Watching Calories, but no exercises?

timmieklose
timmieklose Posts: 21 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
I'm new and wasn't sure where to put this.

My question is this: I'm trying to stay at 1,200 calories a day or less if its possible. However, I know you have to exercise too, but even if I just watch my calorie intake, will that help me lose weight too? Or should I really exercise more?

Its just hard to keep up with a good exercising schedule due to my night shift job, and then living with my Dad, people sleep in the living room and my rooms too small with my husband trying to sleep when I get off.
So its hard to find a good time to actually work out and where. But I am trying to watch my calories intake....

Thanks. And feel free to add me. :tongue:
I could really use the encouragement and motivation, since the people around me at home aren't very supportive.
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Replies

  • sprague79
    sprague79 Posts: 1 Member
    You can lose weight. I have only done counting calories and have lost 23lbs in a little under 5 months. Of course exercise is really important. You will lose weight but not have a toned body without it, but you CAN lose weight just by restricting calories.
  • retirehappy
    retirehappy Posts: 4,756 Member
    I work night shifts too, and I am watching calories, I do try to get out in the sunshine for a walk because I get down if I dont' get some sunshine. It is by no means "a work out" just a stroll around the block or I go over to a near by lake and walk the path there. The ducks, geese, and other animals around help to cheer me up :happy:

    I think you can lose, just make sure you are staying as close as possible to the calories they recommed for you.

    You'll do great. I'm down almost 5 lbs in the first week. I know that won't continue but it sure is motivating for me to get off to such a good start.
  • ghostrider1970
    ghostrider1970 Posts: 127 Member
    Sure you can, but you will lose lbm too, your metabolism will slow down, you will have to lower the calorie to keep losing weight... not a good idea
  • symonspatrick
    symonspatrick Posts: 213 Member
    Exercise is not a requirement for losing excess body fat but eating and drinking less calories than your body needs is absolutely necessary. Exercise and eating healthy are great for your body but not a necessity for fat loss.
  • Microfiber
    Microfiber Posts: 956 Member
    I have to admit that I do exercise, but it is not every day. I ride a bike in my living room, and it has a calorie counter. I do not get off that bike until I lose 50-100 calories. Sometimes, if I am in the mood, I lose 200-300 calories, but I do not rely on the accuracy of the counter. It just helps me to see that I lost that much, and it gives me a little boost of confidence.
    100 calories on a bike is like 15 minutes. Not that much. Btw if you do go up to 300, I hope you are eating them back given you only eat about 400 a day. You are harming yourself if your net is 100 or so....

    [/quote]

    More like 6 minutes :laugh: :laugh:
  • farway
    farway Posts: 1,264 Member
    Others above have more or less summed it up, you will lose weight without exercising, but exercise need not involve joining a gym, running for miles etc, just be walking, or cycling, instead of going by car would do it
  • sebedina
    sebedina Posts: 161 Member
    I eat between 1,500 and 1,700 calories a day, I am a woman, nearly 14 stone and not that active, but been walking a bit more and I found that I am losing weight on this calorie count. I feel quite well on it and I am trying not to deprive myself too much if i fancy a naughty piece of chocolate or oven chips etc. I hope to burn more calories when I become lighter but try to burn calories by walking and swimming which i enjoy. There is no way i could survive on anything less than 1,200. I notice my brain function deteriorates rapidly when I;m not eating enough calories.
  • afreelandgti
    afreelandgti Posts: 73
    I honestly want to hear a story about someone who lived off of less than 1200 cal a day and was able to keep the weight off for more than a year. I just don't see how ppl are doing this without their metebolic rate crashing to the floor. I also think a lot of ppl need to start consulting doctors before they start diet plans. 600 calories a day? Man that sounds scary.

    To the OP I support you 100% so I'm gonna tell you that you do have time for exercise and you can eat 1500-1800 cals a day. I work overnight and I workout 6 days a week. If you have a walk-in closet in your house you can fit an upright stationary bike in, close the door and sweat for 30min. Even the cheap ones are quiet and with the door closed your husband won't even know what you're doing. You can also take a 30 minute walk outdoors.

    There is always time for exercise.
  • DumbstruckWithSweetness
    DumbstruckWithSweetness Posts: 1
    timmieklose, do not take my advice. I am sorry there is so much ugly people on your thread.

    I think I forgot to mention that some of the things I wrote were based on things I read online.

    That is what I am doing for my diet, and it works for me.

