Explain this contradiction.

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Replies

  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    Tim, there really are no words for your last post.

    1. Having learned the healthy habit of eating an appropriate number of calories to meet your goals (whether that be weight loss or weight maintenance) would be a hallmark of any successful dieter. There would be no comparing one's intake to someone else.
    2. Exercise vs. Thinking about food is a false dilemma, if I'm going to point out logical fallacies. I often plan a shopping list on the treadmill while I'm warming up, if you want to get down to things. It's also just a patently ridiculous thing to assert that people go around thinking about food all the time and need a distraction.
    3. Not Exercising = Watching TV Commercials About Food. Not even worth responding to this one.

    As I said, not everything is going to be true for everyone, but when you look at the general population, some will be true for some. You can't apply your one off experience to everyone else. A few people are like you, but not everyone.
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  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    Tim, there really are no words for your last post.

    1. Having learned the healthy habit of eating an appropriate number of calories to meet your goals (whether that be weight loss or weight maintenance) would be a hallmark of any successful dieter. There would be no comparing one's intake to someone else.
    2. Exercise vs. Thinking about food is a false dilemma, if I'm going to point out logical fallacies. I often plan a shopping list on the treadmill while I'm warming up, if you want to get down to things. It's also just a patently ridiculous thing to assert that people go around thinking about food all the time and need a distraction.
    3. Not Exercising = Watching TV Commercials About Food. Not even worth responding to this one.

    As I said, not everything is going to be true for everyone, but when you look at the general population, some will be true for some. You can't apply your one off experience to everyone else. A few people are like you, but not everyone.

    That... wasn't the point of sharing my anecdote, but whatever.

    I pointed out a logical fallacy of yours. There are plenty of options a person has to spend their time besides exercising or thinking about food.

    Your arguments are getting weak. That was the point.

    NO ONE disputes the fact that exercise is fantastic. Everyone disputes how you are interpreting the information you've read.

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  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    jgnatca wrote: »
    The National Weight Control Registry is a credible source.

    I lost my first thirty pounds from dieting alone. If exercise were necessary, explain that.

    Consider that exercise might be a "Keystone Habit". That is, most people who make time to regularly exercise also practice portion control.

    People who hope to exercise off their dietary failures, I fear, are bound to be disappointed.

    Exercise isn't required for weight loss, only a calorie deficit.

    @TimothyFish then explain your contradiction. Unless there is none.

    @jgnatca, I see the potential for a number of things going on here, with not all of them being true of all people, but combining to get the results that are reported. During weight loss, a calorie deficit covers a multitude of sins. If a person happens to forget to log something or if they count calories wrong or they have a cheat day, none of it matters because the calorie deficit on other days will eventually wash away the mistake. It may take them a little longer, but they'll eventually lose weight.

    During maintenance, it is different. Since the goal is to eat the same number of calories mistakes accumulate. Those who will be successful are those who make adjustments when they see their weight rise and those who are willing to keep doing this over the long haul. For a person who isn't exercising, the calories they can eat is less than what their overweight friends eat. Imagine the woman who is maintaining at 1700 going to a restaurant with friends and being the only one who only eats half her meal, because she knows she doesn't need 1000 calories in one meal. That makes it hard to stay committed. But what if she's maintaining at 2200? Now, it may be that she just doesn't eat the bread, and she is still giving herself room within her limit. She doesn't feel deprived, so she has no reason to question her commitment to maintain her weight. Add to that, exercise brings people out of the doldrums, so someone who was about to give up before they went for a run may be fully committed when they get back. Exercise also gives people something to do other than thinking about food. If they aren't exercising, what are they going to be doing? Perhaps, sitting in front of the television watching food commercials.

    Sorry, this post made me laugh a bit. I've been in maintenance for over two years now and I frequently eat meals that are 1,000+ calories, no problem. But I pre-plan my days so those larger calorie meals are consumed guilt free, with the knowledge that the rest of the day is already planned out in accordance to my calorie goals.

    As far as if someone isn't exercising what are they doing....are you for real? I don't even have a tv hooked up lol.

    And as far as 'doldrums' go-you're projecting your own issues on others here. I've never felt like giving up, both in my weight loss phase and now that I'm in maintenance. I'm actually having a lot of fun with it-I feel great, I look great, my husband can't keep his hands off me and best of all- I'm healthy. Seriously, life is pretty darn good ;)

    Not everyone is like you.

