Can you get lean without any exercise
leah9985
Posts: 66 Member
Hi there!
I was just wondering if anyone knows if it's possible to get lean without any actual exercise?
If I ate within my calories suggested to loose weight and stuck to whole foods, inc good fats and protein would I still loose weight and be lean?
Any advice would be great
thanks!
I was just wondering if anyone knows if it's possible to get lean without any actual exercise?
If I ate within my calories suggested to loose weight and stuck to whole foods, inc good fats and protein would I still loose weight and be lean?
Any advice would be great
thanks! 0
Replies
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None at all? I mean you can be skinny-fat. Anorexic people can be very lean in terms of actual body fat. A lot of them don't exercise because they don't have the energy to. Same with sick patients in hospitals. Healthy? Not so much. I would suggest for your overall health to find something that gets you moving at all as it's good for your heart, mind, body to get your blood pumping a few x a week . Walking, hiking, yoga, rock climbing, biking, rollerblading, swimming, jumping rope, it all counts.8
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Ok that's helpful thank you! Basically I'm loosely following Joe Wicks - The Body Coach but finding his HIIT work outs really hard as I've not really hit exercise since I stopped the gym a couple of years ago! I was thinking I could follow his meal plans but cut out the exercise and drop to fewer carbs! I find all this food nutritional information mind boggling0
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try walking! eventually you will need some weights to tone up but you definitely have to get some excerise in to get lean!2
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Change the exercise - don't drop the exercise!14
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You arent going to get more defined and tone without working for it. But if you are having trouble with the work out you started switch and find a different work out that you can build on as you get stronger and more fit. You really dont want to risk injury by jumping into a program your bodh isnt ready for.2
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You arent going to get more defined and tone without working for it. But if you are having trouble with the work out you started switch and find a different work out that you can build on as you get stronger and more fit. You really dont want to risk injury by jumping into a program your bodh isnt ready for.
Thank you! Think I'll look up some work outs to do! I'm a mum of 2 so need to find work outs to do from home!1 -
You arent going to get more defined and tone without working for it. But if you are having trouble with the work out you started switch and find a different work out that you can build on as you get stronger and more fit. You really dont want to risk injury by jumping into a program your bodh isnt ready for.
Thank you! Think I'll look up some work outs to do! I'm a mum of 2 so need to find work outs to do from home!
I'm a mom too and it can be hard to find time between work and kids. I do Insanity Max30 at home and like it for the modified track option. Its an investment though and I only purchased it after having done the classes to try it. I also got a resistance stepper and some light hand weights from Amazon (less than $50 all together) and can get a good workout in on that while watching TV at night.1 -
You arent going to get more defined and tone without working for it. But if you are having trouble with the work out you started switch and find a different work out that you can build on as you get stronger and more fit. You really dont want to risk injury by jumping into a program your bodh isnt ready for.
Thank you! Think I'll look up some work outs to do! I'm a mum of 2 so need to find work outs to do from home!
I'm a mom too and it can be hard to find time between work and kids. I do Insanity Max30 at home and like it for the modified track option. Its an investment though and I only purchased it after having done the classes to try it. I also got a resistance stepper and some light hand weights from Amazon (less than $50 all together) and can get a good workout in on that while watching TV at night.
That's awesome! Thank you, I'll look into that0 -
I've discovered I can't. If I don't exercise I have to eat ridiculously little and I plateau a lot. Some people have no problems just doing it by managing eating though. Everyone is different.1
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You are fortunate, you are young and have a faster metabolism it would be a shame not to make use of it. I used to to do HIIT but prefer the softer approach. But if you are concerned about doing little exercise there is one thing you can do that will help you get toned that doesn't take up much time but will pump up your heart rate very quickly as well as help you lose weight fast and that is sprinting. If you can do six 30 second sprints you can use up to 300 calories of exercise. But don't try to do more than a couple of days a week0
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You are fortunate, you are young and have a faster metabolism it would be a shame not to make use of it. I used to to do HIIT but prefer the softer approach. But if you are concerned about doing little exercise there is one thing you can do that will help you get toned that doesn't take up much time but will pump up your heart rate very quickly as well as help you lose weight fast and that is sprinting. If you can do six 30 second sprints you can use up to 300 calories of exercise. But don't try to do more than a couple of days a week
300 cals for 3 minutes exercise... yeah, no.8 -
I have attempted exercise off and on but haven't been able to create a habit and what I've attempted was walking mostly and I tried to do daily planking, but didn't even get past a week! I'm not a fan of the experience though I wish I were. Only in the last few weeks I've started lifting since I found a friend with experience to guide me. I like it pretty well and can actually see myself sticking to it. But, i just started doing that in the last 3 weeks.
