Diet vs. exercise

2

Replies

  • Need2Exerc1se
    Need2Exerc1se Posts: 13,575 Member
    For me exercise was more important.
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    thetjh wrote: »
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    tess5036 wrote: »
    tess5036 wrote: »
    It's simple: CICO, bit there are two sides to the equation, through watching what you eat you manage the calories in, and through every you can increase the calories out. However, it's easier to manage calories in, as that is under your direct control. The calories out may be used to create or increase a deficit, bit it's harder that way, firstly it takes more exercise than most people realise to burn calories, also it is hard to measure the level of calories burned even with heart monitors as they will be estimates (plus as you do more and your body gets used to it, it will learn how to work more efficiently, burning fewer calories). Ideally, both are good :)

    Why the woo?

    I didn't woo you, but the change in calorie burn from increased efficiency/adaptation is pretty trivial. The change in HRM calorie estimate can be more significant as fitness/conditioning improves and the same work causes less stress, but the same work at the same body size burns about the same number of calories. Heart rate is a proxy for calorie burn, not an estimate of it.

    Or somebody thought "woo" was positive. ;)

    I didn't "woo" either... but can I just ask, what does it actually mean!? I'm guessing it's negative!? :)

    It is negative... basically a way to indicate a nonsensical post.
  • therjh
    therjh Posts: 13 Member
    First time I've ever posted on here (looooong time lurker - it's amazing how much this forum keeps me going!) but this is the first time I feel I could chip in a little...

    I've done a mixture of both with various results.. Last year I followed MFP religiously but I was in the gym EVERY day for month - my boyfriend was a PT at the time and so I did all his spin classes as well as walking there to and from home (2miles each way) and did a multitude of lifting.
    After 3/4mths of this I was exhausted and permanently hungry. I'd gone from 69.5kg to 66.9kg and had deficits of calories that were extremely unhealthy. I then relaxed on food, gym etc - still going to the gym but I'd lost my zest for logging and ended up putting on the weight and then some up to 70.3kg... so 5 weeks ago I decided to relax my gym approach and instead focus on my diet using MFP and again weighing everything to nth degree.
    For the first time in years I wasn't doing 10 spin classes a week and huge amounts of cardio and instead I'd walk to the gym after work and then do some lifting with my boyfriend for around 60-90mins 3/4 times a week. In those 5 weeks I've gone down to 65.6kg and down a dress size.

    This was a huge shock to me as I was obsessively weighing everything last year when I was going hell for leather at the gym and didn't have the same results. In these last 5 weeks I've also been able to have some chocolate each day, a few takeaways and still enjoy food! My target is 62kg but to see the results of not going crazy at the gym appear more swiftly has changed my outlook on it all.
    I appreciate it's completely personal but I would say not to beat yourself up if you aren't going to the gym or exercising constantly - you'd be surprised what you can achieve with diet alone :-)

    That's brilliant!! Well done to you! :)

    A few people have said that weight training is better than cardio. I mainly use an exercise bike around 4 times a week but started with weights over the weekend too.
  • mulecanter
    mulecanter Posts: 1,792 Member
    The physics are clear, it's CICO. But, I find that exercise has lots of intangibles that help in your overall struggle. Time at the gym or on the road is less time in the pantry. Fitness helps with self-esteem and your emotional resilience. Working out gives you an excuse to buy fitness wear and look fabulous ;-) In my experience, running provides the best short-cut to rapid weight loss but it's not easy or even advisable when your BMI is in the high twenties or above--pretty hard on the joints. Also, weight training is best for overall body composition and long-term mobility (everyone wants buns of steel). I don't think I've said anything new here other than acknowledging the fringe benefits of exercise.
  • ninerbuff wrote: »
    There are LOTS and LOTS of people everyday in the gym that exercise and see no body fat loss. And that's cause they don't EAT in a calorie deficit.

    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

    9285851.png

    ^Exactly this
    You can exercise, but unless you are at a calorie deficit, you will not lose weight.
    And you can even gain weight. Been there, done that. Went to the gym every day for 2 years and I gained 10 pounds over that time.

