Those who maintain without exercising...

stricklee11 wrote: »

I'm looking ahead to when I reach my goal weight and estimating that my maintenance caloric goal will be around 1,870. I wonder if I can feasibly eat at this level for the rest of eternity. Before starting my weight loss journey, I was eating around 2,200 calories a day. My plan is to add daily cardio exercise to burn off the difference so I can go back to eating at pre-weight loss levels since I wasn't necessarily eating badly, I was just eating calorie dense foods while working a desk job and driving (instead of walking/taking public transport).

This got me thinking: Do people who have maintained their weight loss without adding any form of exercise exist? If you are one, has it been hard for you to eat at maintenance?

I'm sure they exist, but everyone I know personally who maintains a healthy weight is fairly active. It may not be going to workout, but they are active in one way or another. I personally hit the weight room 2-3x per week for a 30-40 minute lifting session and that's all I consider something I do to be an actual "workout".

I enjoy cycling and ride my bike quite a bit, but it's as much recreational activity and hobby for me as it is exercise...it's just something I really enjoy. I also like to get up into the mountains to hike and enjoy some rock climbing here and there and we just built a pool, so I'll be splashing around a lot this summer with the kids, and I walk my dog most days.

Most of my "exercise" is what I would consider to be recreational...I don't really "workout" all that often, but I'm pretty active.

That person is me* I've lost weight and maintained it with no exercise. I lost 8 pounds doing just about nothing. I did no intentional exercise. I walk 90% of the time. To where I need to go. I walk miles to get where I need to. Also just clean around my house, that's about it. I wasn't literally sitting on my butt all day.

I use various strategies that I learned while I was losing the weight that I keep to maintain it. Exercise actually stresses me out more so I opt for more relaxing exercise like light walking or stretching but that's about it. Cardio exhausts me and leaves me not feeling good ever. I prefer to go for a hike once or twice a month though lol.

Otherwise what I learned during my weight loss, are the strategies I keep in order to keep my intake down. I portion out my three main meals during the day so that I have enough to have a nice desert or snack at night, since my main problem was snacking all day long, so I save it for the evening, but of course still portioned out.

Since snacking was an issue for me all day like I used to. I used to do it emotionally or out of boredom. And in oder to stick to my three main meals and nothing else during the main part of the day I kinda imagine myself doing 2 mini fasts between my meals. waiting 4-5 hrs between my main meals, but as long as I only snack on really low calorie foods and liquids to me it still counts to keep that calories down. I'll drink water, coffee, Powerade Zero, and seltzer water, diet soda, prob not the best but you gotta enjoy your life sometimes, and then I can snack on low to no-calorie foods like cucumber, pickles, bell peppers, and even popcorn chips, between my meals or even at night if I'm feeling way too tempted. It still helps if I feel like I'm gonna go nuts.

Most days I'll have short Intermittent fasting period at night too but nothing too crazy just 10-13 hours most nights just to prevent myself from my old evening snacking issues that I used to have. But yeah I created a routine that fits my calories that works for me. And trust me this took years to finally figure out what the best way was for me. I spend many years before this trying various things to lose and re gaining the same amount of weight. Just gotta find what works for you and what feels good. I wish you Good Luck!

I've been maintaining for 4 months and haven't done much exercise besides walking (about 8,000 steps a day) and cleaning house. I wouldn't call it ideal - I needed to start strength training years ago but I'm having trouble sticking with it - but it can be done.

I lost 30lbs since last May (5’4”- start 167, maintenance at about 137). I never added additional exercise, however my job is physical involving standing, moving, walking, and lifting things almost all day long (surgical technologist).

I’ve been maintaining since about November. I stopped logging MFP in March. I still weigh daily and eat about what I was when logging all the time. I’ve been maintaining just fine.

For my cals to lose weight I was eating about 1430 and maintenance says 1800ish. But just logged today out of curiosity and I ate well under that without trying. And I eat calorie dense foods.

So am I the healthiest?, no. But I’m healthier now then a year ago and more aware of what I eat and how much. Maybe someday I’ll finally join a gym.

Exercise is important for health but in my personal experience, it isn't required for weight loss or maintaining weight. Diet is actually the most important aspect of the many facets of these. You may not have a body that you love (I have found that an atrophied body just feels and looks yuck to me when I stop moving for long periods of time) if you don't move it much, but the diet portion is really what matters most here. I don't do much movement -- I do yoga and meditation and walking primarily. But just moving my body in these ways feels good.

Jenn

Exercise isn't necessary to lose, maintain, or gain.

Hopefully all in all one should be developing good habits where counting calories is something not needed on the daily.

I would highly recommend to do some form a resistance training for there is overwhelming evidence that it not only extends life but creates a better quality of life. When you get advanced age you'll thank yourself that you did. I also highly recommend some form of activity at the very least LIIT for the same reasons.