do i have to exercise

You don't HAVE to exercise by why wouldn't you want to? You might end up thin but thin doesn't mean healthy. Improving your cardiovascular health and muscle tone are vital to health. If you want to be one of those "skinny fat" people then don't exercise. The more you exercise the more energy you'll have and the happier you will be.

If you are low on energy, just walk. I never ever walked before starting to lose weight. Now I walk at least 2 miles daily (10 months later). It is so refreshing to just get out there. I find it helps bump up my energy levels as well.

Funny thing. Once I started exercising, I had more energy. It made it a lot easier to deal with stress and take care of day to day things.

The absence or presence of exercise is the difference between being light and being fit.

Which is your goal?

Why don't you give something simple like a 1/2 hour walk several times a week a try. Give it at least two weeks and I bet it will give you more energy. You might surprise yourself, not to mention the health benefits.

im 175 lbs and low on energy. ive lost 22 lbs so far, even though i started mfp 6 lbs ago. i keep putting off exercise and i was wondering if its possible to keep losing weight on a low calorie diet until i weigh less

You don't have to do P90X or Insanity, but you should at least try to do a brisk walk to get your heart rate up. Some walking (or other cardio) with strength training would be ideal.

I don't *love* excercise myself, but I've been using the treadmill at the gym and today I went on a hike with my Mom today for 80 minutes and it wasn't a struggle! It was a beautiful day here and I burned almost 700 calories (I only counted 550 to be on the safe side) while I enjoyed my mom's company. That would not have been near as fun if I hadn't started building up my strength and endurance almost 3 weeks ago.

Every little bit helps!

Yes. It is possible. However, if you want to be healthy AND skinny instead of skinny fat, you need to exercise. Don't be lazy; the hard work is worth it.

I agree! You *don't* have to exercise to lose weight BUT you will look and feel better if you do!

Not so much to lose weight... as the above post mentions, it's possible, but probably not the healthiest thing.

But I understand the low energy thing and the resistance overall to exercise... I used to hate it. I felt clumsy and inadequate... it's probably just the perfectionist in me, but I couldn't just "go for a jog" when I saw other people whizzing past me, NOT wheezing their lungs out.

My suggestions:
-Start out small: walks... climbing up and down stairs. It will get you into the mindset... kind of building exercise momentum. Believe it or not, it actually gives you energy if you just use the time to clear your mind and think positively about yourself, the calories you're burning, the initiative you're taking, etc.
-Experiment to find something you like to do: Something WILL click. Do some research... look up youtube fitness videos. There are TONS. Yoga, dance, guided cardio, kickboxing... endless, endless options. Look up classes and gyms in your area... walking/running trails. It really doesn't have to be a chore.
-If all else fails, invite a friend! Some people are just social and get bored exercising alone. Try to find someone who will walk with you, or find a gym buddy. Motivation + socialization = WIN!

I "ran" a 16 minute mile at 230 lbs, and tottered around on my bike fearing the "fat-police" would ban me from the road. At 200 lbs I ran my first triathlon and felt like a rock star. At 180 lbs I ran my first Ironman triathlon.

Don't sell yourself short, or rob yourself of the awesomeness of feeling strong.

No, you don't HAVE to workout - but you'll see a bigger change in your body if you do. Not only that, but it'll make you feel better (energy-wise) and you'll be healthier on the inside.

Start out slow - go for a walk everyday. You don't have to start out big. Start slowly and work your way up.

Put some music in your ears and go walking for a while. Turn back when you want to. Do it again when you get another chance. Then the next day - repeat and go a little further, but be sure you have the music. If you don't want to walk outside go to the mall, with your music, and just walk. In addition, just dance. Close your door and dance your butt off, with nobody looking. Do what you wanna do. Have fun. If you never get in the habit of exercising, then at least do these. It burns more calories than you think.

If you are low on energy, just walk. I never ever walked before starting to lose weight. Now I walk at least 2 miles daily (10 months later). It is so refreshing to just get out there. I find it helps bump up my energy levels as well.

I agree just walk. I started walking a month ago and now it is so addictive. I only planned on walking 3x a week, but now my body craves it everyday so now I walk at least 2 miles every day. If I can walk having anemia then I am pretty sure OP could walk also.

Repeating what everyone else has said, yes it's possible. It just will be easier and healthier if you add in exercise. This doesn't mean go for a nine mile jog, or something ridiculous. Do you have a dog? Take your dog on a walk, or just go for a walk on your own in your neighborhood. If you have a Wii, look into getting Just Dance. It's fun and it gets your heart rate up.