I've had a surprising amount of body composition changes, even without scale weight loss, without exercise. This pic shows a 2 pound loss but my weight fluctuates within a 5 pound range all the time and as of this morning, like many other mornings over the past year, the scale is reading 140 again. I'm still the size I am in the most recent pic though...
I had these changes without regular exercise, averaging about 6,000 steps a day too. And I'm 41 years old.
Though, I do think exercise is very important and I wish I had incorporated it more because I'm sure I would be even more pleased with my fat loss if I had. Not to mention the health benefits that have nothing to do with fat loss.3 -
I lost all my weight one time without any exercise..all diet. I looked just fine...very good actually. When many on here talk about having to tone up .. i think in my head. "you just need to lose more fat and you're in denial".. because when the fat is gone.. you look good.
Yes, exercise is good to burn calories.. improve your heart and lung health.. so good for regulating blood sugar. That's why i do it now... but when i look at my belly and arm fat. I know the truth. i need to lose the fat..that is that.2 -
To drop lbs...eat less.
To be able to eat more or create a bigger deficit...walk/cardio,etc.
To change the way your body looks and to have strength.... weights.
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Try fitnessblender.com! All of their workouts are 100% free and they offer workout plans for under 15USD I think for an 8 week program that tells you which of their workouts to do when. They do use HIIT a couple times a week but often show low impact / easier ways to do each move. All you need is dumbbells and they have programs from 30min a day to 60.
I can not recommend enough! I am also a mom and these are perfect for me + have really changed my shape and made me ENJOY working out!1 -
You are fortunate, you are young and have a faster metabolism it would be a shame not to make use of it. I used to to do HIIT but prefer the softer approach. But if you are concerned about doing little exercise there is one thing you can do that will help you get toned that doesn't take up much time but will pump up your heart rate very quickly as well as help you lose weight fast and that is sprinting. If you can do six 30 second sprints you can use up to 300 calories of exercise. But don't try to do more than a couple of days a week
1) People don't have slower or faster metabolisms, they have a different TDEE.
2) 300 calories for 3 minutes of exercise is absurd. If this was the case I don't see why obesity would exist. 30 mins of exercise and everyone could eat an additional 3000 calories, guilt free.0 -
You can definitely lose weight without exercise. As far as getting lean that may depend on what you mean. You can get skinny, but if you want to look toned then you should do some exercise. I walk a lot and I think my legs look pretty good. I also do yoga and it has really helped with my arms and my core. I would like to lift weights but can't right now because my doctor has advised against it. I think I would look more lean if I did, but the walking and the yoga for help. Plus I can eat more if I am more active so I will keep walking for that reason.0
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Some years ago, a trainer gave me an expression - be careful not to change from a tub of lard to a pat of butter. You can lose weight through calorie deficit, but you won't necessarily be "lean" without some muscle. I agree, some HIIT programs can be pretty intense. Like any exercise - we need to begin at our current level.0
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I went from 260lb now at 240 239ish I only cut out soda and I guess alot of chips. But I try to work out I only can do i say 2 sets of 10 push ups I guess and can do squats etc. But I want to start walking at this local park trail.the gym is too intimidating I had trainer and I felt good with him but I had to cancel because they are high. My question is does walking help you lose weight manly my stomach and other areas. I am size 42 waist trying to at less be in 200lb range with flat stomach. I use 20 lb dumbells occasionally when watching netflix. I also try to eat the required macros but it's hard trying to match everything I usually stick to same meal baked chicken wings baked ribs etc everything baked. Trying to add veggies too.0
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Depends what you mean.
Can you lose weight and have considerably less bodyfat without exercise? Yes.
Will you end up looking "lean" considering when most people say lean they are picturing someone with a flat stomach who looks toned? No.
Diet is key for fat loss, but exercise is key for shaping the body. If you do no exercise and only diet typically you end up just looking smaller and even at very low bodyfat can still look soft or pudgy in places. Takes exercise to strengthen and shape underlying muscle to give that "lean" look.
I'm assuming you mean lean in an asthetic way...if you just mean lean like low bodyfat then you can do that just with diet.
To me "lean" has a specific meaning of low fat over a good amount of muscle so that there is a firmness there. Someone who is in shape (from exercise) gets lean when they lose fat. There are other words to describe the appearance of people who get to be low body fat without exercising at all.0 -
Aaron_K123 wrote: »Depends what you mean.
Can you lose weight and have considerably less bodyfat without exercise? Yes.
Will you end up looking "lean" considering when most people say lean they are picturing someone with a flat stomach who looks toned? No.
