must stay above 1,200 calories, net - why work out?
thewalrusisfree
Posts: 55
Team -
I just recently realized (thanks to some super smart people on the forums) that I have to stay at 1,200 NET calories a day. For some reason I thought that as long as i consumer 1,200 calories (and then burned 4-500 at the gym) i was okay.
Most days when I'm serious about being on track foodwise I have a hard time coming in over 1,200 so I've really lost motivation to go to the gym. Especially because i don't see how it'll lead to any more/quicker weight loss since mathematically I'll be the same if I either
A.) Eat 2,000 calories and burn 800 at the gym
or
B.) Just eat 1,200 calories and sit on my butt the rest of the day
anyone out there have motivation? besides the obvious "working out makes you healthier" stuff - of course i get that, and that is important but i want to lose more weight, quicker, through the help of working out.
I just recently realized (thanks to some super smart people on the forums) that I have to stay at 1,200 NET calories a day. For some reason I thought that as long as i consumer 1,200 calories (and then burned 4-500 at the gym) i was okay.
Most days when I'm serious about being on track foodwise I have a hard time coming in over 1,200 so I've really lost motivation to go to the gym. Especially because i don't see how it'll lead to any more/quicker weight loss since mathematically I'll be the same if I either
A.) Eat 2,000 calories and burn 800 at the gym
or
B.) Just eat 1,200 calories and sit on my butt the rest of the day
anyone out there have motivation? besides the obvious "working out makes you healthier" stuff - of course i get that, and that is important but i want to lose more weight, quicker, through the help of working out.
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Replies
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Exercise may not always lead to quicker weight loss. It helps to preserve your muscles so you don't end up skinny fat.
Exercise can also help your muscle mass increase and lead to more fat loss.0 -
yeah i get that but i've still really lost a lot of motivation since i heard this.
not sure how to get it back.0 -
There is a huge difference between say 130 with a ton of muscle and 130 with no muscle. It all depends I guess then. Do you want your clothes to fit better? Do you want to be toned? Do you want to feel better physically?
If none of the above, then just watch your calories. If yes, then you have to work at it.0 -
Personally, I like the way I feel a LOT better when I get some exercise. My stamina is better, I have a better outlook on life, and the bonus to me is that I get to eat more food - and exercise calories taste THE BEST! But the extra calories I'm allowed is my "immediate" bonus. The REAL bonus is the health benefits.
Yes, you can lose weight by simply eating your target calories and not working out. But there's going to be no muscle toning or stamina increase to go along with that, so your body fat percentage (a far better measure of health) is going to be higher, and you'll miss out on some of the health benefits of being skinnier.0 -
Maybe just don't burn quite as many calories when you go to the gym? I always hear that weight loss is 80% diet and 20% exercise. Another popular one is "abs are made in the kitchen". Also, I won't get too far into it because I'm no expert, but I'm eating 1700+ calories daily and steadily losing weight. If you're burning that many calories, you need to fuel your body. Here's a great post on how to find out how many calories you should be eating, if you want to check it out... http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/538381-in-place-of-a-road-map0
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It's more of a "if you don't use it, you lose it". Sadly our bodies will actually try to break down the muscle over fat many times because it's actually easier to break down than fat. Exercise isn't for losing 'weight', it's for gaining and keeping muscle, which also generally means you'll increase your overall health (and sometimes you will increase your bmr, since muscle needs calories to rebuild & be healthy).
You don't have to exercise, it's true. I don't have mfp set up to exercise, but I still 'exercise' to keep my current strength or to improve myself.0 -
On paper, eating 1000 cals is the same as eating 1500 and burning off 500 BUT........
You have more chance of getting all the nutrition your body needs from a higher amount of food. Getting all your protein, vitamins etc on a small calorie goal is pretty hard to do.
Exercise also builds / maintains muscle so you lose more inches, and muscle burns more cals than fat. Losing with no exercise means you will also lose muscle and end up thin but flabby, and totally unfit.
You get to eat CAKE!!!!
