Eating less with no exercise vs. exercising and eating more

Nikki24inDitchPlains
Nikki24inDitchPlains Posts: 17 Member
edited November 2024 in Health and Weight Loss
Hi all, this morning I'm trying to decide if I should do the military diet that I've been following for awhile now. If you don't know of it, basically I follow it by eating 1100-1000 calories for 3 days a week and around 1500 the rest of the days. I've had some success with it but I don't know if it's really that helping to eat 200 less calories with it since I generally average around 1300. Also, when I'm on it I don't exercise because I get too hungry. I don't know if I should follow that this week or just keep counting calories and exercise. I really need to do well this week though as I are a lot at a party last weekend.

Replies

  • mizzlarabee
    mizzlarabee Posts: 134 Member
    You want to create a consistent weekly deficit of 3500 calories. How you do that from week to week is up to you. Don't structure your approach so that it's too aggressive for you to even adhere to. I don't think the military diet is a good diet because it isn't geared towards individual needs.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    edited May 2015
    It's really just personal preference. If you don't plan to exercise regularly once you've lost the weight, then it might be wise not to rely on exercise to create a deficit for weight loss. If you do plan to continue exercising then I'd exercise while losing.

    I think one of the biggest reasons people gain back weight is that they live a totally different lifestyle while losing weight than they plan to live long term.
  • mizzlarabee
    mizzlarabee Posts: 134 Member
    Need2Exerc1se wrote: »
    It's really just personal preference. If you don't plan to exercise regularly once you've lost the weight, then it might be wise not to rely on exercise to create a definit for weight loss. If you do plan to continue exercising then I'd exercise while losing.

    I think one of the biggest reasons people gain back weight is that they live a totally different lifestyle while losing weight than they plan to live long term.

    Yes, yes, a thousand times yes.
  • Nikki24inDitchPlains
    Nikki24inDitchPlains Posts: 17 Member
    Well I don't think I'll ever stop exercising I just go through phases where I find it difficult to find the time or I just don't feel like it lol
  • mizzlarabee
    mizzlarabee Posts: 134 Member
    Nikki24inDitchPlains wrote: »
    Well I don't think I'll ever stop exercising I just go through phases where I find it difficult to find the time or I just don't feel like it lol

    So you need to account for those phases. The idea is that you want to be creating a long term change in your lifestyle, not just live diet to diet.
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    Nikki24inDitchPlains wrote: »
    Well I don't think I'll ever stop exercising I just go through phases where I find it difficult to find the time or I just don't feel like it lol

    I think that pretty common. You just need to realize that during those times when you are exercising, you'll need to eat less calories than when you are exercising to maintain the same weight or weight loss rate.
  • 999tigger
    999tigger Posts: 5,235 Member
    2 different questions;
    1. Just eat to the style that suits you. If you wnat to eat more on exercise days and less on others and you are eating an average of 1200+, then do that.
    2. If you want to eat the same regardless of exercise then do TDEE.

    All you need to look at is your aggregate deficit over a period. From the numbers you are suggesting then 200 calories isnt much, but its making you hungry. Its a small chcolate bar or packet of chips.

    If it were me id scrap the military diet if it wasnt working and just log carefully for an accurate 1300 calories just from food. If I was going to exercise then id just eat 50% of the of mfp calories back if hungry. You get additional benefits besides being able to eat that food, which are fitness related, possibly preserving muscle and raising your metabolism.

    If you find it difficult then as suggested deal with it, look for alternatives, change your workout, find soemthing you enjoy, take breaks etc. Exercise is primarily for fitness and you have to do a lot to get any substantial calorie burns.
  • forgtmenot
    forgtmenot Posts: 860 Member
    As long as your weekly deficit is the same it really doesn't matter if you eat more 3 days and less 4 days or whatever. Do what works for your needs. It sounds like you may do better with a more consistent calorie allowance. Try to use Mfp the way it was designed for a week. Let it pick your calorie amount and stick to that. Try to exercise and eat half of those calories back too. See how you feel at the end of the week. If it doesn't work for you you can always go back to your military diet.
  • Nikki24inDitchPlains
    Nikki24inDitchPlains Posts: 17 Member
    Yeah I'm not doing it today, just not into it. Maybe tomorrow if I feel like it!
  • fastforlife1
    fastforlife1 Posts: 459 Member
    Diet is more important than exercise! http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/05/15/take-off-that-fitbit-exercise-alone-wont-make-you-lose-weight/?postshare=8571431868076392&tid=sm_fb
  • ruggedshutter
    ruggedshutter Posts: 389 Member
    Have you looked into 5/2 fasting or Intermediate Fasting? Sounds similar to what you are trying to do.
  • TimothyFish
    TimothyFish Posts: 4,925 Member
    In my opinion, if you're eating so little that you can't exercise, you're eating too little. At the very least, it is no fun. Physical activity should be one of the reasons we eat. If all we're going to do is sit around in a chair all day, we might as well be fat.
  • Nikki24inDitchPlains
    Nikki24inDitchPlains Posts: 17 Member
    Yes I've looked into the 5/2 but not sure if I could handle only 500 calories, seems like too little. I do well with the 1,000-1,100 just not always in the mood for the food of the military diet.
  • Nikki24inDitchPlains
    Nikki24inDitchPlains Posts: 17 Member
    fastforlife1 wrote: »
    Diet is more important than exercise! http://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2015/05/15/take-off-that-fitbit-exercise-alone-wont-make-you-lose-weight/?postshare=8571431868076392&tid=sm_fb

    That's a very interesting article. Love any excuse to skip my workout for the day lol. Do you not workout while trying to lose weight? It always seems to tone my body and speed up the weight loss if I stick to it.