    I've been lurking on this thread until now but I have to jump in.
    Can you not see how ironic it is for you to say that, when the entire premise of this ridiculous thread is you taking your experience and using some dodgy logic and misinterpretation of stastics (not sure if willful or not) to apply it to everyone?
    Dude.

    ^This. Right there.

  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    jgnatca wrote: »
    The National Weight Control Registry is a credible source.

    I lost my first thirty pounds from dieting alone. If exercise were necessary, explain that.

    Consider that exercise might be a "Keystone Habit". That is, most people who make time to regularly exercise also practice portion control.

    People who hope to exercise off their dietary failures, I fear, are bound to be disappointed.

    Exercise isn't required for weight loss, only a calorie deficit.

    @TimothyFish then explain your contradiction. Unless there is none.

    @jgnatca, I see the potential for a number of things going on here, with not all of them being true of all people, but combining to get the results that are reported. During weight loss, a calorie deficit covers a multitude of sins. If a person happens to forget to log something or if they count calories wrong or they have a cheat day, none of it matters because the calorie deficit on other days will eventually wash away the mistake. It may take them a little longer, but they'll eventually lose weight.

    During maintenance, it is different. Since the goal is to eat the same number of calories mistakes accumulate. Those who will be successful are those who make adjustments when they see their weight rise and those who are willing to keep doing this over the long haul. For a person who isn't exercising, the calories they can eat is less than what their overweight friends eat. Imagine the woman who is maintaining at 1700 going to a restaurant with friends and being the only one who only eats half her meal, because she knows she doesn't need 1000 calories in one meal. That makes it hard to stay committed. But what if she's maintaining at 2200? Now, it may be that she just doesn't eat the bread, and she is still giving herself room within her limit. She doesn't feel deprived, so she has no reason to question her commitment to maintain her weight. Add to that, exercise brings people out of the doldrums, so someone who was about to give up before they went for a run may be fully committed when they get back. Exercise also gives people something to do other than thinking about food. If they aren't exercising, what are they going to be doing? Perhaps, sitting in front of the television watching food commercials.

    Sorry, this post made me laugh a bit. I've been in maintenance for over two years now and I frequently eat meals that are 1,000+ calories, no problem. But I pre-plan my days so those larger calorie meals are consumed guilt free, with the knowledge that the rest of the day is already planned out in accordance to my calorie goals.

    As far as if someone isn't exercising what are they doing....are you for real? I don't even have a tv hooked up lol.

    And as far as 'doldrums' go-you're projecting your own issues on others here. I've never felt like giving up, both in my weight loss phase and now that I'm in maintenance. I'm actually having a lot of fun with it-I feel great, I look great, my husband can't keep his hands off me and best of all- I'm healthy. Seriously, life is pretty darn good ;)

    Not everyone is like you.

    I've been lurking on this thread until now but I have to jump in.
    Can you not see how ironic it is for you to say that, when the entire premise of this ridiculous thread is you taking your experience and using some dodgy logic and misinterpretation of stastics (not sure if willful or not) to apply it to everyone?
    Dude.

    Where do you get that? The original post is about what 90% of those who are in the National Registry of Weight Control say is true for them. That has nothing to do with my experience because I've never reported anything to the National Registry of Weight Control. As I pointed out in a post several posts ago, my experience doesn't matter, because the last time I lost this much weight, I gained it all back (eventually).
  • Sarasmaintaining
    Sarasmaintaining Posts: 1,027 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    jgnatca wrote: »
    The National Weight Control Registry is a credible source.

    I lost my first thirty pounds from dieting alone. If exercise were necessary, explain that.

    Consider that exercise might be a "Keystone Habit". That is, most people who make time to regularly exercise also practice portion control.

    People who hope to exercise off their dietary failures, I fear, are bound to be disappointed.

    Exercise isn't required for weight loss, only a calorie deficit.

    @TimothyFish then explain your contradiction. Unless there is none.

    @jgnatca, I see the potential for a number of things going on here, with not all of them being true of all people, but combining to get the results that are reported. During weight loss, a calorie deficit covers a multitude of sins. If a person happens to forget to log something or if they count calories wrong or they have a cheat day, none of it matters because the calorie deficit on other days will eventually wash away the mistake. It may take them a little longer, but they'll eventually lose weight.

