Calories, calories, calories

You would think that it's simple enough....Eat less, Move more right? I have been told that even if you live a sedentary lifestyle but you eat less than your goal calories you will still lose weight.....? (I'm not planning on doing this because I would rather use a more healthy alternative.) BUT....is this true?

Replies

  • carrieous
    carrieous Posts: 1,024 Member
    yes it is true.

    physique is about 80% diet and 20% exercise
  • VeinsAndBones
    VeinsAndBones Posts: 550 Member
    Absolutley, I'm living proof... Excercise just allows you to eat more and look a little better ;) (clothed at least)
  • Oddly enough I lose more on days I dont exercise.
  • JeneticTraining
    JeneticTraining Posts: 663 Member
    You lose weight. Fat, lean tissue, muscles.

    Exercising is better
  • sweebum
    sweebum Posts: 1,060 Member
    It is all about the calorie deficit. You don't have to exercise at all. But because I want to look good naked, I exercise :laugh:
  • twinketta
    twinketta Posts: 2,130 Member
    You would think that it's simple enough....Eat less, Move more right? I have been told that even if you live a sedentary lifestyle but you eat less than your goal calories you will still lose weight.....? (I'm not planning on doing this because I would rather use a more healthy alternative.) BUT....is this true?

    Of course it is true honey, how could you doubt it??

    If you don`t fuel your car but look after the bodywork and not the engine it will stop.

    If you put your meat in the oven on a low light it will take a long time to roast?

    If you eat less calories and move more then you are using more fuel..if you eat a little more than your calorie allowance then it will be a slow process.

    If you exercise and eat less cals then you will be just fine
  • EmilyEmpowered
    EmilyEmpowered Posts: 650 Member
    Absolutley, I'm living proof... Excercise just allows you to eat more and look a little better ;) (clothed at least)

    Actually, exercising makes you look better NAKED then just cutting calories alone. I lost over 100 pounds barely exercising, and I am perfectly happy when I am clothed, but when I am naked its a whole other story, which is why I am now working out like crazy :smile:
  • djames92
    djames92 Posts: 990 Member
    its true but if you dont exercise then some of the weight you lose is muscle
  • shosho420
    shosho420 Posts: 220 Member
    Yeah in January I was 201 and I cut out fast food and soda, I lost 30 pounds. I didn't start working out till about 3 weeks ago. I lost a lot of weight before I started working out just from eating wayyyyyy less and staying within my calorie goal.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    Yes, it is true...

    use your diet for weight control; exercise for fitness

    While you can lose weight simply eating at a deficit, you will not look all that great at goal weight...and you'll be missing about 1/2 the equation when it come to your overall health and well being.
  • ldrosophila
    ldrosophila Posts: 7,512 Member
    this is the principle of WLS simply a calorie deficit and/or decreased nutrient absorption. However, the actual benefits of regular exercise outweigh diet alone weight loss. IDK seems silly to question the merits of exercise. I for one hope that when I weigh 200lbs less I am strong and look better. Not sure that will improve if I just diet alone. Yes, I lose more weight when i dont exercise but when I can jog straight down my hill the feeling I get from that is pretty cool.
  • RhodRhod
    RhodRhod Posts: 109
    I guess it just depends on what you want to look like without your clothes on. LOL But yes my mother is very limited physically on what she can do for exercise but she has lost close to 30 lbs by watching what she eats.
  • girlPaula
    girlPaula Posts: 13 Member
    I've been on MFP for 115 days. I have lost 55 lbs by now and did not exercise at all in the beginning. Now I've been exercising for almost 3 weeks. I really enjoy it and I am proud of myself and that feeling is great. I'd never eat those extra calories I get from my exercise...
  • sijomial
    sijomial Posts: 19,809 Member
    Here's an example - I spent 3 months on crutches after a serious knee injury.

    The leg that couldn't be used lost a ton of weight - about half of my leg muscle melted away and the rest was just flabby and useless.
    The other leg that I could use stayed about the same.
    My shoulders, which had to work hard to get around on the crutches, were awesome!

    So yes you can lose weight at a simple deficit while being completely sedentary - but would you choose to?