    I feel super hungry eating to lose 2 lbs a week when I am not exercising. I am able to eat above my bmr when i exercise and dont feel as hungry and weak. I dont like when people discourage exercisr because it can make dieting so much more doable especially when you are big and need a big deficit.
  • Stoshew71
    Stoshew71 Posts: 6,553 Member
    ap1972 wrote: »
    Added benefit of exercise is that it will increase your metabolism as well so you will burn more calories throughout the day as well as what you burnt exercising.

    In order for this to be significantly true, the type of exercise your doing is strength training to build muscle mass.
    Exercise (with the correct intensity and resistance) will tear down your body to cause a stimulus. You then need the rest and provide the nutrition necessary to your body in order for it to recover as to stimulate muscle hypertrophy. The more muscle mass you have, the more calories your body burns by doing nothing extra (increase metabolism).



  • Aaron_K123
    Aaron_K123 Posts: 7,122 Member
    edited February 2018
    therjh wrote: »
    I know that the general consensus is that diet is more important when trying to lose weight, however, I have found that since exercising 4 times a week the lbs are dropping off at a much higher speed. I don't know if this is because of the exercise (increasing cal deficit) or because I am being more conscious about my diet because of the exercise...

    What's everybody else's views/experiences? Is diet more important than exercise or is exercise equally important in terms of losing weight?

    I don't really think the general consensus is that diet is more important, I think the general consensus is that calorie restriction is important. There are two sides to that coin, the amount you intake and the amount you expend. Establishing a caloric deficit through diet or through exercise are both equally valid approaches.

    Now that said that is just the math of it and everyone has their own opinon and means of approaching that. Personally I think you end up overall healthier if you include an increase in activity level as a means of losing weight versus only doing diet. I also feel it is easier to establish a deficit while still getting to eat a satiating amount of food if you increase your activity level (and thus the total amount of calories you need to eat). But that is personal opinion and I do not claim it is a one-size-fits-all sort of statement that I would claim to be the "best" for everyone.

    Now if the goal is to be healthier and not just lighter then I'd say exercise is pretty vital to that.
  • marissafit06
    marissafit06 Posts: 1,996 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    therjh wrote: »
    First time I've ever posted on here (looooong time lurker - it's amazing how much this forum keeps me going!) but this is the first time I feel I could chip in a little...

    I've done a mixture of both with various results.. Last year I followed MFP religiously but I was in the gym EVERY day for month - my boyfriend was a PT at the time and so I did all his spin classes as well as walking there to and from home (2miles each way) and did a multitude of lifting.
    After 3/4mths of this I was exhausted and permanently hungry. I'd gone from 69.5kg to 66.9kg and had deficits of calories that were extremely unhealthy. I then relaxed on food, gym etc - still going to the gym but I'd lost my zest for logging and ended up putting on the weight and then some up to 70.3kg... so 5 weeks ago I decided to relax my gym approach and instead focus on my diet using MFP and again weighing everything to nth degree.
    For the first time in years I wasn't doing 10 spin classes a week and huge amounts of cardio and instead I'd walk to the gym after work and then do some lifting with my boyfriend for around 60-90mins 3/4 times a week. In those 5 weeks I've gone down to 65.6kg and down a dress size.

    This was a huge shock to me as I was obsessively weighing everything last year when I was going hell for leather at the gym and didn't have the same results. In these last 5 weeks I've also been able to have some chocolate each day, a few takeaways and still enjoy food! My target is 62kg but to see the results of not going crazy at the gym appear more swiftly has changed my outlook on it all.
    I appreciate it's completely personal but I would say not to beat yourself up if you aren't going to the gym or exercising constantly - you'd be surprised what you can achieve with diet alone :-)

    That's brilliant!! Well done to you! :)

    A few people have said that weight training is better than cardio. I mainly use an exercise bike around 4 times a week but started with weights over the weekend too.

    Not necessarily better, just different.