    During maintenance, it is different. Since the goal is to eat the same number of calories mistakes accumulate. Those who will be successful are those who make adjustments when they see their weight rise and those who are willing to keep doing this over the long haul. For a person who isn't exercising, the calories they can eat is less than what their overweight friends eat. Imagine the woman who is maintaining at 1700 going to a restaurant with friends and being the only one who only eats half her meal, because she knows she doesn't need 1000 calories in one meal. That makes it hard to stay committed. But what if she's maintaining at 2200? Now, it may be that she just doesn't eat the bread, and she is still giving herself room within her limit. She doesn't feel deprived, so she has no reason to question her commitment to maintain her weight. Add to that, exercise brings people out of the doldrums, so someone who was about to give up before they went for a run may be fully committed when they get back. Exercise also gives people something to do other than thinking about food. If they aren't exercising, what are they going to be doing? Perhaps, sitting in front of the television watching food commercials.

    Sorry, this post made me laugh a bit. I've been in maintenance for over two years now and I frequently eat meals that are 1,000+ calories, no problem. But I pre-plan my days so those larger calorie meals are consumed guilt free, with the knowledge that the rest of the day is already planned out in accordance to my calorie goals.

    As far as if someone isn't exercising what are they doing....are you for real? I don't even have a tv hooked up lol.

    And as far as 'doldrums' go-you're projecting your own issues on others here. I've never felt like giving up, both in my weight loss phase and now that I'm in maintenance. I'm actually having a lot of fun with it-I feel great, I look great, my husband can't keep his hands off me and best of all- I'm healthy. Seriously, life is pretty darn good ;)

    Not everyone is like you.

    And not everyone is like you :)
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  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    shell1005 wrote: »
    Yet the one person in this thread who is maintaining her weight and responded saying how you were characterizing the life of maintenance was not accurate...you quickly dismissed her experience. How short sighted.

    Her experience is her experience, but the data from the National Registry of Weight Control indicate that her experience is not typical.
  • myfelinepal
    myfelinepal Posts: 13,000 Member
    The OPs argument in this thread:

    6bdb715f0ba8cba442e2e40053b2ddf0.jpg
  • Sarasmaintaining
    Sarasmaintaining Posts: 1,027 Member
    edited May 2015
    shell1005 wrote: »
    Yet the one person in this thread who is maintaining her weight and responded saying how you were characterizing the life of maintenance was not accurate...you quickly dismissed her experience. How short sighted.

    I do empathize with Tim. I remember when I began transitioning into maintenance how overwhelming it was. I knew about the dismal rate for successful, long term maintenance. I saw family members who yo-yo dieted and lost/regained weight over and over again. I read books, like Gina Kolata's Rethinking Thin, that goes into some of the twin studies, and how genetics may play a role in being able to keep the weight off, (most of my family tree is overweight/obese and riddled with health problems). And I knew that I was looking at 40+ years of having to do this whole maintenance thing. 40+ years. It's breathtaking when you actually think it through.

    I really do get wanting to find that one thing that will guarantee successful maintenance. But the reality for me is that there is no one thing, but several things that need to work together, for me to be successful at maintenance. And a structured exercise program is not one of those things.

    If that's what someone else needs as part of their maintenance plan to be successful, then I think it's great that they've found what works for them. It just gets frustrating when someone insinuates that because I'm doing something different than they are, then somehow I'm doing maintenance wrong and I'm going to fail. I absolutely refuse that. I AM successfully maintaining, and I AM going to continue to successfully maintain for the next 40+ years.
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  • EvgeniZyntx
    EvgeniZyntx Posts: 24,208 Member
    Gosh, Tim. I think I understand maybe, perhaps what you are trying to get to. But they way you set it up is awful. No wonder you lost everyone in this thread.

    Consider a slightly different wording:
    1) exercise isn't required for weight loss but may help in creating a calorie deficit.
    2) maintenance may be easier in a population that exercises - not only because it creates a calorie deficit (allowing more leaway in calories eaten) but as a marker of other healthy habits.

    There isn't really a contradiction. It fits the original data.

    When someone starts out it's perfectly fine to recommend that one focus on the principal and easiest paths for weight loss (and a few studies have shown that people that improperly focus *primarily* on exercise tend to overeat...), this doesn't negate that exercise is a very good and health habit and can help in maintenance.