    I have been overweight since 2008, and that is the one thing in my life that I could never control.
  • Otterluv
    Otterluv Posts: 9,083 Member
    OP: Walking and running can both be done outdoors. Exercise is not necessary to lose weight, just eat at a deficit. But, exercise will make you feel better and it does tend to allow for diets to be less restrictive (and thus easier to stick to).
  • dinkydudette
    dinkydudette Posts: 71
    men do more strenuous things

    Welcome to the 21st century kids.
  • Cat_Lifts
    Cat_Lifts Posts: 174 Member
    Search 'In Place of a Road Map' on here.
    Read.
    Succeed.
  • RoyBeck
    RoyBeck Posts: 947 Member
    You can. Losing weight is predominantly about diet. Exercise just helps.
  • alexandriapatton
    alexandriapatton Posts: 117 Member
    What everyone has failed to mention is that it depends on your starting weight of how you lose weight. For someone who is like 200 or 300 pounds, a simple change in diet will make them lose weight to where they may not have to exercise, but for someone like you who is at a "healthy" weight but you want to get "fit" exercise is necessary to tone your muscles and help you lose the weight. What people don't realize is that it's a lot easier for a very heavy person to burn calories than for a thinner person...
  • timmieklose
    timmieklose Posts: 21 Member
    Wow! I didnt expect to get so many replies so fast! :flowerforyou:

    I did read everyones reply, and took into consideration what everyone said. Indeed everyones different and I suppose I just gotta find the right stuff for ME too. I have taken a "before" picture and did an edit to it to see what I'd look like if I had the body I really want.

    Where I live, its like mega hot outside, so if anything I guess I'll try doing things inside if I can. Jogging in place, jump rope, jumping jacks....atleast its something to burn off a few calories. Maybe when it gets cooler I can do more outdoor stuffs again. :smile:

    I've been keeping track of my calories, and its not TOO hard to stay within my range of 1200-1500 a day, although I strive more towards the 1200. I pretty much eat the same stuff every day, but I DO need to get more toned and lose my jiggles! LOL.
    I suppose whatever is working for yall, is showing you results and your'e happy with it. I hope I can see better results in myself too.

    Thanks again everyone! I hope more people reply so I can read what they say too.
    ~Hugs :bigsmile:
  • timmieklose
    timmieklose Posts: 21 Member
    Im trying my hardest. :smile:
    Although I do have a couple days where I slip up.... Im trying really hard especially with the sugar part. I NEED sugar, but Im trying to keep it under control cause it can get out of hand....fast!
    I've even drempt I was eating a piece of chocolate cake....THATS how bad I want some REAL sugary chocolaty goodness!!
  • Barberella42
    Barberella42 Posts: 5
    You can definitely still lose weight just by watching your calorie intake, but exercise has so many other benefits even outside the world of weight loss. I really need to exercise more but I always come up with a reason to not. I'm afraid of going to the gym because I am so shy. My husband works constantly and I don't want to go for walks alone etc... I started MFP a little under 6 months ago and I have already lost 60 pounds without much exercising. Mind you I am a big gal, so I have a lot more to lose and thus is was easier for me to drop so much so quickly. If you are a smaller person or somebody with very slow metabolism it may be more difficult for you to lose the amount you're wanting to lose just by cutting calories alone.

    I understand about the night shift thing - I work third shift and it can sometimes make traditional working out somewhat difficult, but try to find alternatives to what you would think of as "working out." It's all about simple things and little changes. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park your car at the end of the parking lot instead of the closest space you can find. If you work an office job (like I do) take some small weights or resistance bands to work and get some reps and stretches in there throughout the day. Stand up as much as possible as opposed to sitting down. All of these are things wouldn't be considered tradition workouts, but they will all help. Best of luck to you in your endeavors!
  • duster902
    duster902 Posts: 2
    I eat 1300 calories a day and workout 5 days a week , one hour each day. I am losing about 2-3 pounds a week, I have lost 16 pounds in 5 weeks.

    If I go over my 1300 I will get on the treadmill and walk/jog until I burn whatever calories I went over.

    I took the amount of calories I burn just by being alive and subtracted 500 to get to my 1300 calorie goal. I am also breastfeeding so I have to make sure I eat well to keep my milk supply up.

    Good luck to you!
  • grrrlface
    grrrlface Posts: 1,204 Member
    I eat anywhere between 1200 and 2000 calories depending on exercise.

    I walk and cycle. Why not try those? You're then out of the house so you're not going to wake anyone up or disturb anyone. :)
  • Oishii
    Oishii Posts: 2,675 Member
    I eat 1300 calories a day and workout 5 days a week , one hour each day. I am losing about 2-3 pounds a week, I have lost 16 pounds in 5 weeks.

    If I go over my 1300 I will get on the treadmill and walk/jog until I burn whatever calories I went over.

    I took the amount of calories I burn just by being alive and subtracted 500 to get to my 1300 calorie goal. I am also breastfeeding so I have to make sure I eat well to keep my milk supply up.