    Cardio typically burns more calories, and improves cardiovascular fitness. Strength training makes you stronger, and can improve body composition. They're both good, they both help appearance, they both potentially help weight loss.

    Agree, but irt body composition it depends on what you are going for. If you want a runners look, cardio will get you there faster than lifting.
  • cwolfman13
    cwolfman13 Posts: 41,865 Member
    edited February 2018
    therjh wrote: »
    I know that the general consensus is that diet is more important when trying to lose weight, however, I have found that since exercising 4 times a week the lbs are dropping off at a much higher speed. I don't know if this is because of the exercise (increasing cal deficit) or because I am being more conscious about my diet because of the exercise...

    What's everybody else's views/experiences? Is diet more important than exercise or is exercise equally important in terms of losing weight?

    You lose weight when you are in a calorie deficit...exercise may or may not help you create a calorie deficit.

    I exercise regularly...I'm losing weight at the moment because I'm eating a calorie deficit...I do the same exercise when I'm in maintenance and I maintain because I'm eating a balance of energy to maintain.

    I tend to think in terms of diet...namely because my exercise doesn't really change whether I'm maintaining or losing...it stays pretty consistent...so it's me cutting calories out of my diet.

    In regards to the importance of exercise for me to lose weight...well, I find it easier to eat 2300 - 2500 calories per day and lose 1 Lb per week with regular exercise vs eating 1900 calories per day to lose 1 Lb per week without exercise.
  • inertiastrength
    inertiastrength Posts: 2,343 Member
    I think we are all arguing semantics at this point. I think it's just easier to control your diet than it is to burn 500 calories through exercise. I can just skip breakfast and my deficit for the day is done vs running a 5K every single day. Neither is better, one is just more conveniently controlled by the individual. Both are great ideally (which is what I do)
  • inertiastrength
    inertiastrength Posts: 2,343 Member
    Also if you DON"T control your diet you can do far more damage eating than you can undo with exercise.
  • MommyMeggo
    MommyMeggo Posts: 1,222 Member
    I go by "you cant out run a bad diet" - so for me diet is the constant and exercise is the variable. Make your peace with one or the other- or both. For me its easier to eat less regularly than it is to exercise regularly- and will be different from the next person. Personal preference is simply that. Personal.
  • HoneyBadger302
    HoneyBadger302 Posts: 2,085 Member
    Ultimately, diet is going to be the deciding factor.

    However, I know for me, trying to lose weight just on diet, rather than including exercise, leaves me feeling ravenous most of the time. Some good, solid workouts and I can eat enough to be satisfied, and have available calories to eat some of the foods I enjoy on occasion even if they're not "healthy." On just diet, those meals wouldn't fit into a day, even if I plan ahead....

    The more fit I am, the more likely I am to be more active outside of the gym too. I'm more likely to want to use my standing desk and do leg raises or pick a lunch spot that gives me a 20 minute walk to go get my food, I'm more likely to take the stairs than the elevator, etc. All of those little activities add up over time!
  • Ultimately, diet is going to be the deciding factor.

    However, I know for me, trying to lose weight just on diet, rather than including exercise, leaves me feeling ravenous most of the time. Some good, solid workouts and I can eat enough to be satisfied, and have available calories to eat some of the foods I enjoy on occasion even if they're not "healthy." On just diet, those meals wouldn't fit into a day, even if I plan ahead....

    The more fit I am, the more likely I am to be more active outside of the gym too. I'm more likely to want to use my standing desk and do leg raises or pick a lunch spot that gives me a 20 minute walk to go get my food, I'm more likely to take the stairs than the elevator, etc. All of those little activities add up over time!

    I agree totally. I feel so ravenous and lightheaded eating the same calorie deficit of I am not exercising.
  • AnnPT77
    AnnPT77 Posts: 34,620 Member
    AnnPT77 wrote: »
    therjh wrote: »
    First time I've ever posted on here (looooong time lurker - it's amazing how much this forum keeps me going!) but this is the first time I feel I could chip in a little...

