Quiting exercise

janiedoe111
janiedoe111 Posts: 161 Member
edited December 24 in Food and Nutrition
I think I need to quit exercise. Most days I walk two miles, run two miles+ and then go to a boxing or kickboxing class. This allows me to eat about 3100 calories after exercise calories. This formula hasn't been working for me recently. As in, I am not losing weight even if I am attempting to eat 2000 calories a day. I'm not sure if my body is thinking it is starving or what the heck is going on.

My new plan is to cut back on my exercise I try and eat 1500 calories a day for a month. I will probably walk two miles and three times a week run two miles but eliminate the other more strenuous options.

Any positive/helpful thoughts?
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Replies

  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    I think quitting the exercise part is the last thing you should do. I'd add some strength training instead of leaning on light cardio/intense cardio for results.
  • mama2shi
    mama2shi Posts: 300 Member
    I think quitting the exercise part is the last thing you should do. I'd add some strength training instead of leaning on light cardio/intense cardio for results.

    ^This...try strength training. It has done wonders for me :)
  • miracole
    miracole Posts: 492 Member
    I agree with the other responses, if you're stagnating try some weight training
  • NoxDineen
    NoxDineen Posts: 497 Member
    3100 calories is sort of insane. Walking 2 miles would burn maybe 100 calories, running 2 miles would also burn maybe 200 calories, and hour of kickboxing... 600ish?

    So you're trying to lose weight at over 2k calories net per day? Eat less calories (and maybe re-examine what you're eating), keep working out.
  • tstella224
    tstella224 Posts: 11
    I agree. Don't quit exercising, but do include strength training. That is what helped me out.
  • AshRyd
    AshRyd Posts: 126 Member
    put away the scale and get out the measuring tape :wink:
  • juliebeannn
    juliebeannn Posts: 428 Member
    if you total burn on those days are 3000+ but you're only eating around 2000ish calories, you're not eating enough.

    i second the idea of cutting down on the cardio and add strength training. just my 2 cents.
  • magerum
    magerum Posts: 12,589 Member
    3100 calories is sort of insane. Walking 2 miles would burn maybe 100 calories, running 2 miles would also burn maybe 200 calories, and hour of kickboxing... 600ish?

    So you're trying to lose weight at over 2k calories net per day? Eat less calories (and maybe re-examine what you're eating), keep working out.

    I lose at 3100 calories, what's insane about it? Calories in vs. calories out. There are people on here that lose at 4k, it's all about the math and your effort.

    M
    5'10
    180 lbs
  • yoovie
    yoovie Posts: 17,121 Member
    3100 calories is sort of insane. Walking 2 miles would burn maybe 100 calories, running 2 miles would also burn maybe 200 calories, and hour of kickboxing... 600ish?

    So you're trying to lose weight at over 2k calories net per day? Eat less calories (and maybe re-examine what you're eating), keep working out.

    I lose at 3100 calories, what's insane about it? Calories in vs. calories out. There are people on here that lose at 4k, it's all about the math and your effort.

    M
    5'10
    180 lbs

    that's what she said, if youre only burning 3-400 calories, maybe eating 3100 isnt the right balance............
  • Rae6503
    Rae6503 Posts: 6,294 Member
    You ARE doing too much cardio. Additionally your calorie burn estimates might be too high, which might be causing the slow progress.

    I'd suggest adding in a heavy lifting program. I'd recommended either Stronglifts 5x5 or New Rules of Weight Lifting for Women. Limit your cardio to no more than an hour 3 times a week and less than that would be fine too.
  • gogojodee
    gogojodee Posts: 1,243 Member
    7584267_8471.jpg


    I really don't have anything to contribute to this thread... mostly because the original premise makes my face hurt.

    However, I have to say, as 24 year martial artist and father of 4... that "Napout" t-shirt Magerum's son is wearing is the single greatest thing, I have ever seen, ever.

    I shall now Google until I find many, many of these.

    Haha I was about to say the same thing. It's already time for me to Nap it Out!
  • jldunn713
    jldunn713 Posts: 41 Member
    I don't think your current exercise routine is burning as many calories as you think and that is why you aren't losing weight. Don't stop exercising! It is critical to staying healthy. Instead, up the intensity of your exercise (start lifting some weights and run instead of walking) and cut back just a bit on calories (if you enter your info in mfp accruately, the amount of calories should be correct)
  • Beastette
    Beastette Posts: 1,497 Member
    I find exercise requiting and exciting. I could never think of quitting.

    I'd go with cleaning up your diet a smidge and adding in resistance work as well.
  • GodsGirl37
    GodsGirl37 Posts: 348
    This!
    I think quitting the exercise part is the last thing you should do. I'd add some strength training instead of leaning on light cardio/intense cardio for results.
  • Beezil
    Beezil Posts: 1,677 Member
    I think quitting the exercise part is the last thing you should do. I'd add some strength training instead of leaning on light cardio/intense cardio for results.

    ^This...try strength training. It has done wonders for me :)

    :heart: :heart: :heart:
  • Kara_xxx
    Kara_xxx Posts: 635 Member
    3100 calories is sort of insane. Walking 2 miles would burn maybe 100 calories, running 2 miles would also burn maybe 200 calories, and hour of kickboxing... 600ish?

