what is the point in exercising?
echastee92
Posts: 48 Member
I need some motivation because my calorie goal is already as low as it gets. If I exercise, I technically should just be eating more, but then it makes exercise feel pointless. I need to get out of this mindset so I thought maybe some of you educated exercise folks could hit me with some good ol facts to help me see the point in exercise! I know it has benefits and it's good for you but can someone help me understand how it's going to help aid in my weight loss? I keep talking myself out of it. I've been doing a real good job without it I just wonder how much better I could be doing with it...
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Replies
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You do not need intentional exercise to lose weight. You can be totally sedentary and reach your goal weight.
As you say, in the weight loss realm, its most important function is increasing your TDEE, thus allowing you to eat more calories.
Also as you mention, it has some very important health benefits that shouldn't be ignored. Losing muscle and bone density is nothing to sneeze at - if you want to be healthy in old age. And having a strong heart and lungs is very important too.
So... my advice: go to the gym if you want to. If you don't want to, try to find some physical activities that you DO enjoy, even if it's purely for health benefits. But don't beat yourself up for having some couch potato days.2 -
I am not sure how to answer this...... There are many benefits to exercise more than just burning calories.
1. Muscle burns calories at rest
2. Cardiovascular health
3. Allows you to eat more if you want, within reason
4. Exercise is a great antidepressant
there are many more reasons that I am sure others will post as well.
The key is to start, it is true that you cannot out train a bad diet but the benefits of training are many.10 -
Exercise makes you burn calories and thus makes it easier to lose weight. It also would allow you to be able to eat more "fun stuff" by adding extra calories to your day.
As for why would you want to exercise, I think that mindset might be why you are having issues in the first place. It was a factor in how I got so big. I spent years on the couch instead of doing anything to physically better myself. Now I go to the gym everyday after work, not to mention all of the walking to do during my work day. Frankly, I wish I could go back and start exercising sooner. If I had the same level of determination years ago as I do today, I'd be amazingly fit... until then, tonight is arm day!
Why exercise? Calories, tone, muscle, endurance, heart health, mental health.3 -
Exercise is only tangentially about weight loss. We lose weight by burning more calories than we consume. Exercise is about health and well-being (and strength, and endurance, and whatever else your particular form of exercise brings with it). Eating at a 500-calorie daily deficit will lead to the loss of about a pound per week, but we get a whole different life and body from eating 4000 calories per day and burning 3500 than we do from eating 2000 and burning 1500.2
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Exercise boosts your metabolism. Even after you stop exercising your metabolic rate will be higher than if you had not exercised.2
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Exercise?
It gives me an excuse to wear skin tight spandex without being questioned by the police.
.... again.27 -
Well, if you're losing weight so that the scale looks better, then you can manage that entirely by managing your caloric intake.
If you would like your body to look better, that typically requires a little bit of some kind of exercise -- For me, it was progressive resistance programs.
Added bonus is that working your body as you lose weight will help you to preserve bone density and muscle mass, where just "dieting" may leave you weaker and/or more fragile for the experience (after all "weight" is everything inside your skin sack, and you don't get to pick what you lose or from where by just eating differently)5 -
Exercise .. I do it for health, strength, fitness, fun, to eat more (if I am in a deficit), but if I am being honest, most of all to look good4
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echastee92 wrote: »I need some motivation because my calorie goal is already as low as it gets. If I exercise, I technically should just be eating more, but then it makes exercise feel pointless. I need to get out of this mindset so I thought maybe some of you educated exercise folks could hit me with some good ol facts to help me see the point in exercise! I know it has benefits and it's good for you but can someone help me understand how it's going to help aid in my weight loss? I keep talking myself out of it. I've been doing a real good job without it I just wonder how much better I could be doing with it...
The more you move, the more energy (calories) are required...just like a car that has to commute 100 miles per day will need more fuel than a car going around the corner to the grocery store.
Your calorie target does not include exercise activity...exercise activity is additional, unaccounted for activity. Basic common sense would dictate that all activity should ultimately be accounted for. Your calorie target is your weight loss target without any exercise...when you exercise, you can eat more because your maintenance requirements will have increased. For example, my maintenance without exercise is around 2400 calories which means I can lose about 1 Lb per week without exercise eating 1900 calories. If I exercise regularly and burn 300 calories then I can eat 2300 calories and still lose 1 Lb per week because my maintenance requirements would have moved to 2400+300=2700 calories per day...and 2700-2300=500 calorie deficit still.
Beyond that, exercise is extremely important to your overall health and well being, not to mention your general fitness. We are not designed to sit around sedentary all day and doing so causes a lot of health problems. Moving more will do more to combat health issues as a result of a sedentary lifestyle than diet ever will.
