Losing weight via less calorie consumption vs. working out

http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/172515-frantic-about-adhering-to-the-right-calorie-intake-read-t


Maybe this would answer your questions

It really depends. For me I can't just eat the calories, I don't loose that way.

I have read/heard that weight loss is 90% diet (what you eat) and 10% exercise. I take that to mean that you can't possibly rely on exercise alone to lose weight, unless you exercise A LOT, like crazy, intense exercise (like you're a professional athlete). So exercise isn't the 100% solution, but it is part of the solution.

You also have to remember that a pound of muscle is smaller than a pound of fat. When I was really fit, years ago (on my way to getting there again!), I weighed about 140 pounds (I'm 5' 5"). I tried to get down to 135 and I couldn't do it. Yet I wore a size 4 and even a size 2 in some things. Pretty small. My same-height friend weighed the same but was not fit. She barely fit into a size 8.

I don't think you have to kill yourself with exercise unless your goal is to be really fit. I recently started working with a trainer and when she asked me what my main goal is, I didn't say weight loss, even though I need to lose about 45 pounds. I said "I want to be STRONG and FIT." As a woman and mom to three daughters, I want to be healthy, well, fit, and strong. So, I'm big on the working out. But if it's not your thing, which is totally fine, you will certainly lose weight by watching what you eat

HTH

I like exercise over diet for 3 reasons:

1) I dropped my first 40lbs in 6 weeks (245 to 205) by exercising and eating the same food
2) I learned a new sport and met a tonne of new friends
3) I like to binge*


*when I'm exercising aggressively and consistently, I can afford a two day binge of pizza, fudge and pad thai. By Monday the scale hasn't changed, I got my fix, and I feel rejuvenated. Screw oatmeal and salads, bring on the exercise baby!

I'm fairly new to MFP but I like the way it is set up. I've tried reducing my intake without exercise and did not go far, yet while tracking with MFP and eating any exercise calories I have burned, I have consistently lost. I'm now on week 5 and am seeing a definite improvement. I'd say that diet and exercise trump diet alone any day.

yes that does make sense. so going along that line of thought (burning more calories for the rest of the day) - if I work out at 8pm am i losing the extra time in the day to burn more calories? is it more beneficial to work out at noon so my body can stay rev'd uup longer?

You body should still burn more until you went to bed if you worked out at 8pm but then again if you worked out at noon it would be rev'd up longer... But in the end either time is better than no time because over time you create more lean muscle which will lead to a faster metabolism and therefore you will lose weight faster and look more fit when you are done. There are several scientific processes at work but in the end any exercise is better than no exercise and I feel early in the day is better than later in the day.

I do know how hard it is to get in exercise in the am. I am a teacher and have been off all summer long and I go back to work monday :frown: I'm not sure how I am going to get in exercise before work since I have to leave my house by 6:15 to be on time especially since I am not a morning person. My back-up plan is to exercise as soon as I get home from work. Keeping finger crossed!

Good luck to you!

neither..

because our bodies adapt. if you eat the same it'll become very efficient at surviving at that calorie intake. you'll lose weight at first, but then the dreaded stall.

and if you eat back what you workout the same will happen..your body adapts

You can't out-exercise a bad diet, so its important to get the food right. And yes, food alone can achieve weight loss. But exercise will help your shape, improve your metabolism, release feel-good hormones, improve your bone density etc.