What's more important - eating less or working out more?

steph0315
steph0315 Posts: 13 Member
in Getting Started
What's more important - keeping total food consumption at the calorie goal or working out more (and eating more) to obtain a net calorie goal? I find that if I stick with consuming the number of calories I am allotted (1350), I tend to feel deprived. I feel much happier and satiated if I work out and then eat back some of those exercise calories. Some days I feel like I'm eating an awful lot for someone trying to lose weight, even though my net is around goal. Is one method "better" than the other? Or does it truly not matter so long as I am netting around my goal?
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Replies

  • Jeffs_Jess
    Jeffs_Jess Posts: 28
    I'm not really sure.
    Honestly, I lost over 100 lbs. without even setting foot in a gym.
    But now that I exercise, I notice more of a difference. And of course, I feel more accomplished
  • fitkatb
    fitkatb Posts: 14 Member
    Either way works. Days I don't exercise, I stay at the allotted calorie goal. Days I do exercise, I eat back some of the calories. Weight gets lost either way. I think what is important there, is that you say you feel better when you exercise and eat a little more. Do what makes you feel better. You're more likely to stick with it. Good luck!
  • norcalskater
    norcalskater Posts: 194 Member
    First priority is a caloric deficit exercise is second.
  • Angela26point2finisher
    Angela26point2finisher Posts: 105 Member
    eating healthy is the most important, even more important than calorie intake. It only take a few minutes to eat a 1000 Calories and it takes hours of exercise to burn it off. Don't let yourself feel deprived, it seems like the biggest threat to anyone's success.
  • 125KC
    125KC Posts: 71 Member
    Depends on your goals I guess. As I understand it, when you exercise you create lean muscle, and because muscle burns more calories than fat your BMR will go up. In my mind they are equally important to good health
  • Jambalady
    Jambalady Posts: 155 Member
    It totally depends on the person. I think as long as you are in a calorie deficit. Do whatever is the least difficult for you to maintain.

    I'm like you. I LOVE to eat. If I only ate less and kept to my calorie allotment I am miserable and cranky all day and would likely binge as a result.

    However, I really enjoy exercising and what it does for overall body shape/strength and health, so I exercise so that I can eat more. It's a win-win.

    I don't feel deprived because I get to eat more and I am still in a calorie deficit.
  • Ang108
    Ang108 Posts: 1,708 Member
    What's more important - keeping total food consumption at the calorie goal or working out more (and eating more) to obtain a net calorie goal? I find that if I stick with consuming the number of calories I am allotted (1350), I tend to feel deprived. I feel much happier and satiated if I work out and then eat back some of those exercise calories. Some days I feel like I'm eating an awful lot for someone trying to lose weight, even though my net is around goal. Is one method "better" than the other? Or does it truly not matter so long as I am netting around my goal?

    A calorie deficit is more important than exercise when losing weight. The deficit is for weight loss and exercise is for health. I exercise moderately ( walking 45 minutes a day ) and still lost 50 pounds in 10.5 month.
  • Kitship
    Kitship Posts: 579 Member
    Whatever works for you is most important.
    Try something for a little while (a few weeks usually), see if it works. If not, adjust!

    Good luck! :flowerforyou:
  • aarondnguyen
    aarondnguyen Posts: 270 Member
    The goal is never to see how little you can eat a day. It's instead to be able to eat as much as possible while still being able to get desirable results (i.e drop body fat or add muscle -- not that either of these can be done simultaneously either)
  • deksgrl
    deksgrl Posts: 7,237 Member
    More important for what?

    Losing weight is all about creating a calorie deficit. You can do that by reducing food intake, exercising, or a combination of the both. Generally diet is for losing weight, exercise is for fitness.
  • robooth101
    robooth101 Posts: 17 Member
    It's easier to get a calorie deficit by eating less than by exercising. Not that exercising isn't important to overall body health, but it's easier to cut out 500 calories worth of junk or other unhealthy foods each day than to burn that same amount through exercise.
  • bradXdale
    bradXdale Posts: 399
    Deficit first

    Exercise second
  • Sarah4fitness
    Sarah4fitness Posts: 437 Member
    Totally depends on your goal.

    However, Erin Stern (pro competitor) said to increase the intensity of your workout RATHER than cut calories to achieve caloric goals. I tend to agree with that thinking, provided it doesn't become unhealthy.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    For me, exercise is more important. I like food.
  • JTick
    JTick Posts: 2,131 Member
    eating healthy is the most important, even more important than calorie intake.