    However, your study doesn't demonstrate that exercise is the *primary* factor for maintenance - what it does show (coupled with the fact that less than 50% of the gen population self report an hour of exercise) is that these populations that kept the weight off also practiced exercise. It may be a factor, it may be a marker for other habits.
  • Unknown
    edited May 2015
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  • PeachyCarol
    PeachyCarol Posts: 8,029 Member
    edited May 2015
    Gosh, Tim. I think I understand maybe, perhaps what you are trying to get to. But they way you set it up is awful. No wonder you lost everyone in this thread.

    Consider a slightly different wording:
    1) exercise isn't required for weight loss but may help in creating a calorie deficit.
    2) maintenance may be easier in a population that exercises - not only because it creates a calorie deficit (allowing more leaway in calories eaten) but as a marker of other healthy habits.

    There isn't really a contradiction. It fits the original data.

    When someone starts out it's perfectly fine to recommend that one focus on the principal and easiest paths for weight loss (and a few studies have shown that people that improperly focus *primarily* on exercise tend to overeat...), this doesn't negate that exercise is a very good and health habit and can help in maintenance.

    However, your study doesn't demonstrate that exercise is the *primary* factor for maintenance - what it does show (coupled with the fact that less than 50% of the gen population self report an hour of exercise) is that these populations that kept the weight off also practiced exercise. It may be a factor, it may be a marker for other habits.

    Finally. A voice of reason. Maybe you'll get through to him. We've tried saying all this. It hasn't helped.

    You're spelling it out rather concisely in one post. That might do the trick.

  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    shell1005 wrote: »
    No one got lost. We all said that over and over again. However Tim still claims that because 90% of those who report to the National Registry of Weight Loss that they have maintained their weight that they exercise on average 60 minutes per day that it is crucial and necessary to maintain weight. That just isn't true. That isn't what the data says or even indicates. It doesn't have the ability to. It seems to be typical, but it is not required. Correlation does not equal causation.

    All I'm asking for is an explanation for why 90% of those who are successful at maintenance exercise, when exercise is not required for weight loss. Yes, it is possible that exercise does not cause someone to maintain their weight. It is possible that whatever causes people to maintain their weight also causes them to exercise. But I look at that 90% and I think about all the people who don't have time to exercise. There must be a lot of them who are trying to maintain their weight loss. Why aren't they showing up in this data?
  • Eudoxy
    Eudoxy Posts: 391 Member
    Personally, whenever I've been active enough, I've maintained whatever weight I'm at without focusing on food. When I'm not, weight creeps up (slowly but surely). But to try to lose - I have to focus on food intake primarily. It's uncomfortable to eat below maintainance no matter what, exercise just makes me that much hungrier - if I'm not counting calories, it is easy to overcompensate. But when maintaining, it tends to even out naturally if I'm active enough.
  • MB_Positif
    MB_Positif Posts: 8,897 Member
    No. I've maintained my loss for over 3 years. During that time I've done bulk and cut cycles as well. However, I also had a 9 month hiatus from exercise due to illness and subsequent surgery and recovery. I was able to maintain my weight by sticking to my maintenance calorie goal.
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  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    No one got lost. We all said that over and over again. However Tim still claims that because 90% of those who report to the National Registry of Weight Loss that they have maintained their weight that they exercise on average 60 minutes per day that it is crucial and necessary to maintain weight. That just isn't true. That isn't what the data says or even indicates. It doesn't have the ability to. It seems to be typical, but it is not required. Correlation does not equal causation.

    All I'm asking for is an explanation for why 90% of those who are successful at maintenance exercise, when exercise is not required for weight loss. Yes, it is possible that exercise does not cause someone to maintain their weight. It is possible that whatever causes people to maintain their weight also causes them to exercise. But I look at that 90% and I think about all the people who don't have time to exercise. There must be a lot of them who are trying to maintain their weight loss. Why aren't they showing up in this data?

    It's not required. It is a helpful tool. 90% of the people who report to the National Registry use the tool. Why they use the tool? We do not know, the data did not ask that. I could hypothesize as to why people who maintain their weight tend to exercise, but that isn't what we are talking about. I could tell you why I chose to exercise when I was in maintenance, but you made it clear you are not interested in those who have individual stories of maintenance.

    The point most are making in this thread is that exercise is not required or necessary for weight loss or for maintenance. Is it a helpful tool? Is it even recommended? Yes. However it is not required. Someone can maintain their weight through management of their caloric intake. The data shows that 90% of those who keep the weight off do use exercise as a tool. Boom. That's all it says. It says nothing more.