I've been in maintenance for years and still exercise 5-6 days per week...because it's good for my overall health and well being and I enjoy being a fit individual who can actually do things like walk up stairs, play with my kids, and carry the groceries, etc without feeling like I'm going to die. I maintain because I eat a maintenance level of calories that is commensurate with my overall activity.1 -
Exercise especially strength training helps minimize muscle loss. It also builds a fitness base that helps keep you alive and healthy throughout your life.0
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I am no longer in pain from my arthritis. I look better at a higher weight than I did at a lower weight. I get to eat more
. I can run up a set of stairs without getting winded. I can carry the laundry basket down 2 flights of stairs like it's nothing. I can do 5k's with my family. I have more energy. I have less anger. I can move furniture with my husband like a boss. I have an inordinate amount of pride in myself for setting goals and smashing them.
Those are just a few reasons why I work out. None of them have anything to do with losing weight
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I think out of the reasons you guys listed the muscle and the increased burn that comes with muscle is the most appealing. I've been thinking of joining the gym because if I go 14 times a month then it becomes free through my work. I am actually going to go ahead and sign up right now and do my first workout. Wish me luck.12
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It's not a straight exchange for me. I do not get equally as hungry for as many calories as I burn, but the exercise does allow me to build in room for higher calorie/calorie dense treats which have little to do with hunger. I think 50% I work out for the extra cals and 25% for vanity and 25% for the "wow look what I can do" factor.2
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There are countless reasons to exercise. Many have already been listed...one of the ones I think should be near the top of the list is so that you can be active, healthy and pain free, as you grow older. Using it solely for a calorie burn should be far down that list in my opinion.2
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Glad we were able to convince you.
I'm going to give some more reasons because I got healthier by losing weight, but my biggest direct health gains (after I lost some major poundage) was from the exercise.
Why do you want to lose weight? Is it to appear slimmer and trimmer, be healthier, and be around for the grandkids?
The lost weight was a very big deal, but what made me look healthier was the exercise. It put a rose in my cheeks, helped me zip up the stairs without puffing, and overall helped me feel great.
All that dieting does for me is keep me hungry. Hungry not fun. Running in a race, cool.5 -
I exercise because it helps me reach my goals.
It also aids in combatting my anxiety and depression. Along with it feels great to constantly improve yourself and know that I’m one step better than I was the day before. Who wouldn’t want to be able to do amazing things with their bodies? I see incredible athletes doing incredible things and I strive to do the same.
Laziness is a mind set. If you can’t find a reason to reward your body then that’s purely on you unfortunately.3 -
Exercise is wonderful for boosting your mood, increasing energy, gaining strength and reducing risk of injury, and more. It’s unfortunately not particularly helpful in weight loss: http://nymag.com/news/sports/38001/
So why exercise at all? Why not just skip the gym and skip the bagel, and call it a day? Because it makes us feel good. Try doing something physical you enjoy, even if it’s just walking your dog. You’ll be better for it.1 -
the nurse in me will tell you that exercise is good for heart health (help prevent high blood pressure, high cholesterol, coronary artery disease, etc), it has been shown as a factor in preventing type 2 diabetes, strokes, etc.
I will also tell you that working in the office I see a LOT of people...young people, old people, etc. It is VERY apparent who has made an effort to exercise during their life and who hasn't. The first time you see an energetic 68 year old who just hops right up on the exam table and looks full of energy you will understand why exercise is important lol5 -
Exercise is for your future--my husband calls it "our insurance policy for old age" a friend of ours said "I want to die healthy". As you age, even if you're thin, health problems creep up. It's easier to work with them if you're in decent physical shape. It's the best thing you can do for yourself. I hope you love yourself enough to overcome your dislike of exercise.2
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I'm a stress eater, a boredom eater, and an emotional eater.
Exercise relieves stress, occupies me, and helps my moods.
I'd thought that it also helped curb my appetite, and a recent experience proved to me that I was right. For the record, I eat back half the calories I burn through exercise. Two months ago, I was on 1240 calories before exercise to lose 1lb/week. I had to go for bladder surgery and knew that I would probably need to take things easy for 3-6 weeks while I recovered. So, I figured I'd take my weight-loss down to 1/2-lb/week and not exercise. And I was hungry. I mean, seriously, until that point, I'd been tempted by yummy-looking food, but I hadn't really felt much in the way of hunger. But without exercise, I just didn't feel satisfied with the calories available. (After five days, the catheter came out and I was able to go back to cardio, which helped a lot.) Everyone is different, but for me, exercise has a lot of clear benefits, even without the extra calories.1 -
Excercise makes your muscles stronger and more flexible so you don't break your ankle because your damn leg just decided not to bother working right one day. Or your other foots plantar decides to snap because it was too taut. Or have your damn arm,shoulder and chest muscles get massive cramps just because you moved a little weird.0
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snowflake954 wrote: »Exercise is for your future--my husband calls it "our insurance policy for old age" a friend of ours said "I want to die healthy". As you age, even if you're thin, health problems creep up. It's easier to work with them if you're in decent physical shape. It's the best thing you can do for yourself. I hope you love yourself enough to overcome your dislike of exercise.
