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Counting without working out
dvazjr
Posts: 1 Member
Hi do you guys suggest counting macros if you don’t really do much activity? I put that into the calculator and my goal weight at 1 lb per week. Anyone in the same boat see results?
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Replies
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It's about calories, so of course you would lose weight if you're logging accurately. I personally would rather be active because I don't like eating so little food. Being active allows me to eat more (plus some other positive effects on my physical and mental health).
If you don't mind having a limited calorie budget, go for it, but you may surprise yourself at some point and find yourself wanting to move more. You may find yourself interested in other goals along the way (like looking firmer or managing stress, for example). If that happens, don't resist it. Being active has so many benefits. Not just abstract concepts like better health and whatnot, but other benefits you never knew you wanted.
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I'm closing in on 40kg lost now. I wouldn't know my macros from my backside. I have no medical reason to watch them, no performance goals that would require tracking them and don't find one particularly more filling than the others.12
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I didn't exercise during the majority of my weight loss this time around. I watched my macros because experimentation showed me that I felt better and it was easier to keep a deficit when I was getting at least enough protein and fat. My previous way of eating while staying low calorie was probably about 80% C - 10% P - 10% F. MFP's default of 50% C - 20% P - 30% F worked much better for my satiety.1
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I don’t exercise at all and I’ve lost a lot of weight in a short period of time (15 and a half pounds in like 5 weeks).4
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Macros won't directly impact your ability to lose weight, so in the strictest sense, there is no need to track them if your goal is basic weight loss.
However, macros can play a big role your ability to stick to your diet. Different macros can be more or less satisfying than others, and can be set to reflect preferences in eating (the closer they line up to your normal preferences, the easier it will likely be to adhere to your diet). So there can certianly be some benefit to tracking them.
It's mostly up to your personal preference and what does or doesn't work for you. But as the amused one mentioned earlier... calories matter most. Plain and simple.2 -
It's truly all about calories. I try to reach my protein goals but other than that it is CICO for me all the way. I have been injured and haven't exercised (except daily walking) since June and I've lost weight the whole time.3
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I dropped 60 lbs without checking macros and without exercising, other than occasional walks. I didn't even take the stairs at work for the longest time. I had a lot of knee and back pain going on.
Just make sure to adjust your calories as you lose weight.4 -
I lift weights, but that's not why I track macros - I get fuller faster on more slightly protein, when I hit my fiber goal, and when I have slightly less carbs, so I keep an eye on this in order to be able to have a calorie deficit without being miserable. Exercise calories help with that as well.1
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FutureMrsCarver89 wrote: »I don’t exercise at all and I’ve lost a lot of weight in a short period of time (15 and a half pounds in like 5 weeks).
Which, unless you dropped a lot of water weight initially and that rate of loss has slowed down, suggests you are severely under eating.8 -
As long as you maintain a caloric deficit.
https://www.aworkoutroutine.com/lose-weight-without-exercise/2 -
I'm closing in on 40kg lost now. I wouldn't know my macros from my backside. I have no medical reason to watch them, no performance goals that would require tracking them and don't find one particularly more filling than the others.
Of course you need a minimum amount of the correct macros for long term health.1 -
Packerjohn wrote: »I'm closing in on 40kg lost now. I wouldn't know my macros from my backside. I have no medical reason to watch them, no performance goals that would require tracking them and don't find one particularly more filling than the others.
Of course you need a minimum amount of the correct macros for long term health.
Anybody eating anything remotely resembling a balanced diet will most likely do fine in that regard.4 -
I don't really pay attention to macros at all and have lost weight. It's all calories.
I do think working out makes it easier because I can eat more and it feels good to me, but there have been weeks where my (desk) job has been demanding and I haven't gone to the gym, and still lost on schedule.1 -
Packerjohn wrote: »I'm closing in on 40kg lost now. I wouldn't know my macros from my backside. I have no medical reason to watch them, no performance goals that would require tracking them and don't find one particularly more filling than the others.
Of course you need a minimum amount of the correct macros for long term health.
Anybody eating anything remotely resembling a balanced diet will most likely do fine in that regard.
True, but the OP says they're really doing much activity so does't sound like real interested in long term health. May well not be interested in eating anything remotely resembling a balanced diet either.
Not always, but often go together.2 -
Nony_Mouse wrote: »FutureMrsCarver89 wrote: »I don’t exercise at all and I’ve lost a lot of weight in a short period of time (15 and a half pounds in like 5 weeks).
Which, unless you dropped a lot of water weight initially and that rate of loss has slowed down, suggests you are severely under eating.