    If you see that data and decide that when you get to maintenance you want to follow the lead of the 90% and make sure you get 60 minutes of exercise a day, more power to you. That would not be a poor choice. However you can't take that data and have it say it is crucial that you work out to maintain your weight loss. The data does not support that causation conclusion. That is the back and forth where you are seemingly frustrating a whole lot of us.





    "I could hypothesize as to why people who maintain their weight tend to exercise, but that isn't what we are talking about."

    So, in other words, you could address what the original post asked you to address, but because some other people have hijacked the thread and tried to turn it into something else (which is against the Community Use Guidelines), you choose to do what they want to do instead.
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    Pu_239 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    No one got lost. We all said that over and over again. However Tim still claims that because 90% of those who report to the National Registry of Weight Loss that they have maintained their weight that they exercise on average 60 minutes per day that it is crucial and necessary to maintain weight. That just isn't true. That isn't what the data says or even indicates. It doesn't have the ability to. It seems to be typical, but it is not required. Correlation does not equal causation.

    All I'm asking for is an explanation for why 90% of those who are successful at maintenance exercise, when exercise is not required for weight loss. Yes, it is possible that exercise does not cause someone to maintain their weight. It is possible that whatever causes people to maintain their weight also causes them to exercise. But I look at that 90% and I think about all the people who don't have time to exercise. There must be a lot of them who are trying to maintain their weight loss. Why aren't they showing up in this data?

    THe people who have successfully kept the weight off without exercise would be the 10%. That actually are in that database, how many people are NOT in that database?

    I think the reason "why" they exercise. It goes back to the "Eat less move more philosophy" They wanted to lose weight they dieted and exercised. They felt some benefits from the exercise alone and kept on doing it. Supposedly people who floss their teeth live 7yrs longer as well. Does this mean flossing teeth increases life span? No, I think it just means people who floss their teeth take better care of themselves from other aspects as well.

    If only 10% of the people trying to maintain their weight loss do not exercise, then the answer would be none. But I don't know the actual answer. I'm assuming that there are more than 10% who do not exercise as a means to maintain their weight.

    For what it's worth, many of the doctors and such who are looking at this data and writing about it do think that exercise plays a role in helping to maintain weight loss.
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  • Alluminati
    Alluminati Posts: 6,208 Member
    edited May 2015
    The National Registry of Weight Control reveals that 90% of the people who maintained a loss of 30 pounds or more for at least a year exercise about 1 hour per day. So, exercise is the most important factor when maintaining weight loss, but during the dieting phase, calorie restriction is more important, even to the point that people are often told that exercise isn’t required. Explain this apparent contradiction.

    You didn't really submit a contradiction for your thread. You submitted a large, awkward, random assemblage of sentences. In fact, the sentences you apparently kidnapped in the dead of night and forced into this violent and arbitrary plan of yours clearly seemed to be placed on the thread against their will. Reading your post(s)/responses was like watching unfamiliar, uncomfortable people interact at a cocktail party that no one wanted to attend in the first place. You didn't submit a contradiction. You submitted a hostage situation.

    L M F A O.
    Stick a fork in me because I'm done with this thread ^^
  • Annie_01
    Annie_01 Posts: 3,096 Member
    shell1005 wrote: »
    shell1005 wrote: »
    No one got lost. We all said that over and over again. However Tim still claims that because 90% of those who report to the National Registry of Weight Loss that they have maintained their weight that they exercise on average 60 minutes per day that it is crucial and necessary to maintain weight. That just isn't true. That isn't what the data says or even indicates. It doesn't have the ability to. It seems to be typical, but it is not required. Correlation does not equal causation.

    All I'm asking for is an explanation for why 90% of those who are successful at maintenance exercise, when exercise is not required for weight loss. Yes, it is possible that exercise does not cause someone to maintain their weight. It is possible that whatever causes people to maintain their weight also causes them to exercise. But I look at that 90% and I think about all the people who don't have time to exercise. There must be a lot of them who are trying to maintain their weight loss. Why aren't they showing up in this data?

    It's not required. It is a helpful tool. 90% of the people who report to the National Registry use the tool. Why they use the tool? We do not know, the data did not ask that. I could hypothesize as to why people who maintain their weight tend to exercise, but that isn't what we are talking about. I could tell you why I chose to exercise when I was in maintenance, but you made it clear you are not interested in those who have individual stories of maintenance.