MFP already includes a 500 cal per lb deficit so by not eating your cals back you are increasing this to a potentially unhealthy level which can affect your loss. If you don't want to eat back exercise, eat at maintenance and use exercise to create your deficit.
and finally if that wasnt enough................
skinny fat which is what you get vs no exercise, vs healthy & toned with exercise
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/392784-skinny-fat-vs-fit-photo?hl=skinny+fat0 -
I'm a personal trainer. I work out a heck of a lot but here's a dirty secret a lot of workouters won't tell you: It hurts, it's hard and even worse, a lot of people don't and never will enjoy it. Now, some people will tell you that they love running and love the burn. What I tell my clients is: yes, it's uncomfortable, yes I get cramps and yes, in terms of physical feeling in that moment, I'd rather be on the couch with cheetos. So, why do it if we can just be skinny by eating less?
Well, would you stop brushing your teeth? Perhaps you would consider missing a brush one day, but would you ever brush only once a week or not at all? I'm hoping the answer is no. We brush our teeth because we don't want nasty breath and cavities. We work out because we don't want to look bad and get heart disease.
Getting thin without exercise is like not brushing and deciding to wear veneers.
Good luck.0 -
I have this problem today too. I had a complete blow out at the weekend and wanted to do a really great workout today. I ate 1200 calories today but I burnt off 900 at the gym so my net is really low. Not sure if I should eat some more tonight to increase my net?!0
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I am motivated to workout bc I found workouts that I really enjoy. I never "have" to go to my workout classes I WANT to!
I think that is the best motivator. I do jazzercise and fitness boot camp and it is so fun and I like the other people at the classes
so I go and I look forward to it. Plus I see myself getting stronger, and I love that, love the changes in my muscles, that also motives me.0 -
I have this problem today too. I had a complete blow out at the weekend and wanted to do a really great workout today. I ate 1200 calories today but I burnt off 900 at the gym so my net is really low. Not sure if I should eat some more tonight to increase my net?!
If you truly burned 900 at the gym then YES you need to eat much more. You have to fuel your body.0 -
Well I was there almost two hours doing cardio. And set the machines up correctly with my weight etc so think its pretty accurate. Not really that hungry now!0
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Simple - Exercise is fitness and diet is weight loss. You dont' need to exercise to lose weight. But you exercise to improve the health of your heart, to reduce the amount of muscle loss and to accelerate fat loss (if you are weight training).0
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You should really be eating more like 1500 plus calories, unless you're really trying to crash diet (which it kind of sounds like). I have a hard time getting my numbers right, but I'm set up in MFP to lose 2 pounds per week, just by hitting my NET properly.
If you're not trying to change your lifestyle and get to a place where you can STAY fit and at your goal weight, then by all means, sit on the couch. If you really want to have a long-term change, get out to the gym WHILE you lose the weight, so you're used to it when you're just maintaining.
Also, lost muscle due to sedentary habit and decreased intake is going to fight against you the whole way, with a decreased basal metabolic rate.0 -
On paper, eating 1000 cals is the same as eating 1500 and burning off 500 BUT........
You have more chance of getting all the nutrition your body needs from a higher amount of food. Getting all your protein, vitamins etc on a small calorie goal is pretty hard to do.
Exercise also builds / maintains muscle so you lose more inches, and muscle burns more cals than fat. Losing with no exercise means you will also lose muscle and end up thin but flabby, and totally unfit.
You get to eat CAKE!!!!
MFP already includes a 500 cal per lb deficit so by not eating your cals back you are increasing this to a potentially unhealthy level which can affect your loss. If you don't want to eat back exercise, eat at maintenance and use exercise to create your deficit.
and finally if that wasnt enough................
skinny fat which is what you get vs no exercise, vs healthy & toned with exercise
http://www.myfitnesspal.com/topics/show/392784-skinny-fat-vs-fit-photo?hl=skinny+fat
Wow - I love your answer. You have really hit the nail on the head!0 -
Don't listen to anyone, seriously. Working out was working for you so you should stick with it. You should be motivated to be healthy and lose weight for you not for someone who said on some random post that working out isn't necessary. Eat, work out, have patience, lose weight. Do it for you and do what works.0
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Do you want to lose weight, but end up flabby and unconditioned? That 's the possible result if you drop all exercise.
Exercise is a habit. it's best to develop it as you're losing weight.0 -
Motivation? So you don't have to live off of 1200 measly calories a day. 1200? Oh. My. Goooosh. Not enough fooooooood!:noway:0
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Well I was there almost two hours doing cardio. And set the machines up correctly with my weight etc so think its pretty accurate. Not really that hungry now!