    I've done a mixture of both with various results.. Last year I followed MFP religiously but I was in the gym EVERY day for month - my boyfriend was a PT at the time and so I did all his spin classes as well as walking there to and from home (2miles each way) and did a multitude of lifting.
    After 3/4mths of this I was exhausted and permanently hungry. I'd gone from 69.5kg to 66.9kg and had deficits of calories that were extremely unhealthy. I then relaxed on food, gym etc - still going to the gym but I'd lost my zest for logging and ended up putting on the weight and then some up to 70.3kg... so 5 weeks ago I decided to relax my gym approach and instead focus on my diet using MFP and again weighing everything to nth degree.
    For the first time in years I wasn't doing 10 spin classes a week and huge amounts of cardio and instead I'd walk to the gym after work and then do some lifting with my boyfriend for around 60-90mins 3/4 times a week. In those 5 weeks I've gone down to 65.6kg and down a dress size.

    This was a huge shock to me as I was obsessively weighing everything last year when I was going hell for leather at the gym and didn't have the same results. In these last 5 weeks I've also been able to have some chocolate each day, a few takeaways and still enjoy food! My target is 62kg but to see the results of not going crazy at the gym appear more swiftly has changed my outlook on it all.
    I appreciate it's completely personal but I would say not to beat yourself up if you aren't going to the gym or exercising constantly - you'd be surprised what you can achieve with diet alone :-)

    That's brilliant!! Well done to you! :)

    A few people have said that weight training is better than cardio. I mainly use an exercise bike around 4 times a week but started with weights over the weekend too.

    Not necessarily better, just different.

    Cardio typically burns more calories, and improves cardiovascular fitness. Strength training makes you stronger, and can improve body composition. They're both good, they both help appearance, they both potentially help weight loss.

    Agree, but irt body composition it depends on what you are going for. If you want a runners look, cardio will get you there faster than lifting.

    Yeah, and different "cardio" has different effects . . . beyond the cardiovascular. If you want to be one-note about your activities, a runner's look is not a swimmer's look is not a cyclist's look is not a rower's look is not a triathlete's look.

    And some people go for "healthy" or "fit", not any kind of look at all.

    But - more importantly - the original question was about weight loss.

    Alongside eating, both "cardio" (whatever the heck that is - I hate the term, actually) and strength training are helpful for weight loss. My original remark had to do with the (small, but long-term meaningful) effect of increased muscularity (body comp) on weight management.

    As an aside, I personally I don't much care about my "look". I also weight train desultorily, at best. Others are welcome to their own priorities, and I'll cheer for anyone's (healthy) goal.

    None of that changes the fact that both cardio and strength training are good for weight loss, among other benefits, IMO.
  • LivingtheLeanDream
    LivingtheLeanDream Posts: 13,342 Member
    You've lost weight more easily because the exercise has created more of a calorie deficit.
  • mburgess458
    mburgess458 Posts: 480 Member
    You absolutely have to keep your calories in a deficit to lose weight, exercise can help make that easier. You might be able to lose a pound a week at 1,200 calories a day with no exercise... or lose a pound a week at 1,500 calories a day if you burn 300 calories exercising. It gives you more room for diet error if you're exercising because the balancing point is higher.

    The counter argument is if the exercise you're doing makes you super hungry. I would say if a certain exercise makes you ravenous just try a different exercise (or exercising at a different intensity).
  • ninerbuff
    ninerbuff Posts: 49,028 Member
    jjpptt2 wrote: »
    jjpptt2 wrote: »
    *sigh*

    You don't have to EAT in a calorie deficit to lose weight. You have to END UP in a calorie deficit to lose weight. Yes, most people will have better success long term if they focus on diet than if they focus on exercise. But it doesn't have to be (and probably should be) an either/or scenario.


    Are you more apt to grow your savings account if you have a well paying job, or if you're disciplined with your spending? It depends how well paying your job is and how disciplined you are with your spending... but both is probably the best answer, right?

    What is the difference?
    In the end, it is eating less calories than you burn for weight loss.

