Calorie Deficit = Weight Loss + Exercise...?

mommyshortlegs
mommyshortlegs Posts: 402 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
My mother and I were discussing this topic just tonight. If MFP essentially already allows for weight loss by factoring a calorie deficit into our days, and if when we exercise we are only increasing that deficit (hence the frequent admonition to "eat back" our exercise calories so as not to create a deficit too steep), it could be argued:

Why, then, exercise at all?

To speed the weight loss process? To tone/build muscle as the weight is lost?



[Thoughts spawned by this thread: http://www.myfitnesspal.com/post/new/846079-eating-calories-earned-by-exercise]
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Replies

  • dawnna76
    dawnna76 Posts: 987 Member
    Well technically based on your post your right you don't have to exercise to lose based on mfp's calculations. BUT you will not ultimately creat a fit you. The exercise is to help create lean muscle mass which burns more calories and raises you metabolizing, among the other wonderful things it does to shape your body.
  • lllliiiinnnnzzzz
    lllliiiinnnnzzzz Posts: 1
    Right-- because it feels good and you'll be stronger and healthier. And if you don't eat all of the extracalories from exercise you'll lose weight even faster.
  • IronSmasher
    IronSmasher Posts: 3,908 Member
    Because exercise isn't for weight loss, and the benefits are many.
  • mommyshortlegs
    mommyshortlegs Posts: 402 Member
    lllliiiinnnnz wrote:
    And if you don't eat all of the extracalories from exercise you'll lose weight even faster.
    That said, is it even safe for someone consuming the minimum required calories (1,200/day) to NOT "eat back" their exercise calories? Aren't any calories below the baseline too few calories?

    (I appreciate your explanations, BTW, I'm still rather new at this, and my mother newer still.)
  • CassieReannan
    CassieReannan Posts: 1,479 Member
    So you can eat more!! Duhh..

    Just kidding, but it is a factor. Exercise is more than just for weight loss. Its for gaining muscle, getting your heart pumping blood, releasing feel good hormones!
  • Rayman79
    Rayman79 Posts: 2,009 Member
    To answer your original question, exercise (both cardio and resistance) have their own benefits in addition to using up energy.

    Resistance will help you to retain as much lean muscle mass as possible whilst eating at a deficit, it is also good for increasing functional strength useful in day to day life, good for bone density and protection against osteoporosis etc etc. Cardiovascular exercise will improve fitness levels and also has many other health benefits. The other benefit is raising your metabolism.

    In the most basic sense the net benefit from burning and eating 500 calories worth of energy is greater than having not moved off the couch at all. Makes sense even on an intuitive level doesn't it!?
  • fight_for_fit
    fight_for_fit Posts: 137
    Yes logically you don't need it for weight loss. However Exercise keeps you healthy and strong. Plus with it you will look a whole lot better than without it, especially if the weight loss amount is high. IMO
  • Nataliaho
    Nataliaho Posts: 878 Member
    For your health!!
  • tsh0ck
    tsh0ck Posts: 1,970 Member
    as has been answered, because it's good for your body. it reduces risk of multiple diseases -- including dementia and alzheimer's later in life -- and helps you think better and feel good about yourself. plus the fact that the more bank of calories you build, the more you can eat and still be on track.

    so when you can get the benefit of bacon and ice cream on top of all that? why wouldn't you?
  • rlu1028
    rlu1028 Posts: 23 Member
    Remember that fat doesn't magically go away, exercise is needed to burn it. Without burning fat, you can lose weight, but you still retain the fat you had, and its in a smaller body.
  • loricolt
    loricolt Posts: 2 Member
    I know that I do not eat back my calories from exercise, i just eat my original 1200 a day.
  • tsh0ck
    tsh0ck Posts: 1,970 Member
    I know that I do not eat back my calories from exercise, i just eat my original 1200 a day.

    well that doesn't sound like much fun -- or much food.
  • Rayman79
    Rayman79 Posts: 2,009 Member
    I know that I do not eat back my calories from exercise, i just eat my original 1200 a day.

    urdoinitwrong
  • mag2906
    mag2906 Posts: 57 Member
    Why, then, exercise at all?