Hi yes, I want to point out that you know absolutely nothing about me. Like for starters the fact that I'm an extremely large person who is over 100 pounds overweight. I was told by a DOCTOR to expect extreme weight loss for the first 50 to 65 pounds. When I was weighed last week he told me he was surprised I didn't lose more. You know absolutely nothing about my health. So..*shrugs*
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The accepted rule of thumb I keep getting told is 1% of your bodyweight is generally fine, to ignore any initial large weight drop in calculating that percentage as people often lose a rush of water weight up front, and that the acceptable rate of loss can be higher for seriously obese people, who should work with a doctor if they're losing faster than that 1%/week.
No reason to assume that 15 pounds in 5 weeks is inappropriate, it could easily fall into the above, which gets trotted out on the regular around here.1 -
siobhanaoife wrote: »The accepted rule of thumb I keep getting told is 1% of your bodyweight is generally fine, to ignore any initial large weight drop in calculating that percentage as people often lose a rush of water weight up front, and that the acceptable rate of loss can be higher for seriously obese people, who should work with a doctor if they're losing faster than that 1%/week.
No reason to assume that 15 pounds in 5 weeks is inappropriate, it could easily fall into the above, which gets trotted out on the regular around here.
I weigh almost 300 pounds and I'm supposed to weigh 120. I'm right on track with my weight loss. But people just LOVE to assume they know any and everything about a person when jumping down their throat. Like I said, my doctor is happy with my weight loss but also said he wouldn't be surprised at all if I lost more especially sticking to a 1400 calorie diet.
But once again, I just want to stress, don't make assumptions about people's health. Don't accuse people of starving themselves because losing 15 pounds in a little over a month is a lot for someone who doesn't have a lot of weight to lose.
There's a lot of people like me around here. 250+ pounds. Enough of us that you would think people would stop assuming they know anything.7 -
Hang in there, @FutureMrsCarver89, you're doing great. I've lost 185 pounds so far, I know where you're coming from.3
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FutureMrsCarver89 wrote: »siobhanaoife wrote: »The accepted rule of thumb I keep getting told is 1% of your bodyweight is generally fine, to ignore any initial large weight drop in calculating that percentage as people often lose a rush of water weight up front, and that the acceptable rate of loss can be higher for seriously obese people, who should work with a doctor if they're losing faster than that 1%/week.
No reason to assume that 15 pounds in 5 weeks is inappropriate, it could easily fall into the above, which gets trotted out on the regular around here.
I weigh almost 300 pounds and I'm supposed to weigh 120. I'm right on track with my weight loss. But people just LOVE to assume they know any and everything about a person when jumping down their throat. Like I said, my doctor is happy with my weight loss but also said he wouldn't be surprised at all if I lost more especially sticking to a 1400 calorie diet.
But once again, I just want to stress, don't make assumptions about people's health. Don't accuse people of starving themselves because losing 15 pounds in a little over a month is a lot for someone who doesn't have a lot of weight to lose.
There's a lot of people like me around here. 250+ pounds. Enough of us that you would think people would stop assuming they know anything.
If you get annoyed about people always taking you out of context, why not provide that context initially? It takes longer to correct misassumptions than to be clear from the beginning.7 -
kshama2001 wrote: »FutureMrsCarver89 wrote: »siobhanaoife wrote: »The accepted rule of thumb I keep getting told is 1% of your bodyweight is generally fine, to ignore any initial large weight drop in calculating that percentage as people often lose a rush of water weight up front, and that the acceptable rate of loss can be higher for seriously obese people, who should work with a doctor if they're losing faster than that 1%/week.
No reason to assume that 15 pounds in 5 weeks is inappropriate, it could easily fall into the above, which gets trotted out on the regular around here.
I weigh almost 300 pounds and I'm supposed to weigh 120. I'm right on track with my weight loss. But people just LOVE to assume they know any and everything about a person when jumping down their throat. Like I said, my doctor is happy with my weight loss but also said he wouldn't be surprised at all if I lost more especially sticking to a 1400 calorie diet.
But once again, I just want to stress, don't make assumptions about people's health. Don't accuse people of starving themselves because losing 15 pounds in a little over a month is a lot for someone who doesn't have a lot of weight to lose.
There's a lot of people like me around here. 250+ pounds. Enough of us that you would think people would stop assuming they know anything.
If you get annoyed about people always taking you out of context, why not provide that context initially? It takes longer to correct misassumptions than to be clear from the beginning.
I shouldn’t have to type out a paragraph giving someone my life story. I don’t OWE that to ANYONE. I didn’t HAVE to explain myself at all, I chose to. This is a website with THOUSANDS of morbidly obese people going through the same thing I’m going through. My story and situation are not unique, and I don’t owe my “explanation” to anyone. Bye.
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“If you don’t want people assuming you’re starving yourself, why don’t you just let everyone know how fat you are?”
Basically what you just said. K.4 -
@FutureMrsCarver89
I think community members respond because they genuinely want to help. When you don't provide context to your fast loss there is always the worry that someone will take it our of context and start undereating or overexercising to match those numbers. If you've been around you've seen a few threads closed for those reasons.
Congrats on your loss.6
This discussion has been closed.
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