    That!! You're hugely overestimating your burn.
  • AnninStPaul
    AnninStPaul Posts: 1,372 Member
    is the amount of time you spend exercising (and not doing other things) worth the enjoyment from consuming the extra calories?
  • juliebeannn
    juliebeannn Posts: 428 Member
    i think the OP means that 3100 is TDEE, not what she burns during those exercises.....?
  • LindaCWy
    LindaCWy Posts: 463 Member
    I think quitting the exercise part is the last thing you should do. I'd add some strength training instead of leaning on light cardio/intense cardio for results.

    Maybe I should drive home the fact that this answer says it all. General consensus? Pick up some heavy Sh@t
  • cjh03
    cjh03 Posts: 74 Member
    Like others have mentioned, add in some weight training. It will help you balance out the weekly cardio and will build muscle to help burn off more fat.
  • Bobby_Clerici
    Bobby_Clerici Posts: 1,828 Member
    No, you will fail for sure pulling back.
    As people have said; don't do less but try some different types of exercise.
    Strength training will make a huge difference.
    Good Luck!
  • swordsmith
    swordsmith Posts: 599 Member
    3100 calories is sort of insane. Walking 2 miles would burn maybe 100 calories, running 2 miles would also burn maybe 200 calories, and hour of kickboxing... 600ish?

    So you're trying to lose weight at over 2k calories net per day? Eat less calories (and maybe re-examine what you're eating), keep working out.

    I was going to say.. that amount of extra cals seems very very high.

    I do 30-60 minutes of weight training and thats maybe 250-450 in cals, 6 miles of running at a 10 minute per mile pace burns around 800-900, a 90 minute walk at 3.5 mph burns around 450, and 60 minutes of intense level 2 krav maga at most is 450 cals. As a female your burn should be less then mine (my exercise partner is a 27 year old female who basically does exactly what I do and her burn is always 20% less then mine)

    If you are using the MFP defaults for this I would highly suggest investing the money in an HRM to get an accurate cal count. I know before I did that I used the default martial arts on MFP and for me it was something like 950 per hour- more then double what it really is.

    Basically I think you are not losing weight because somehow you are WAY overestimating your cal burn
  • kdecourcey
    kdecourcey Posts: 5
    I would try switching it up and doing some strength training and biking and swimming, yoga too. Sounds like your body is comfortable and needs to be tricked into burning more calories by moving a different way. I would also cut back on the calories. Good luck!
  • konamouse
    konamouse Posts: 21
    High intensity interval training. Strength training (not light weight/toning - that's a total myth).
    Re-evaluate your estimated needs and record of exercise performed (I'd rather underestimate than "allow" more kcal intake).

    Long term success is healthy eating (as much real food as possible), and regular exercise that mixes up cardio & resistence training, endurance and speed, stamina and power, body weight and heavy weight. Don't stop the exercise, just change it up.

    kona
    Registered Dietitian/Crossfit Masters
  • yarwell
    yarwell Posts: 10,477 Member
    My new plan is to cut back on my exercise I try and eat 1500 calories a day for a month. I will probably walk two miles and three times a week run two miles but eliminate the other more strenuous options.

    Any positive/helpful thoughts?
    Sounds like a plan. Excessive calorie deficits can be a bad idea, however caused. You're going to be active and if 80% of weight loss is down to diet you're concentrating on the right part.
  • AlsDonkBoxSquat
    AlsDonkBoxSquat Posts: 6,128 Member
    If I quit exercise heads would roll. I'd probably lose my family, my dogs, and my job from all the red hot temper flying around.
  • AlsDonkBoxSquat
    AlsDonkBoxSquat Posts: 6,128 Member
    Also, where are you eating that 3100 calories. When I look at your diary I see an average of way under 1700 gross calories consumed and no exercise calories logged. Also, where are you getting your numbers for your burn? If you're supposed to be getting 3100 net then that means you're burning 1400 calories per day in exercise?

    I would:
    1) Adjust your activity level to reflect your daily walks to slightly active if you're currently on sedentary.
    2) switch off 2 - 3 days a week to strenght training if you don't already.
    3) if you don't have a hrm with a chest strap get one
    4) keep accurate logs of your food an exercise trying to net appropriately.

    If what I'm reading is correct, you aren't actually adhereing to the mfp recommendations or the tdee recommendations, your plan is a bit arbitrary and without a real plan.
  • soleilxo
    soleilxo Posts: 202
    i cant believe that you eat 3000 calories a day! first of, I started losing weight when I stopped going to the gym! dont get me wrong, I am still very active. the thing that changed though was that i controlled my eating just and only that. when I went to the gym, it overcomplicated things for me and I would eat..because I went to the gym.."i could eat this, because I go to the gym" blah blah blah ..its crap! basically i concentrated on what went into my system and thats it.
  • bcattoes
    bcattoes Posts: 17,299 Member
    Everyone is different, but if it were me. I'd cut back on both the exercise and calories. That seems like a lot of exercise every day, and I can't imagine how I could ever eat 3100 healthy calories. Even on days that I stuff myself silly and drink a lot of wine, I never get near that amount.

    I don't know any of your statistics, so just as a "pull it out of my *kitten*" suggestion I'd say cut back to walking or (not 'and') running and one class most days, and at least one day a week just walk, drop your calories down to around 2000, give it a month and see what happens.
  • spikefoot
    spikefoot Posts: 419
    Think of diet as your weight loss plan and exercise as health for your organs etc... If you lose weight from exercise consider it a bonus but do not neglect the importance of it or allow it to be jaded by the lack of weight loss.

    Not totally on topic, but maybe you just need a shift in perspective. :)
    .
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