  • WinoGelato
    WinoGelato Posts: 13,454 Member
    OP - why not just use MFP the way it was designed? Enter your stats, a reasonable goal for how much you want to lose, and a reasonable rate at which to lose it (depending how much you have to lose, 1 lb/week or even 0.5 lb/week). Then eat the foods you enjoy eating, within your calorie alotment, exercise if you like (sounds like you do like it) and when you exercise, eat back a portion of your calories?

    The Military Diet is a restrictive, fad diet that does not lend itself well toward long term sustainability. Think about it.... while exercise is not a requirement for weight loss, there are numerous health benefits associated with regular exercise. Anything that restricts your calories to a level that exercise is not something you can accommodate, does that seem like a good idea?

    If you haven't read the stickies at the top of the various forums, you really should. This one in particular may be helpful.

    http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/1080242/a-guide-to-get-you-started-on-your-path-to-sexypants/p1
  • Nikki24inDitchPlains
    Nikki24inDitchPlains Posts: 17 Member
    Yes I agree thank you that was all very helpful!
  • 1shauna1
    1shauna1 Posts: 993 Member
    I used to just try to restrict calories, but often I found it really hard, and failure was happening too frequently. Now I love to work out and get those extra calories! I try not to eat them all but now I don't feel bad when I go over my calorie target.
  • _lyndseybrooke_
    _lyndseybrooke_ Posts: 2,561 Member
    The answer is always more food for me. I'm a hungry girl.

    Also, you should probably be eating more. Never go below 1200 calories per day, regardless of activity level, unless you're elderly and four feet tall.
  • qb63
    qb63 Posts: 88 Member
    TimothyFish wrote: »
    In my opinion, if you're eating so little that you can't exercise, you're eating too little. At the very least, it is no fun. Physical activity should be one of the reasons we eat. If all we're going to do is sit around in a chair all day, we might as well be fat.

    Hadn't thought of it that way, but YES! I LOVE that!!!
  • jgnatca
    jgnatca Posts: 14,464 Member
    I personally dislike the "military diet" as it has nothing to do with science or the military, and it's a VLCD.

    I love exercising for making me stronger.
  • Nikki24inDitchPlains
    Nikki24inDitchPlains Posts: 17 Member
    If I may add another question to this, since I decided to work out today, what are some fun exercises I can do when I don't feel like working out?
  • bmele0
    bmele0 Posts: 282 Member
    Fun exercise that I do that doesn't feel like working out- I have the Just Dance game on my X-box 360 and that will give you a nice little workout. I also started playing drop-in volleyball and on a coworker league team, and that's fun! Go for a nice bike ride or visit the local pool.

    At home? You can stream workout videos via youtube, even zumba video- more like dance workouts. I also enjoy Kickboxing workouts.
  • strong_curves
    strong_curves Posts: 2,229 Member
    Why is this "military" diet so popular all of a sudden???? :| I've seen so many posts on it the past 4 days I seriously want to burn it! >:)
  • Nikki24inDitchPlains
    Nikki24inDitchPlains Posts: 17 Member
    Ok thanks! I'd love to go for a walk outside but it's so windy out today! :(
  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    Nikki24inDitchPlains wrote: »
    If I may add another question to this, since I decided to work out today, what are some fun exercises I can do when I don't feel like working out?

    Since you don't want to go outside, maybe just turn on some upbeat music that you love. Dancing is fun and great exercise.
  • maidentl
    maidentl Posts: 3,203 Member
    Nikki24inDitchPlains wrote: »
    Yes I've looked into the 5/2 but not sure if I could handle only 500 calories, seems like too little. I do well with the 1,000-1,100 just not always in the mood for the food of the military diet.

    Then why do it? There is nothing magic about the food they tell you to eat. You could eat the same amount of calories of literally anything you want and accomplish the same thing.
  • Nikki24inDitchPlains
    Nikki24inDitchPlains Posts: 17 Member
    strong_curves wrote: »
    Why is this "military" diet so popular all of a sudden???? :| I've seen so many posts on it the past 4 days I seriously want to burn it! >:)


    I first found it at least a month ago and did really like it. It'll work great if you enjoy the food they tell you to eat and don't get sick of it like I am.
  • Nikki24inDitchPlains
    Nikki24inDitchPlains Posts: 17 Member
    edited May 2015
    Thanks for all the exercise suggestions. Ended up doing 15 mins of weight lifting so it's a start. Maybe I'll go for a short walk later too.
  • lemurcat12
    lemurcat12 Posts: 30,886 Member
    strong_curves wrote: »
    Why is this "military" diet so popular all of a sudden???? :| I've seen so many posts on it the past 4 days I seriously want to burn it! >:)

    I've been wondering this.

    It must have been on some website or someone famous must have mentioned it.
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