LuLu22 You certainly didn't cause the "riot!" Lol, just another poster is very insensitive to other people's ideas and choices.

I agree with a lot of the advice here, like Tennis! OMG! I LOVE Tennis with my Fiance. I really suck, but when we have time off, we get on our bikes, head to the courts (they are even FREE, BONUS!) and start wacking the ball around. I get excited when we last a round for more than a few hits. We started getting better and better, took a long time though.

Also, I love love swimming. I get embarrassed because I'm so big, but once I hit the water, I just don't care. I could swim for hours. I also love Volley Ball (I suck at it). I love basketball, hiking, I'm starting to love running, walking with my dog and fiance (we like to pick new neighborhoods or trails for new views), climbing... Quidich. *cough*don't judge*cough*

Meetup.com has a lot of active groups if you want to make new friends and find a new exercising hobby!

I personally feel that without exercise I wouldn't lose weight. I know some people can do it without, but I think the main goal is to find out what works for you. It's certainly more healthy to do it with exercise. I sometimes think of weight loss as an experiment. I've tried a lot of things (I've listed) and I officially like what I'm doing now and unless serious injury occurs, I can't imagine why I wouldn't be able to exercise. My Fiance was in the ICU in January - February. I was working tax season (60 -70 hours a week!), I was taking classes master level with a ridiculous amount of writing, and spending as much time with my fiance as possible. I still got in walks with my dog (I mostly did it for her, poor dog). I realized then, that if I can squeeze in 30minutes - hour of exercise threw THAT, then I can do it again in the future. Have kids? They invented a stroller! My Fiance's brother and sister have 2 young kids, work full time each, and both work out, their kids just sort of tag along for some of it. So, they can do it, once I have kids, I think I got it.

Exercise also helps with so many other things, such as depression, stress, motivation, etc. Seriously. I feel happy and far more motivated when I get moving.

You can lose weight without exercise, and maybe that will work for you, but I HIGHLY recommend finding things you love. And never feel like you "lost" or "won't succeed" because you had biscuits for breakfast, despite what other nay sayers say on these forums. It's calories in, calories out. If you have a biscuit, then make sure you log those calories and stay within your goal for the day. If you go outside your goal, don't worry about it, everyone on these forums can tell you they have had slip ups with their diet and some of them have been maintaining for years. Honestly, one slip up won't end it, deciding that it's over is what ends it.

That is some great advice right there. So far I have been doing good in the eating side, but the exercise is not coming along. Like you said, finding something you love is what will help the most and so far I have not. It is all just exercise. I really need to get my bike from my mom and dad's house and use that instead of my car and stuff because I do like riding my bike. And you all are right. I feel more powerful with a great workout, rather than comparing myself to other people. Now off to frost the cake I made! For my boyfriend not for me haha I gotcha didn't I?

Go for it! Do things you like. I found what worked for me is being on a controlled diet- my will power is amazing... however I absolutely HATE exercise to the core of my very being. i realized if I don't exercise then I have to ramp up my eating 100% haha. Or like 99% eating 1 % exercise (not even)

Anyways you find what fits you like most of them here said. For exercising, weirdly enough I do like tennis. I don't do it enough- I should! You're actually doing much better than most people in regards to exercising (like me for example) you are prob healthier and can walk faster than I do haha! But do you and do what you like!

Took the words out of my mouth!

In before the lock! :D

My opinion on exercise is as follows:

Exercise is fantastic for health, stress, and how your body is shaped. It doesn't burn a huge number of calories though so using exercise as a means to create a deficit is a bad idea because it is not sustainable. Exercise should only enhance a deficit or be a part of the energy deficit plan.

Speaking of sustainability, I am another example of a person who can maintain without eating "clean". I don't want to live a life without In & Out burger. The entire reason I sacrifice not eating breakfast is so I have greater flexibility in my food choices.

Pattience I really think you have a lot of support and knowledge to offer. Where I think you fall short is in your single minded approach based on one researcher's opinion.

Just go to the maintainers section and you'll see that people follow a variety of dietary plans. This should be enough evidence that there is more than one way to lose fat and keep it off.