    The point most are making in this thread is that exercise is not required or necessary for weight loss or for maintenance. Is it a helpful tool? Is it even recommended? Yes. However it is not required. Someone can maintain their weight through management of their caloric intake. The data shows that 90% of those who keep the weight off do use exercise as a tool. Boom. That's all it says. It says nothing more.

    If you see that data and decide that when you get to maintenance you want to follow the lead of the 90% and make sure you get 60 minutes of exercise a day, more power to you. That would not be a poor choice. However you can't take that data and have it say it is crucial that you work out to maintain your weight loss. The data does not support that causation conclusion. That is the back and forth where you are seemingly frustrating a whole lot of us.





    "I could hypothesize as to why people who maintain their weight tend to exercise, but that isn't what we are talking about."

    So, in other words, you could address what the original post asked you to address, but because some other people have hijacked the thread and tried to turn it into something else (which is against the Community Use Guidelines), you choose to do what they want to do instead.

    Don't know if this has been said...but oh well...

    Possibly...just maybe...the 90% that exercise...at least a portion of them...their exercise has nothing to do with maintaining their weight. Losing weight improves health...that's a given but that is not all there is too improving health. Having a regular exercise routine also has it's health benefits.

    When I started exercising only a small portion of the reason was weight loss. It was mostly for the mobility and being able to function as I grow older. Maybe at least part of the 90% exercises to keep improving their health.

    We have no way of know how much of that 7 hours a week of exercise actually helps in maintaining their weight...how much of that 7 hours is benefiting their overall health.

    Did they give the reasons why these people exercise the amount that they do or are we just assuming that it is done purely to maintain.

    Don't get me wrong...I already know that exercise will be a factor in me maintaining. At my age...if I don't stay active...I don't get a whole lot to eat. By the time I have lost all the weight that I want to...I will be 63. If I am sedentary...I will only have a BMR of around 1260...a TDEE of about 1500. That doesn't sound fun to me. So yes...I could maintain without exercise...just won't get to eat that much.

  • stevencloser
    stevencloser Posts: 8,911 Member
    edited May 2015
    shell1005 wrote: »
    No one got lost. We all said that over and over again. However Tim still claims that because 90% of those who report to the National Registry of Weight Loss that they have maintained their weight that they exercise on average 60 minutes per day that it is crucial and necessary to maintain weight. That just isn't true. That isn't what the data says or even indicates. It doesn't have the ability to. It seems to be typical, but it is not required. Correlation does not equal causation.

    All I'm asking for is an explanation for why 90% of those who are successful at maintenance exercise, when exercise is not required for weight loss. Yes, it is possible that exercise does not cause someone to maintain their weight. It is possible that whatever causes people to maintain their weight also causes them to exercise. But I look at that 90% and I think about all the people who don't have time to exercise. There must be a lot of them who are trying to maintain their weight loss. Why aren't they showing up in this data?

    I posted a scenario already. Let me repeat it.
    Person is overweight and wants to become healthy.
    Starts losing weight.
    Starts exercising because exercise is important in being healthy.
    They start maintaining and because they're serious about it, they're successful.
    Because they're serious about being healthy they also don't slack off and stop exercising.

    There. A reason why many successful maintainers are also exercising regularly. Has nothing to do with weight loss itself.
  • Annie_01
    Annie_01 Posts: 3,096 Member
    shell1005 wrote: »
    No one got lost. We all said that over and over again. However Tim still claims that because 90% of those who report to the National Registry of Weight Loss that they have maintained their weight that they exercise on average 60 minutes per day that it is crucial and necessary to maintain weight. That just isn't true. That isn't what the data says or even indicates. It doesn't have the ability to. It seems to be typical, but it is not required. Correlation does not equal causation.

    All I'm asking for is an explanation for why 90% of those who are successful at maintenance exercise, when exercise is not required for weight loss. Yes, it is possible that exercise does not cause someone to maintain their weight. It is possible that whatever causes people to maintain their weight also causes them to exercise. But I look at that 90% and I think about all the people who don't have time to exercise. There must be a lot of them who are trying to maintain their weight loss. Why aren't they showing up in this data?

    I posted a scenario already. Let me repeat it.
    Person is overweight and wants to become healthy.
    Starts losing weight.
    Starts exercising because exercise is important in being healthy.
    They start maintaining and because they're serious about it, they're successful.
    Because they're serious about being healthy they also don't slack off and stop exercising.

