I Give Up on Working Out

Well, you aren't going to raise energy levels by not working out. Or fitness levels. But that's a decision you have to make. If you've been losing weight for a while, you might just be a bit tired from the long term deficit.

Personally when I work out I find it much easier to create a deficit that day if I want. I eat very little during the day, and if I work out in the afternoon I often have 2000-2500 calories I can eat before I go to sleep.

Are you eating back at least some of your exercise calories and logging accurately? Also, you don't have to work out to lose weight! You are free to do other activities instead. Walk, swim, etc. Good luck!

You work out for the health benefits and to have a better looking body, not to lose weight.
You are supposed to eat back your exercise calories as your deficit is built into your basic MFP calories.
You are tired because you are continuing to under eat.
Don't exercise and end up just a smaller version of what you are now. Your choice.

Cheers, h.

Depending on how long you've been at it can affect how you feel. When I gave up coke (temporarily) and started a new food plan I was exhausted for a week. In bed at 8 some nights. Week 2 I felt a bit better and by week 3 I was up for doing some exercise which grew to exercising every day and I also found my need for a weekend nap was gone.

Then my husband went away and I took a diet break over Christmas. The exercise slipped off to nothing as life just seemed to get in the way. Adjusting to 3 kids going back to/starting school and a new daily home routine has made it tough to start again. ATM I am concentrating on food since thats 80% of weight loss and hoping that in a few weeks after getting food back on track I will feel up to exercising again. I actually enjoy exercising but I do find I am a bit all or nothing (Everyday or not at all), stop start doesnt work well for me.

Hi. I remember your name and, based on that alone, I know your problem is undereating and goals that are far too aggressive.

Last month, you made this thread about wanting to lose 4.4 pounds per week on 800 calories per day even though you knew it was unhealthy: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10315945/how-to-lose-2kg-week-4-4lbs-week-advice

Then you made this one yesterday where you admitted that some days you eat 2200 to 2400 calories per day at times, but sometimes eat 1000 to 1200 per day, even though people told you that as a young man 1800 should be your baseline: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/35348739#Comment_35348739

Don't give up on working out; give up on trying to achieve rapid weight loss because it's unhealthy. Stop the 1200 calorie days because they are leaving you with no energy to workout. That's your body trying to tell you it needs more fuel whether you like it or not. Period. As a 6 foot tall man at 203 pounds, you shouldn't really be trying to lose two pounds per week anyway. Also, how are you certain you're burning 500 calories per workout?

You don't have to workout but you should know that if you're not working out and just dieting that your physique will suffer. If you actually want any sort of muscle tone to your body, that requires exercise. You also risk losing whatever muscle mass you may have now by eating low calorie and not working out to preserve that muscle mass.

Conclusion? Just because 1800 is the recommended bare minimum for men to eat doesn't mean you should be aiming for the bare minimum. You need a healthier approach to all of this because you're already clearly burning yourself out.

jsuh1993 wrote: »

6ft, Male, 203lbs

I just have no energy. And I feel like there is no point of me trying to eat 1800 cal or so just to have sufficient energy to burn another 500 off with work outs. I just found myself being easier eating much less and not working out instead. Basically, I am having hard time finding energy to workout and I have to consumer more cal to find that energy - which kind of defeats the purpose of a work out..

If I am taking bare minimum that is recommended, I won't have the energy to work out. And I don't want to eat more because then I would have to work out to burn them and I will end up being even more lethargic. What are some suggestions??

But you shouldn't try to burn those off. The lethargy is from too few calories. So if you ate some more you'd get to enjoy more, you'd have enough energy to lift and keep your muscle, and then you'd get another snack after, too... while still losing the fat. It's actually pretty awesome.

So I just got more active. Walked more steps, do yoga or barre3- but not for an hour, just 15 minutes a day. I have worn a fitness band of some sort and I make sure I stand enough. Start small, add more activity every day. I tried the gym and a personal trainer in 2014... so not my thing, but learned I love TRX. Find your own way. the lethargy fades and you sleep better.

synacious wrote: »

Hi. I remember your name and, based on that alone, I know your problem is undereating and goals that are far too aggressive.

Last month, you made this thread about wanting to lose 4.4 pounds per week on 800 calories per day even though you knew it was unhealthy: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10315945/how-to-lose-2kg-week-4-4lbs-week-advice

Then you made this one yesterday where you admitted that some days you eat 2200 to 2400 calories per day at times, but sometimes eat 1000 to 1200 per day, even though people told you that as a young man 1800 should be your baseline: http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/comment/35348739#Comment_35348739

Don't give up on working out; give up on trying to achieve rapid weight loss because it's unhealthy. Stop the 1200 calorie days because they are leaving you with no energy to workout. That's your body trying to tell you it needs more fuel whether you like it or not. Period. As a 6 foot tall man at 203 pounds, you shouldn't really be trying to lose two pounds per week anyway. Also, how are you certain you're burning 500 calories per workout?

You don't have to workout but you should know that if you're not working out and just dieting that your physique will suffer. If you actually want any sort of muscle tone to your body, that requires exercise. You also risk losing whatever muscle mass you may have now by eating low calorie and not working out to preserve that muscle mass.

Conclusion? Just because 1800 is the recommended bare minimum for men to eat doesn't mean you should be aiming for the bare minimum. You need a healthier approach to all of this because you're already clearly burning yourself out.

If you keep making similar posts and you keep getting similar answers, at what point do you stop asking the same questions and instead start following the advice.

Professional help may be in order for you at this point.

I have just started adding in mild cardio etc .. And it boosts my energy!!!!! Sworkit is a awesome app!

Go there. http://scoobysworkshop.com/calorie-calculator/

Enter your info and pick a 15-20% deficit.

Congratulations. You're realizing that your plan -- under-eating -- isn't working and it is impacting your ability to reach your health and fitness goals. Now you have the opportunity to begin listening to what people have been telling you, consistently, in the threads you have started.

Eating to fuel your body's needs will give you the energy to work out while you're losing weight.

ninerbuff wrote: »

If you have no energy, you're likely just not getting enough rest.

A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition

He didn't say it here, but he has 1000 calorie days. A 6ft dude only eating 1000 calories is bound to feel it the next day or two. Then apparently want to binge on tacos (that was his thread), which is also unsurprising. I do think he needs to even out his calories and not go too low.

Or OP, you might like intermittent fasting. The fast day may make you too tired (it would me), but if you are just trying on diet types and not going mental about the process, it could fit how you like to eat. OTOH, if this is already a longstanding problematic relationship with food you have, it's more like an eating disorder and you shouldn't try anything approaching fasting days. I never know when to suggest intermittent fasting because of that last part!