-only approach can be effective. In essence, it's a math problem: Calories burned - calories consumed / 3500 = lbs lost. But that glosses over variables like getting the right balance of nutrients, where your calories come from, or how you're burning them.

Also keep in mind that it's not going to be as easy to "diet away" your visceral fat, which is considered far more dangerous than subcutaneous fat. In order to get rid of the bad stuff, you will eventually need some form of exercise.

I just want to echo an earlier statement. Exercise does not have to be boring or awful. You don't have to spend hours on a treadmill. Do things that you like. I see from your profile you don't have a lot to lose. There are lots of fun things you can do to burn calories. You can go to the park and walk, go ice skating/roller skating, walk the dog (if you don't have one, volunteer to walk dogs at an animal shelter), play volleyball or frisbee with friends, go rock climbing, go swimming, or go for a bike ride. I could list more but I think you get the point. Burning calories doesn't mean spending hours in the gym. Just get out and enjoy life. I know it's hard sometimes to find the time but taking care of yourself will make you a much happier person, I promise.

So true!!! I tried joining a gym and hated it because to me it wasn't fun. Now I power walk through the forest and around the neighbourhood and I love it. And it keeps me motivated. Exercise should be fun and an enjoyable part of life.