    There. A reason why many successful maintainers are also exercising regularly. Has nothing to do with weight loss itself.

    That was the point that I was trying to make. Diet and exercise are two different things...they go hand in hand...each aiding the other but one is not dependent upon the other. Health in my opinion is dependent upon both.

  • losingin_2015
    losingin_2015 Posts: 3 Member
    ASKyle wrote: »
    The National Registry of Weight Control reveals that 90% of the people who maintained a loss of 30 pounds or more for at least a year exercise about 1 hour per day. So, exercise is the most important factor when maintaining weight loss, but during the dieting phase, calorie restriction is more important, even to the point that people are often told that exercise isn’t required. Explain this apparent contradiction.

    What about the 100% of people who maintained a loss of 30 pounds by breathing every day?

    I agree with you on this one.I have read online that you can lose weight by being a couch potato but it helps to start by walking a minimum of 10 min a day.

  • SergeantSausage
    SergeantSausage Posts: 1,673 Member
    jgnatca wrote: »
    jgnatca wrote: »
    The National Weight Control Registry is a credible source.

    I lost my first thirty pounds from dieting alone. If exercise were necessary, explain that.

    Consider that exercise might be a "Keystone Habit". That is, most people who make time to regularly exercise also practice portion control.

    People who hope to exercise off their dietary failures, I fear, are bound to be disappointed.

    Exercise isn't required for weight loss, only a calorie deficit.

    @TimothyFish then explain your contradiction. Unless there is none.

    @jgnatca, I see the potential for a number of things going on here, with not all of them being true of all people, but combining to get the results that are reported. During weight loss, a calorie deficit covers a multitude of sins. If a person happens to forget to log something or if they count calories wrong or they have a cheat day, none of it matters because the calorie deficit on other days will eventually wash away the mistake. It may take them a little longer, but they'll eventually lose weight.

    During maintenance, it is different. Since the goal is to eat the same number of calories mistakes accumulate. Those who will be successful are those who make adjustments when they see their weight rise and those who are willing to keep doing this over the long haul. For a person who isn't exercising, the calories they can eat is less than what their overweight friends eat. Imagine the woman who is maintaining at 1700 going to a restaurant with friends and being the only one who only eats half her meal, because she knows she doesn't need 1000 calories in one meal. That makes it hard to stay committed. But what if she's maintaining at 2200? Now, it may be that she just doesn't eat the bread, and she is still giving herself room within her limit. She doesn't feel deprived, so she has no reason to question her commitment to maintain her weight. Add to that, exercise brings people out of the doldrums, so someone who was about to give up before they went for a run may be fully committed when they get back. Exercise also gives people something to do other than thinking about food. If they aren't exercising, what are they going to be doing? Perhaps, sitting in front of the television watching food commercials.

    Sorry, this post made me laugh a bit. I've been in maintenance for over two years now and I frequently eat meals that are 1,000+ calories, no problem. But I pre-plan my days so those larger calorie meals are consumed guilt free, with the knowledge that the rest of the day is already planned out in accordance to my calorie goals.

    As far as if someone isn't exercising what are they doing....are you for real? I don't even have a tv hooked up lol.

    And as far as 'doldrums' go-you're projecting your own issues on others here. I've never felt like giving up, both in my weight loss phase and now that I'm in maintenance. I'm actually having a lot of fun with it-I feel great, I look great, my husband can't keep his hands off me and best of all- I'm healthy. Seriously, life is pretty darn good ;)

    Not everyone is like you.

    And not everyone is like you :)

    NO ONE is like him.

    He's "special", right?

  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    ASKyle wrote: »
    The National Registry of Weight Control reveals that 90% of the people who maintained a loss of 30 pounds or more for at least a year exercise about 1 hour per day. So, exercise is the most important factor when maintaining weight loss, but during the dieting phase, calorie restriction is more important, even to the point that people are often told that exercise isn’t required. Explain this apparent contradiction.

    What about the 100% of people who maintained a loss of 30 pounds by breathing every day?

    I agree with you on this one.I have read online that you can lose weight by being a couch potato but it helps to start by walking a minimum of 10 min a day.

    I'm not sure what you are agreeing with on this. The poster is poking fun by highlighting something, that though technically true, is of little value in addressing the original question because 100% of the people who gain the weight back, as well as 100% of the people who lose weight all do so by breathing every day.