    Good luck to you!

    If you're breastfeeding the normal advice is to add 500kcal, so you could eat at 'maintenance' and still lose. As long as your milk supply's not suffering though, I guess that could be ok.

    I lost my initial 30lb without intentional exercise, but I always walk everywhere, so I get a lot of unintentional exercise anyway.
  • jennfranklin
    jennfranklin Posts: 434 Member
    Can I say suffering metabolism? It is only going to backfire.. Not just metabolism...poor health, vitamin deficiency, bad skin, and hair loss. It does work...for a while anyway, but would not recommend it. Just trying to help.
  • Dionire
    Dionire Posts: 8
    You pretty much said everything I wanted to say in response to that post. Thank you.
  • DancingDreams1234
    DancingDreams1234 Posts: 165
    It's always a good idea to move your body. The human body is designed to move. You'll tone up as you lose weight, and your heart will be healthier.
  • Dionire
    Dionire Posts: 8
    I think it's a good thing that you're trying to lose weight, for anyone who is overweight losing weight is always a good idea and comes with so many good health benefit. Saying this, I do want to point out a few things.

    Your body also needs sodium along with sugar, it's an essential electrolyte that the body's cells need. Unless you have been told by a doctor to reduce your sodium intake, ie) you have hypernatraemia, salt should be fine. If you feel puffy it maye be because you were originally ingesting too much salt. water likes to follow salt in the body leading to water retention, hence why you may have felt puffy.

    the MINIMUM amount of calories anyone should lose to effectively and healthily lose weight is 1200 cals. 600 a day will put your body into starvation mode and reduce your BMR, so that when you do eat more you will tend to gain back more quicker.

    any exercise is better than no exercise, it's all very well and good to lose weight and you CAN lose weight with no exercise is you have a calorie deficit, but for overall health it's better to exercise, whenever is convenient for you, so good on you for that.

    no need to weigh yourself 3 times a day, you can lose pureply by going to the toilet! best is to weigh yourself once a week so see better results.

    and please dont' take this the wrong way, i'm only saying this because I've seen some of these signs with other people, but please, do change your calorie intake and stop obsessing over the scales as you can lead yourself down the path of an eating disorder. and i'd hate to see that to anyone
  • Dionire
    Dionire Posts: 8
    I used to think I NEEDED sugar also. but sugar is so addictive! we don't actually need a big piece of sweet cake or bottle of coke or a big cookies, we just think we do. i've tried to work through sugar cravings by eating a piece of fruit with natural sugars and see if that helps. if not and I REALLY can't shake it, i'll try a single freddo frog, and eat it really slowly. I find if I buy a block i'm more inclined to keep going and eat the whole thing. and you always feel more satisufied when you know you can eat the entirety of a treat. after awhile of not eating lollies and chocolate the sugar cravings subsided
  • Dionire
    Dionire Posts: 8
    ahh seems they disactivate their account and I didn't know.

    I honestly think that poster had an eating disorder, considering they were talking about control, eating so few calories and weighing themselves 3 times a day, if they didn't, they sure as hell were well on their way. please do not take food or exercise advice from them.

    as I said before, yes you can lose weight with no exercise, it's all physics, if you eat fewer calories than your body needs you will indeed lose weight as your body needs to find energy somehow and will generally take it from fat stores. if you exercise though, not only do you burn more calories, but you put on a bit of muscle, muscle has higher energy requirments which will increase your basal metabolic rate, meaning your body needs more energy (calories) to function, plus exercise is better for your overall health, including your heart :)
  • hrtchoco
    hrtchoco Posts: 156 Member
    I feel excercise can prevent muscle loss.I think if you have a significant amount of weight to lose, you can get away with just dieting(at least until you are closer to goal). If your body fat is on the low end and you are trying to lose the last few percent, I'd say better do some strengh training.
  • KANGOOJUMPS
    KANGOOJUMPS Posts: 6,474 Member
    exercise more, it works,
  • dankonstantinos
    dankonstantinos Posts: 9 Member
    I started off only counting calories, and was losing weight. I exercised if I wanted to eat more and that's it.

    I've lost about 33kgs since I started and as I've lost I've started exercising more (walking mostly) but the difference is, because of the weight loss, it's not as difficult, and I'm starting to enjoy it. I'm at the point now where I'll walk the dog an hour a day because I want to, and I never set out to do even that.

    Start with the calorie counting, it's sure as hell better than doing nothing. You'll lose weight, gain energy, and may find you're not as anti-exercise as you once were. Good luck! You will do this!
  • MoJoPoe
    MoJoPoe Posts: 139 Member
    Walk outside. You will be amazed how many calories you burn, and seems all would enjoy fewer folks in the house.

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