    Is it eating more cals than you burn, or burning more cals than you eat?
    There are people who can't exercise or be very active. Eating LESS calories than they burn is more important. You DON'T need to exercise to lose weight.

    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

    9285851.png

  • HeidiMightyRawr
    HeidiMightyRawr Posts: 3,343 Member
    You need a calorie deficit, however you get it does not matter. Calories in vs calories out.

    However, if you are usually very inactive your calorie requirements will be lower, and you may not be able to have the amount of food you would normally enjoy. So in that scenario, taking up exercise might be easier as you can eat the same amount of food you were maintaining on before, and create a deficit via exercise. It's personal preference.

    Lots of people still exercise regularly regardless (like myself) and maintain their weight or gain if they don't track their intake. Obviously the amount they're eating is at least equal to what they're burning off. So in those scenarios exercise isn't cutting it. It's still super important for so many reasons, but isn't going to exclusively help you lose weight. Therefore those people if they wanted to lose weight would either have to up the intensity or frequency of the exercise, or create a deficit via food.
  • stevencloser
    stevencloser Posts: 8,911 Member
    I think we are all arguing semantics at this point. I think it's just easier to control your diet than it is to burn 500 calories through exercise. I can just skip breakfast and my deficit for the day is done vs running a 5K every single day. Neither is better, one is just more conveniently controlled by the individual. Both are great ideally (which is what I do)

    I think it's easier to exercise to burn , create a deficit of, 500 calories than cut back 500 calories!

    It takes a lot of work to burn 500 calories.
  • yvonne_beavis
    yvonne_beavis Posts: 39 Member
    Exercise definitely helps me to maintain a calorie deficit while having something to eat which I would otherwise struggle to fit into my calorie allowance. At the beginning of weight loss I didn't formally exercise at all, but have gradually increased it, and although I find it fairly routine, I would certainly recommend it as a complement to calorie control. Good luck.
  • jjpptt2
    jjpptt2 Posts: 5,650 Member
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    jjpptt2 wrote: »
    jjpptt2 wrote: »
    *sigh*

    You don't have to EAT in a calorie deficit to lose weight. You have to END UP in a calorie deficit to lose weight. Yes, most people will have better success long term if they focus on diet than if they focus on exercise. But it doesn't have to be (and probably should be) an either/or scenario.


    Are you more apt to grow your savings account if you have a well paying job, or if you're disciplined with your spending? It depends how well paying your job is and how disciplined you are with your spending... but both is probably the best answer, right?

    What is the difference?
    In the end, it is eating less calories than you burn for weight loss.

    Is it eating more cals than you burn, or burning more cals than you eat?
    There are people who can't exercise or be very active. Eating LESS calories than they burn is more important. You DON'T need to exercise to lose weight.

    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

    9285851.png


    I don't disagree. But there are people who don't NEED to eat less to lose weight - they can simply exercise a bit more.


    The bottom line is that a calorie deficit is all that's required to lose weight. How you get there doesn't matter, and it can be very individual. Making blanket statements aren't always helpful without appropriate context.
  • missysippy930
    missysippy930 Posts: 2,577 Member
    edited February 2018
    ninerbuff wrote: »
    There are LOTS and LOTS of people everyday in the gym that exercise and see no body fat loss. And that's cause they don't EAT in a calorie deficit.

    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

    9285851.png

    ^Exactly this
    You can exercise, but unless you are at a calorie deficit, you will not lose weight.
    And you can even gain weight. Been there, done that. Went to the gym every day for 2 years and I gained 10 pounds over that time.

    I feel super hungry eating to lose 2 lbs a week when I am not exercising. I am able to eat above my bmr when i exercise and dont feel as hungry and weak. I dont like when people discourage exercisr because it can make dieting so much more doable especially when you are big and need a big deficit.

    I am not discouraging exercise, I am all for it. All I am saying is in order to lose weight, you need to consume less calories than you burn. That is a fact.
    Exercise is an essential part of being healthier, but you do not need to exercise to lose weight.
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