YES! There are exceptions...but often once my patients are about 55-60 you really separate who is active and who is not. Those that are tend to be pretty fit and lean, they don't often have pain issues (minus autoimmune or occasional over-training injuries), they don't often need joint replacements, they usually don't have circulation issues, cholesterol/pressure issues, diabetes, etc. I have quite a few patients in their late 60s and early 70s who could probably have run laps around me in my 20s and they seem like they have more energy than me too.4 -
In addition to the many valid reasons listed above - I find that being active (doesn't even have to be strenuous exercise - just keeping moving) helps support my overall healthy lifestyle because it's a bit of a self fulfilling prophecy. When I first joined MFP, I was guilty of moving/logging exercise just so I could eat more calories. But before long, I realized that I really wanted to go to the gym, or wanted to be outside, or wanted to lift some things - and the extra calories were a bit of a bonus, but they also provided me energy and enjoyment which in turn made me want to do the active things.
Inertia is tough to overcome - whether you fall ill, become injured, fatigued, too busy to exercise - it becomes difficult to obtain the activation energy again to get moving and get back into an exercise routine. But once it is part of your regular routine, disruption in that routine can be really frustrating as well.
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snowflake954 wrote: »Exercise is for your future--my husband calls it "our insurance policy for old age" a friend of ours said "I want to die healthy". As you age, even if you're thin, health problems creep up. It's easier to work with them if you're in decent physical shape. It's the best thing you can do for yourself. I hope you love yourself enough to overcome your dislike of exercise.
YES! There are exceptions...but often once my patients are about 55-60 you really separate who is active and who is not. Those that are tend to be pretty fit and lean, they don't often have pain issues (minus autoimmune or occasional over-training injuries), they don't often need joint replacements, they usually don't have circulation issues, cholesterol/pressure issues, diabetes, etc. I have quite a few patients in their late 60s and early 70s who could probably have run laps around me in my 20s and they seem like they have more energy than me too.
I would like to add that I'm 63 and my husband is 64. We've been exercising for a long time. We see alot of people that are newly retired and start up at our pool,and gym. Frankly, it's a little late. They waited until they have the time, but muscle takes time to develop. Don't wait, start young.3 -
For me, exercise helps with eating in a better healthier way.
Cal counting/dieting alone is not enough for my weightloss efforts. Without exercise, I need to call upon a lot of willpower and discipline to eat properly. Without exercise, I am eating a 1L tub of icecream in one sitting, or a whole pizza, or a whole bag of chips and then some. (Unfortunately, NOT exaggerating).
I overeat less when I exercise. Exercising regularly makes those junk foods above become unappealing. When I exercise regularly, my body craves food which will nourish it. I find I don't want chips or cake, not because I'm telling myself it's not in my calorie budget, but because I simply just don't want them. Instead, I start to crave more vegetables and whole foods, and less additives. Which makes it a whole lot easier to stay in calorie goal.
That's my number one reason for exercising. I need exercise to supplement my diet choices. When I stop exercising, I stop caring about the food I put in my mouth.
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YES! There are exceptions...but often once my patients are about 55-60 you really separate who is active and who is not. Those that are tend to be pretty fit and lean, they don't often have pain issues (minus autoimmune or occasional over-training injuries), they don't often need joint replacements, they usually don't have circulation issues, cholesterol/pressure issues, diabetes, etc. I have quite a few patients in their late 60s and early 70s who could probably have run laps around me in my 20s and they seem like they have more energy than me too.
@Slasher09 I've been around these message boards for three years and this is one of the most inspiring posts I've read. I'd like to send you a friend request if you don't mind.1 -
echastee92 wrote: »I need some motivation because my calorie goal is already as low as it gets. If I exercise, I technically should just be eating more, but then it makes exercise feel pointless. I need to get out of this mindset so I thought maybe some of you educated exercise folks could hit me with some good ol facts to help me see the point in exercise! I know it has benefits and it's good for you but can someone help me understand how it's going to help aid in my weight loss? I keep talking myself out of it. I've been doing a real good job without it I just wonder how much better I could be doing with it...
If you are already eating the bare minimum, eating back exercise calories means you get to eat more food. I mean, for me, that's pretty cut and dry . Cardio strengthens your heart and can increase endurance, resistance training helps you maintain your muscles so you don't risk looking like a wet noodle when you get to goal weight. Exercise is awesome stress relief. And there's a use it or lose it component, the more you move, the easier it is to move. The more you do, the more you want to do, at least for some of us. 1 -
This is what exercise can help with.
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Exercise is for fitness and health. And while it can help you achieve higher calorie burns, the main reason people do it is to improve they physiques and cardiovascular fitness.
Trust when I tell you that you don't want to be that senior later in life having a hunched over look and major issue with your joints, balance and lack of strength to just get out of chair without assistance. How do I know? Because a lot of former clients came in for these reasons.
Don't WAIT. Age comes on faster than you think and it only gets HARDER if your body isn't physically conditioned to begin with.
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
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I get 1200 calories a day if I want to have a beer or anything greasy and yummy I need to work for it, as long as I stay at the proper deficit0
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