Exercise vs. Diet

Does anyone skip the idea of dieting and use exercise for weight control?

After all my different dieting attempts and failures, I’m really convinced that diets don’t work. A healthy, lifelong diet with the occasional controlled cheat or treat seems a better way to go. That, plus exercise, is my goal. I’m only 4 days in, so I can’t speak for results, but it sounds much more sensible than the things I usually do!

You know, I never once thought about concentrating on exercise instead of pairing with dieting. I guess that this approach could work. When I exercise, my appetite decreases. When I overeat, I don’t want to work out.

I have tried that, but not with much success. I’ve also tried dieting without exercise without much success. For me, I have to include both. However, when I stick with it, I find as I build muscle I can actually eat more and not gain weight.

Donna

These are interesting responses!  I asked the question because I just can’t seem to diet.  All the effort to count calories and keep track of meals only works for about 2 weeks.

However, if I focus on exercise—especially light regular exercise like walking, biking, yoga—I notice I can keep off weight without watching what I eat (of course, I can’t eat anything I want—but I don’t at least spend any extra effort counting calories).

So… I came up with these strange theory that what we all need to do is get back to the ol’ days where everyone just spent more time moving around.  Not sure if it makes sense or not, but I like the idea of walking more than counting calories!

Oh yes, that makes perfect sense. I was talking with someone from Brazil today and they commented on how Americans drive everywhere. Gradually we’ve become less and less active while our portions have grown bigger and bigger…and with them our waistlines.

Think of how women used to hand out their clothes. That was work yes, but it was a good upper body workout. Something we sorely lack today. Some deed restricted neighborhoods don’t even allow a clothesline. Hmmm, I wonder how many of the younger generation knows what a clothesline is? Maybe we could market it as a new exercise gadget!

Donna

It worked for me in college! I worked out a lot and ate fast food for almost every meal. I was still almost underweight. Ah, those good ol’ days when I could just eat whatever I wanted and never feel any consequences. I haven’t tried it lately since I’m trying to eat healthier anyway. I still won’t count calories. I can’t even stick to that for over a day.

I’ve tried so many diets, but I’ve never actually counted calories. I wouldn’t even know where to start! I’ve cut out food groups, I’ve weighed foods, I’ve monitored portion sizes, but I’ve never done the calorie counts.

For me, though, the best approach is just to exercise and eat healthier. Something about that combination makes me feel better in all ways—more energetic, happier, healthier. When I work out, I don’t want to mess up by putting junk in my body. If I work out first thing in the morning, it sets a really positive tone for the rest of the day. And, when I am exercising, I can have the occasional splurge without gaining weight.

Oh I’ve counted calories. It does require work on the front end, but you do get used to it, and I’ve successfully lost all my extra weight following a 1200 calorie diet. The problem is that when I stop counting, I gain back at least part of the weight. I don’t like counting calories but today I’m 20 pounds lighter than two years ago. I’m heading in the right direction. When I do, count calories I’ve found a new calorie counter that makes it easier. You can change the quantity to the amount you’re portions and the calories adjust to tell you how many you’re eating. That’s so much faster than doing the math.

Calorie counting requires a food scale (I like the digital type you can buy at Walmart), and measuring spoons and cups. Plus the research required to learn how many calories are in the food you’re eating. This is one of the reasons pre-packaged foods became a popular way to diet. The counting is done for you.

Donna

I’ve tried to diet without exercise, to no success. I just like too many yummy foods.

Exercise without dieting, on the other hand, does work a little better for me. Pounds do creep back on, but slower. Last year, I gained 15 pounds over the winter and barely noticed until it was “too late.” This fall/winter, I’ve creeped up 7 pounds from my summer low and I all ready noticed and am working on it. The *only* difference between the weight gains last year and this year is that I’m exericising semi-regularly. That is why it wasn’t 10-15 all ready, instead of just 7.

And yes, obviously, I’m a yo-yo’r who gains and loses the same 15-25 pounds all the time. This time, though, I tossed out all my “fat” clothes, so with my 7 pound gain, I’m definitely feeling the tightness around my waist!! Eeek!

You know what else I’ve noticed? I lose weight faster with dieting, but I lose inches faster with exercise. When dieting, I can lose 15 pounds and no one will notice; exercise, on the other hand, gives me noticeable changes even when the scale isn’t budging. Right now, I’m working out and the scale is barely moving, but everyone keeps telling me that I look slimmer. Although I’m a recovering scale addict, losing inches sure feels nice!

Maybe we should all throw away our scales   When I moved this year, I had always been suspect that my scale was off (or maybe dreaming…)  So, instead of packing it, I threw it away.

I haven’t had a scale in over 6 months… and have no idea what my weight is.  Not sure if that is good—or bad!

I think that’s good! I used to weigh myself twice a day. That is bad, bad, bad, because my moods starting changing with the numbers on the scale. If it was down, I felt good and motivated. If it went up, I was discouraged and felt like giving up. And, of course, your weight naturally fluctuates. After we were displaced due to the hurricane, I was stuck three hours from home without my scale. I felt panicky at first and was tempted to buy one, but I eventually lost the dependence. And guess what? In the 9 weeks away from home, I ended up losing 17 pounds! I’m using that as momentum to stick to healthy eating and exercising even during the holidays.

Hi Amy,

Throwing out your fat clothes is really part of a good plan. It’s a plan to keep the weight off. If we keep those “fat” clothes, it’s a plan to gain the weight back—even if it is unintentional, it is a plan.

Exercise is so important on more than one level. It not only helps to maintain a healthy weight, but it is good for our heart, bones—-our overall health.

Congratulations on catching winter weight before it reaches 10 pounds or more. What do you do for exercise in the winter?

Donna

used to do it when i was younger…not so much anymore lol

I believe that gaining or losing pounds is mostly a function of calories.  If you eat more than you burn, you’re gonna gain weight.  If you burn more than you eat you’re gonna lose weight.  So just trying to limit the calories is a tough option.  It will work, if you take your calories below what you burn in a day.  But I have found that losing the weight and keeping it off is WAY easier when you burn a lot of calories.  If you are burning 500-1000 extra calories 4-5 times per week by exercising and keeping your eating level (not increasing it), then you ARE going to lose weight.  It might surprise you how fast.  Even better you will be more healthy, have more energy and sleep better.