    To look and feel better (both mentally and physically). There's a lot of benefits of exercise and being able to eat more is one of them. :)

    Even 30 minutes of exercise 3-4 times a week makes a big difference.
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    Remember that fat doesn't magically go away, exercise is needed to burn it. Without burning fat, you can lose weight, but you still retain the fat you had, and its in a smaller body.
    Not true. Weight loss purely from caloric deficit will be a combination of fat and lean body mass. Exercise (especially strength training, along with adequate protein intake) helps spare lean body mass while the fat is lost, but you will still lose some degree of muscle/LBM along with the fat (albeit a smaller percentage than from losing the weight by diet only).

    To answer the OP's question: Exercise has health benefits. Cardio training helps increase your cardiovascular fitness (fittingly enough!) and also creates more of a calorie deficit (which you should fill, at least in part, by eating some of the exercise calories back). Strength training helps maintain muscle mass so that when you arrive at your goal weight you don't have the "skinny fat" look - slender, but with high levels of body fat and no muscular definition.
  • rlu1028
    rlu1028 Posts: 23 Member
    You may have read it wrong - unless you exercise, the fat in your body does not decrease.
  • MysticRealm
    MysticRealm Posts: 1,264 Member
    You may have read it wrong - unless you exercise, the fat in your body does not decrease.

    Um, yes it does.
  • taso42
    taso42 Posts: 8,980 Member
    What is the point of exercise? Are you seriously asking this?

    Go ask a 5th grader. They can probably tell you.
  • ChassityGetsFit
    ChassityGetsFit Posts: 173 Member
    Like most everyone else is saying, if you don't exercise you will lose weight from calorie deficit alone, but you will lose muscle in the process as well. You will lose weight for some time but then your body will get used to that routine (or lack there of) and stop losing weight, putting you in a plateau. Eventually you will need to exercise to continue to lose weight, but you should definitely exercise from the beginning in order to build lean muscle mass and increase the amount of calories your body will burn at rest! :)
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    You may have read it wrong - unless you exercise, the fat in your body does not decrease.

    Huh?
  • Sarauk2sf
    Sarauk2sf Posts: 28,072 Member
    Remember that fat doesn't magically go away, exercise is needed to burn it. Without burning fat, you can lose weight, but you still retain the fat you had, and its in a smaller body.
    Not true. Weight loss purely from caloric deficit will be a combination of fat and lean body mass. Exercise (especially strength training, along with adequate protein intake) helps spare lean body mass while the fat is lost, but you will still lose some degree of muscle/LBM along with the fat (albeit a smaller percentage than from losing the weight by diet only).

    To answer the OP's question: Exercise has health benefits. Cardio training helps increase your cardiovascular fitness (fittingly enough!) and also creates more of a calorie deficit (which you should fill, at least in part, by eating some of the exercise calories back). Strength training helps maintain muscle mass so that when you arrive at your goal weight you don't have the "skinny fat" look - slender, but with high levels of body fat and no muscular definition.


    ^^this
  • triliana
    triliana Posts: 4 Member
    I exercise because it keeps me from not being depressed. 1200 kcal a day is really not a lot, especially if you are used to 2000-2500 or more a day. That's a huge change to make and I have not dealt with it well in the past. Exercise helps me to feel better, plus it will raise metabolism (which is kind of the point) and it helps me to have less pain as well. It's a benefit in itself.

    If you hate your exercise, you're doing the wrong one. Go do something you enjoy - walking, jogging, dancing (yes, clubbing counts as exercise; just watch the alcohol calories or be the DD), tennis, swimming, whatever. YOU DO NOT HAVE TO BE A GYM RAT. I actually enjoy the gym. I get on an elliptical or bike or treadmill, put on my headphones, and in my head, i'm the biggest bad*** ever. I use the BeatBurn apps to get a varied workout. Would like to start with weights again but am going to wait a bit until the resolutioners clear out so I'm not stressed by it. I'm already getting strength in via yoga and moving heavy stuff in my apartment.