If a WOE keeps calories in check, provides the required nutrinets, and it is sustainable long term than it is a feasible plan. Why you are stuck on the ONE WAY that everyone should follow boggles my mind.

lulu there are many little ways you can add activity, like parking further away when you go shopping, walking to get the mail instead of picking it up on the way in, taking the stairs instead of the elevator. I think there're a few threads around about stuff like that.

Also taking up some kind of hobby, like crochet or painting, or gardening, that keeps you busy and isn't conducive to snacking can help with your weight loss efforts.

I agree with most, that there are many benefits to exercising, stress relief, getting stronger, as well as weight loss, I love to hike and need to keep myself strong enough to hike where I want to go, so that's my incentive a lot of times, I tell myself "training for Yosemite", who knows when I'll get there, but if the opportunity comes I want to be ready.

I also firmly believe that if I don't keep moving I will not age well.

Wishing you the best of luck and much success :sunny:

Another lover of exercise here. I might just mentally link the two but exercising is a hugely important part of weight loss for me.

I know that realistically it's not going to burn off hundreds and hundreds of calories a day, but it does help to offset some of the calories I consume. Especially because my poor attempts at jogging pretty much end up inadvertently being high intensity interval training. haha

It also keeps my mood elevated, and I don't know about you folks, but often the reason I'm eating is because I'm not in the best place mood-wise. Plus watching my body shape change from muscles that are getting used more is almost as gratifying as seeing weight come off.

GlamourGirl and JohnP, thanks for the chuckle!

I have not yet figured out how to quote things on here but there was a part about snacking...my favorite pastime lol I eat when I am bored, when I am not bored, when I am hungry, when I am making food...oh man lol I am getting better at it for sure.
there was also a part about aging well. I am actually a gerontology major! how ironic. (gerontology is the study of aging. many people do not know this when I tell them I am a gerontology major so I thought I should put that in there.) and yes, I always thought it would be cool to be one of those 90 year old marathon runners lol
as for exercise, I must say that I used to run cross country in high school. I was slow as a snail, but I ran. I was a lot skinnier than I am now, but still not particularly "small." I did eat whatever I wanted to though. in the courses I have taken in college, like nutrition and stuff, you can eat better, and lose lots of weight, but you will probably still have skin there and stuff. exercise and weight lifting will tone it and make you look, dare I say it, like a sexy beast! haha I am out of control. ok I think that's all I had to say about that for now

Does exercise help with weight loss?

I think it depends on how you define "weight loss".

If we're talking about seeing the numbers go down, then exercise does not necessarily affect that. But let me share my experience.

I started at 213 and, two and a half years and a baby later, I was at 144. But I was very flabby and soft and unfit.

I started the C25K.

In the nine weeks it took me to complete the course I only lost 4 lbs. But along with those four lbs I lost an entire dress size, a LOT of flab and I gained a shedload of muscle and a much more toned body.

So in terms of the numbers I didn't lose a lot, but in terms of reducing my body fat, I lost a great deal.

I forget who had the awesome quote on their ticker: "Dieting makes you look good in clothes. Exercise makes you look good naked." :lol: It's funny cuz it's true!

I love this quote!

I'll add my experience with exercise fwiw: Sometimes exercise is the first step on the path to healthier eating that will get weight off. If I'm having a hard time stopping overeating, I can still start exercising. Eventually something kicks in and it becomes easier to eat well.

OP, I think Wannabe's advice of taking it one step at a time is a good one. A lot of dieters tend to jump into the deep end initially with full enthusiasm, sticking to a rigid meal plan and exercise regime, but then fall off the wagon and give up at a later stage.

Personally, I find that exercise and WOE are two very different aspects of weight management and getting the WOE right is far, far more important for weight loss and maintenance than exercise.

I can say though that once you become hooked on a physical activity that you like, your self-motivation and self-control become stronger because you have a set goal that involves being fit by being at a certain weight (and look, if body shape is relevant for the activity).

Good luck on the journey!

I think everyone can agree that diet is the most important factor in weightloss. Exercise can supplement those efforts in many ways. Some feel its benefits more intensely. Weightloss is straight forward. Maintainance... well that's every man for himself lol.