Machines tend to over exercise, but yes you should eat more. You need to give your body fuel to workout, and you want to lose fat, not muscle so eat healthy calories!0 -
The ability to eat a lot more is motivation enough for me. Eat spartan and be lazy, or bust my *kitten* and eat what I want? I'll bust it.
Even better, since I never trained my body to get by with minimal calories, now that I'm on maintenance, I'm able to eat like a hungry man.
I feel better physically and emotionally when I get regular exercise, so that's a couple more big, huge plus marks. I'm not as prone to accidents and injuries now that I'm stronger. I used to wrench my back all the time, and haven't had single episode since I started exercising regularly. I'm also loose-jointed, and my hips, knees, ankles and elbows used to pop out of joint at inopportune times (not that there's ever a good time!). No problems with them, either, since becoming active. My muscles keep the wonky ligaments and tendons in line.
And it turned my bum from saggy and droopy to perky and cute. Nothing better than being just shy of your 40th birthday and being told you have the tush of a 19 year old. :blushing:0 -
Some reasons include: looking better, feeling better, being stronger, higher metabolism, better health.
This is an odd question to me. It's almost like asking why bother getting an education or learning any skills and getting a good job when you can just earn minimum wage being a cashier somewhere.0 -
If you don't care enough about your health to reap the benefits that can only come from exercise, then where is your motivation coming from to even count calories at all?0
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Hmm I couldn't live eating 1200 calories. Eating more is motivation enough for me. However, not everyone believes you have to eat your calories back exactly every single day. Some people average their calories out over a week or so.0
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Because by the time you're done losing you'll be in the healthy habit of regular exercise, which will allow you to enjoy special occasions and, really, everyday life without worrying so much about calories.
Plus, you'll probably live longer
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Ok.....so you have no real desire to work out...but still want to lose weight.....ok......if you'd rather live a sedentary lifestyle, fine....I guess the bigger question is this.....why are you only eating 1200 calories when you weigh 212 lbs?0
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Ok.....so you have no real desire to work out...but still want to lose weight.....ok......if you'd rather live a sedentary lifestyle, fine....I guess the bigger question is this.....why are you only eating 1200 calories when you weigh 212 lbs?
^^^^
I agree0 -
I'll add my 2 cents worth to this, from a health care perspective. I don't have a lot of 40 year old patients who hit the gym on a regular basis. Those who are active have fewer health problems across the board, including those that are overweight.
-Osteoporosis
-Heart Disease
-Type 2 Diabetes
-Arthritis
-Chronic pain
All of these are waaaay more common in people who don't exercise on a regular basis.
Use it or lose it, as many others have already said. I'll also add that at 221 pounds, I can run circles around co-workers who are 121 pounds and don't work out.
Last but not least, longevity. Last Thursday, my favorite nursing school instructor went to give her speech at the Spring graduation, wasn't feeling well, went home afterwards and died of a heat attack. She was in full cardiac arrest before she got to the hospital. She was only 53, overweight, and sedentary.
Just a little food for thought.0 -
its ok to not eat back all your exercise calories. Some people always do but personally I think of it like wiggle room. If im out with my friends or extra hungry then I have options.0
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I think it might have something to do with the fact that your body could go into starvation mode (1200 is very low amount of calories) and hang on to its weight to protect you; exercise helps bring everything up so your body can let go. Have you read Tara Parker Pope's piece on weight loss and exercise?0
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Ok.....so you have no real desire to work out...but still want to lose weight.....ok......if you'd rather live a sedentary lifestyle, fine....I guess the bigger question is this.....why are you only eating 1200 calories when you weigh 212 lbs?
I didn't say I'd rather have a sedentary lifestyle - its actually quite the opposite.
I said i have been coming in right at 1200 - for my weight loss goal MFP gives me a cap of 1370 so 1200 isn't that much lower.
Before this week i was eating 1200 calories and feeling full and fine. Anything more than that and I would've been eating just to eat and to take in more calories.
If i am satisfied at 1200 calories but exercise and burn 400 i need to consume 1600.
I get the logic of why, its just that now exercising has become something that
1.) i WANT to do
2.) if i do it I HAVE TO EAT FOOD I DON'T WANT just to get back to a net of 12000
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