What's this I hear?

missylectro
missylectro Posts: 448 Member
in Health and Weight Loss
About exercising being about fitness and not losing weight? I can't remember who said it so I can pick their brain....

Replies

  • bajoyba
    bajoyba Posts: 1,153 Member
    Basically, yeah.

    I mean, you CAN lose weight with exercise, because exercising burns calories and creates a calorie deficit. But you can also lose weight without exercise by creating a calorie deficit with diet alone.

    The difference is that exercise builds a more fit and capable body.
  • sugarlemonpie
    sugarlemonpie Posts: 311 Member
    Pretty much! Anyone following a calorie deficit plan will lose weight. If you already eat at a deficit, then the calories you burn during a workout you can eat back, so therefore working out is a way to improve your fitness. If working out IS your way to create a deficit, then that's another way and it's not entirely true that's it's just for fitness, with all food kept at a constant. But generally yes, working out is more about fitness, building muscle strength, and heart health over just weight loss. If you're following the MFP plans.
  • AmyRhubarb
    AmyRhubarb Posts: 6,890 Member
    Calorie deficit for weight loss.

    Exercise for fitness.

    They go well together, and I highly recommend both! You can lose weight without the exercise by eating the right amount of cals, but if you're eating too much, all the exercise in the world isn't going to get the weight off.

    That help?
  • RHachicho
    RHachicho Posts: 1,115 Member
    It's also true however that a fit and healthy body is the difference between burning 300 - 400 calories in a gym session and burning a 1000+. Which really helps quite a lot.

    It also helps your skin to tighten and generally makes you feel fantastic. The big mistake a lot of unfit people make is trying to do too much too soon. Just build things up gradually and you will be fine.
  • HFreymuth
    HFreymuth Posts: 13 Member
    Muscles burn fat while fat does nothing. That is one reason to exercise - not just to burn calories but to build muscle mass (plus you'll look better). The only way to lose weight is calorie deficit whether by diet and/or exercise. Most of us in the gym will only burn a few hundred calories in a hour so adding in a 400 calorie treat will negate the cardio burn. If you can workout and maintain a calorie deficit you'll get better results.

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