Weight loss on Diet alone?

Posts: 26
5/13/13 12:41 P

How did you do it :) I am 192 lbs now and would be happy just to get to 165- 160...

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3/7/13 8:38 A

I heard several times weightless is 80 percent what you eat and 20 percent exercise. So diet matters more. Exercise will definitely help shape your body, and the obviouse health benefits go along with it.

current weight: 175.0

180 166.25 152.5 138.75

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Posts: 261
3/6/13 5:37 P

I don't think I could lose weight on a diet alone, I am more just "thick" at this point, so I really need to exercise to tone up.

current weight: 159.4

177 167.25 157.5 147.75

138

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3/6/13 5:28 P

Hi YOJULEZ, my waist is the last to lose, you're lucky! I think exercise will help define the body. For me, for example, doing weighted squats makes a difference in my toosh. If all I did was eat enough to lose weight, I'd be missing out on the shaping potential of my favorite body part...da butt! Man though, I envy you being able to lose in the waist first. :)

current weight: 139.8

143 141.25 139.5 137.75

136

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3/6/13 5:15 P

I think its great you lost weight with just making dietary changes. I also feel, though, that exercise is important because of the numerous health benefits for the body and mind. So, if you can fit it in, do so

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3/6/13 2:45 P

I was just thinking about this in terms of how many calories should one eat...I am 4'10" and been doing 1200-1400 calories a day. Today I have been a little hungrier than yesterday. I am not very active most days. Seems this should be enough calories but am I suppose to be hungry?

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3/6/13 2:38 P

I lost 24 lbs in in 3.5 months through dieting alone, then on January 4th I joined sparkpeople and joined a gym in those 2 months through diet & exercise 4-5 times a week I have lost 16 lbs.

Pounds lost: 50.0

0 23.5 47 70.5

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3/6/13 1:28 P

LUCKIN, I have a great body shape without exercise but I think I was just blessed naturally... most of my weight that I was carrying around my middle came off FIRST. I have a 30" waist now, when before I was close to 40. I don't think that happens to most women.

current weight: 138.0

188 175.5 163 150.5

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Posts: 918
3/6/13 1:25 P

I have lost about 20# through diet alone. And I'll keep losing by diet alone for awhile yet - as I am in no way ready to confront Yoga Pants at this time.

I never was a big fan of cardio (even though "it's good for you!") but I would eventually like to get back into some strength training, as I want to retain/build more lean mass and bone density.

Pounds lost: 38.0

0 11.5 23 34.5

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3/6/13 1:23 P

You can lose weight on diet alone, but exercise is what's going to give your body the shape you'll want. You will likely notice your body changing even if the scale isn't moving. Inches lost, in my opinion, are much better than pounds lost. I feel that exercise does that.

current weight: 139.8

143 141.25 139.5 137.75

136

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3/6/13 1:14 P

I lost all my weight without any form of regular exercise. It was solely food for me. However, after losing 25lbs or so, I did hit a plateau. That's when I joined SP and based on recommendations here, I decided to start eating more... before I had been sticking to 1200-1300. I then upped to 1300-1400, and then 1400-1500, etc etc. I was even unintentionally losing eating 1700-1800 once I hit my original goal weight of 150 (I was following Spark's recommended ranges for maintenance). Now I need to actually maintain, and I'm going to try to eat 1800-1900 with a few "extras" one day a week.

Of course, exercising is healthy and good for you, so if you can work it in, even a little bit, great. If you can't figure out a way to work exercise in, then try playing with your calorie counts. You'll need to give it about a month to see if it works, but I think our bodies get used to what we give them, so you have to change it up.

current weight: 138.0

188 175.5 163 150.5

138

Posts: 4,646
3/6/13 12:52 P

Yes, I experienced this when I first tried to lose weight many moons ago. I have been on and off weight programs for so long, i finally found a lifestyle that i LOVE.

I lost about 12 pounds as well from just changing my eating habits and cutting out the fast food. Like you, i felt better but also plateaued. I didn't lose anything for months. Stuck at the same weight.

I did start putting in some exercise. Mainly walking and some swimming. Dad joined the YMCA and we did the circuit training. I started to slowly lose again.

This time around and hopefully my last time, I exercise 12 minutes a day at my highest intensity (surge training-- something like HIIT but different) I still try to get in 15 minutes of walking daily as well.

How long has it been since you lost? It may not be a plateau but your body getting used to the changes.

current weight: 250.0

250 220 190 160

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Posts: 543
3/6/13 12:52 P

[1] I lost ~90lbs last year almost entirely by better eating / calorie reduction / diet alone. Twice when I hit plateaus (March, then in the autumn) I added minimal exercise back in. In the spring I used some of the 5BX stuff 5 days a week in the morning, so about 10 minutes. That lasted a month. In the fall I did it for a week (October?) but got distracted. I quickly tired of this, each time, and went back to diet alone.

At the end of the year I'd reached my weight goal.

[2] This year I've gone back to exercising. I did the January jumpstart fitness 'challenge' (some cardio, quite a few SparkPeople videos) and since then I've been working on pushups and squats, mainly.

[3] In short: you can do the weight-loss with diet alone. However, and this would be an argument for exercise with diet, especially strength training of some sort: when you lose weight, you lose fat and muscle. More fat than muscle when you have fat to lose, but you'll still lose muscle; exercise, especially some strength training, can help reduce that muscle loss. I now find myself in the position of having lose the fat I wanted, but wanting to put a little muscle back on.

[4] And if you're out of shape, the exercise is good for general fitness and cardio-vascular health. But that's different than your question.

current weight: 193.3

287 262.75 238.5 214.25

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Posts: 28
3/6/13 12:34 P

So far I've lost 12 pounds which is really great! I have not yet incorporated any conscious exercise into my plan yet, so this loss so far is due solely to my better eating.

I think I may have hit a plateau though, so I'm ready to start adding exercise now. I was just wondering if anyone out there has lost much weight by healthy eating alone (without extra exercise beyond regular daily activities)? How much? When (if at all) did you add exercise and did it make a big difference when you did?

current weight: 181.0

193 182.25 171.5 160.75

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