    :huh: No.
  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
    The answer is yes.
  • hawkeyedave1981
    hawkeyedave1981 Posts: 28
    For me I always try to keep my calorie count near where it's supposed to be first, then the exercise is secondary.
  • AlongCame_Molly
    AlongCame_Molly Posts: 2,835 Member
    But to be more specific, a good rule of thumb to go by is:

    Look good in clothes: food intake

    Look good naked: exercise
  • MinnieInMaine
    MinnieInMaine Posts: 6,400 Member
    Calorie deficit leads to weight loss. Whether you're meeting your calorie goal without exercise or netting your calorie goal with exercise you're still eating at a deficit.

    I also feel much better if I can eat say 1900 calories and work off 450 to net my 1450 goal than I do if I just eat 1450 calories. In fact I average an 1800 calorie intake on rest days but this is still below TDEE so I continue to lose, just at a slower pace.
  • steph0315
    steph0315 Posts: 13 Member
    Thanks, all.
  • Buff2022
    Buff2022 Posts: 373 Member
    My motto: You can't work off a bad diet! So eat well and then work out. Remember it all starts in the kitchen.
  • suncluster
    suncluster Posts: 539 Member
    But to be more specific, a good rule of thumb to go by is:

    Look good in clothes: food intake

    Look good naked: exercise

    Oooh...she is very wise and probably looks hot naked.
  • loriemn
    loriemn Posts: 292 Member
    For me, exercise is more important. I like food.
    this is me,,but I actually REALLY LIKE CARDIO! so both are important to me.
  • Hornsby
    Hornsby Posts: 10,322 Member
    For me, exercise is more important. I like food.
    this is me,,but I actually REALLY LIKE CARDIO! so both are important to me.

    Me too (cycling) and of course, weights. This allows me to maintain at 32-3400 calories a day. I get to eat all the food I want because of exercise...that's why exercise is more important :)
  • harphy
    harphy Posts: 290 Member
    Caloric deficit will make you smaller version, cardio exercise will burn some fat (muscles as well unfortunately), weight lifting will burn fat, grow lean mass and sculpt your body. Deficit is the most important.
  • pink_and_shiny
    pink_and_shiny Posts: 1,036 Member
    But to be more specific, a good rule of thumb to go by is:

    Look good in clothes: food intake

    Look good naked: exercise

    I'd never heard of this before, but I :love: it!

    For me, I think eating healthy foods is more important than just meeting a certain calorie number. Eating 100 cals of banana vs. 100 cals of candy is very different. Yes, the calorie numbers are the same, but the nutrients in them are quite different. Yes, lower your caloric intake, but don't eat junky stuff and think that just because you're below a certain number that you're good. Just my two cents. :)
  • Trixsterfan
    Trixsterfan Posts: 56 Member
    That's exactly what advise I was given
  • copabutt
    copabutt Posts: 2
    definitely eating less. you can work on your abs till the cows come home but youre only gonna see that 6pack when you strip off the excess fat. Losing weight is pretty basic...you need to take less calories in each day than your body expends each day...going to the gym and working out means you expend more energy but your body also craves more food to compensate. Also theres a misconception that aerobic activity equals more weight loss...not true...check out female bodybuilders...the amount of aerobic activity compared to the amount of weight training is minimal. Weight training burns up fat even when youre not training as the muscles burn up your energy rebuilding themselves. anyway long answer to a short question. First focus in losing weight is eating less. anything else you do re training is a bonus :)
  • ALNoog
    ALNoog Posts: 413 Member
    About 4 years ago I lose 89 pounds doing Atkins and never working out... I only went from a size 22 to and 18 even though I was 189 pounds back then... Now I've lost 35 pounds only and I've been working out and gone from a 24 to a 20 and my body shape is majorly changing... So I guess it depends on what you are trying to accomplish.... I lost weight not working out but didn't get much smaller.....
  • ValGogo
    ValGogo Posts: 2,168 Member
    I heard this question on fitnessblender and their answer? It's 100% of both.

    You will get the best results doing both. I said "best results" because you can get results with one or the other but do both and you are getting more bang for your buck.

    If you lose it without working out, you will lose weight and be flabby and not strong. If you only work out, you can be strong as hell, but the fat may stay on and you can't see it even if you have strong muscles. OK, I'm exaggerating a bit. You can lose by just exercise but your body will work better with better fuel.

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