Diet is key for fat loss, but exercise is key for shaping the body. If you do no exercise and only diet typically you end up just looking smaller and even at very low bodyfat can still look soft or pudgy in places. Takes exercise to strengthen and shape underlying muscle to give that "lean" look.
I'm assuming you mean lean in an asthetic way...if you just mean lean like low bodyfat then you can do that just with diet.
To me "lean" has a specific meaning of low fat over a good amount of muscle so that there is a firmness there. Someone who is in shape (from exercise) gets lean when they lose fat. There are other words to describe the appearance of people who get to be low body fat without exercising at all.
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You can lose weight without exercise, but you are likely to sacrifice muscle as your body deems it expendable if you are not using/challenging it. Some people are fine with how they look following this method and some find they may want more muscle in certain areas. There is no right or wrong it comes down to personal preference.
I feel you on hating the high intensity excercise. There is this myth that the only way to excercise and lose weight is to be on the brink of vomiting and crying while you do it. Simply not true. Some enjoy it. I personally enjoy lifting weights with rest in between and then doing moderate intensity excercise like jogging/ellipticalling etc.
Many people on here lose weight by simply increasing there walking and lifting and they look great.
I recommend you find an eating and excercise plan that makes you excited to follow it.1 -
You can lose weight without exercise, but you are likely to sacrifice muscle as your body deems it expendable if you are not using/challenging it. Some people are fine with how they look following this method and some find they may want more muscle in certain areas. There is no right or wrong it comes down to personal preference.
I feel you on hating the high intensity excercise. There is this myth that the only way to excercise and lose weight is to be on the brink of vomiting and crying while you do it. Simply not true. Some enjoy it. I personally enjoy lifting weights with rest in between and then doing moderate intensity excercise like jogging/ellipticalling etc.
Many people on here lose weight by simply increasing there walking and lifting and they look great.
I recommend you find an eating and excercise plan that makes you excited to follow it.
I hear you on the high intensity exercise. Always shocks me how so many people seem to approach exercise for the first time by trying to do some program like "Insanity" which if anything is designed to help improve athletic performance for people who are already very fit.
Exercise is a level of activity you wouldn't otherwise do. It doesn't have to be vomit-inducingly intense. Some forms of exercise can be pretty enjoyable. I like Yoga now and again, I like to go for long walks, I like doing bodyweight exercises and seeing how many of X I can do now and again.0 -
If you get skinny enough, sure. And if you are fat and lose weight you will at least get leanER just by losing weight. But you won't be as healthy, and would have to get down to such a low weight that it wouldn't look good or be healthy.
I've never really not exercised, but have been down to only walking as exercise at times, if you have no equipment and can carve out a little time, that works OK. Just move around, start slow and as you gain fitness you'll want to do more. Commit for six weeks of an hour a day walking briskly, and see how you feel.
ETA: how you look when thin and out of shape depends a LOT on genetics. I have one daughter who hasn't regularly exercised and she looks great because her bone structure is curvy/thin. She has wider hips and a small waist, is tall. Basically she carries it well despite lack of muscle tone. And I remember a lady who worked at this coffee shop I used to go to - she was older and a little overweight (not much) and really obviously high bodyfat for her size, jiggles and squishy looking arms, but had this amazing shape anyway, tall, big boobs, small waist, bigger hips, good enough butt.
Me, I can't get away with it. My choices are lean and skinny, lean and muscled, or dumpy.0 -
For myself, I can lose weight but I don't get lean unless I exercise. Also, it takes a little time for me to see the effects. If you are looking for workouts to do at home, I have heard many people recommend fitnessblender.com. Keep trying different things, you will find something that works for you!0
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MommyMeggo wrote: »To drop lbs...eat less.
To be able to eat more or create a bigger deficit...walk/cardio,etc.
To change the way your body looks and to have strength.... weights.
This^
I want to keep the lean muscle I have.....all cardio doesn't help me do that.
I second Fitness Blender....or Jessica SmithTV. There are so many resources on-line. You should be able to find something you like.0 -
Lean typically refers to muscle and the appearance of people with muscle who have low bodyfat. ie built > lean > cut > shredded. Those are things you get from bodyfat loss with muscle built from exercise.
In terms of diet without exercise its more of a progression of obese > fat > overweight > healthy weight > skinny > underweight. I don't think "lean" really is in there so much if you get what I am saying. I mean if you already have the underlying foundational muscle and you just diet I suppose you might get lean but it won't look as good as if you had exercised and it will likely come at the expense of some lean muscle loss.
Lean muscle, lean appearance, lean look...these are all exercise releated in my mind.2
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