    We're meant to move. More movement = more happy.
  • stonel94
    stonel94 Posts: 550 Member
    Yeah, to lose weight with MFP you do not have to exercise, I don't think it said that anywhere. You put in how many workouts and for how long you will do each week, and it adjusts your calories to that because it's factoring in the approximate amount of calories burned. So if you put that you would work out every day, and then you never work out, but you don't eat over your calories, you'll probably still lose weight, but if you put 1 lb a week maybe you'd like .2 or .5 lbs, not a full pound. But you will lose weight in the form of fat and muscle and will ultimately be "skinny fat" so you'll look great with clothes on, but in a bathing suit everything will be flabby and soft. and you won't really be healthy unless you already live a very active lifestyle like have a very active job and are constantly chasing kids around and stuff then you'll probably still be healthy without extra working out. You can do what you want, just make sure you adjust your profile to this accordingly.

    But yes exercise can help speed up weight loss if you end up with a net a little lower than what they sugest (which could be bad or could be fine) and it'll help you tone and build muscle and look better but is not required for weight loss as in loss of pounds, and a low weight doesn't equal a healthy person
  • stonel94
    stonel94 Posts: 550 Member
    I know that I do not eat back my calories from exercise, i just eat my original 1200 a day.

    then you will lose weight to a point quickly and then will stop and probably gain weight
  • carolineire
    carolineire Posts: 65 Member
    bump
  • DontStopB_Leakin
    DontStopB_Leakin Posts: 3,863 Member
    Yeah, to lose weight with MFP you do not have to exercise, I don't think it said that anywhere. You put in how many workouts and for how long you will do each week, and it adjusts your calories to that because it's factoring in the approximate amount of calories burned. So if you put that you would work out every day, and then you never work out, but you don't eat over your calories, you'll probably still lose weight, but if you put 1 lb a week maybe you'd like .2 or .5 lbs, not a full pound. But you will lose weight in the form of fat and muscle and will ultimately be "skinny fat" so you'll look great with clothes on, but in a bathing suit everything will be flabby and soft. and you won't really be healthy unless you already live a very active lifestyle like have a very active job and are constantly chasing kids around and stuff then you'll probably still be healthy without extra working out. You can do what you want, just make sure you adjust your profile to this accordingly.

    But yes exercise can help speed up weight loss if you end up with a net a little lower than what they sugest (which could be bad or could be fine) and it'll help you tone and build muscle and look better but is not required for weight loss as in loss of pounds, and a low weight doesn't equal a healthy person
    The bolded part is completely incorrect. When you set up your goals, MFP does not factor in the amount of calories you plan on burning. The exercise goals are just there to help you stick to your fitness plan.

    So, if you have your deficit set to lose a 1 lb a week, and you don't stick to your fitness goals, but you stick to your calorie goals, you should theoretically lose 1 lb a week.
  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    I've thought about that, too. But, it is good for building muscle and has other health benefits. Also, the more you burn, the more you can eat! ...not that I've thought of it like that ...*shifty eyes*
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 48,985 Member
    Because health isn't just about weight.

    And though one can just lose weight with calorie deficit alone, without exercise some of that weight will be lean muscle tissue making one weaker and slowing metabolic rate.

    There are lots of lean people out there who don't exercise and aren't healthy.


    A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
    IDEA Fitness member
    Kickboxing Certified Instructor
    Been in fitness for 28+ years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
  • AnvilHead
    AnvilHead Posts: 18,343 Member
    You may have read it wrong - unless you exercise, the fat in your body does not decrease.
    No, I read it right. You're incorrect. Weight loss as a result of caloric deficit alone (without exercise) will be a combination of fat and lean body mass.
  • robin52077
    robin52077 Posts: 4,383 Member
    Remember that fat doesn't magically go away, exercise is needed to burn it. Without burning fat, you can lose weight, but you still retain the fat you had, and its in a smaller body.

    Just "no"....


    You may have read it wrong - unless you exercise, the fat in your body does not decrease.


    and also....."no".

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