Success with weight loss without exercise?

[Anonymous]

I have always been a very active person because I enjoyed it. I’ve been a runner, moved to spin, done yoga sporadically, and off and on with light weights at home/ various gym classes.

My issue is that in the past 18 - 24 mos I’ve been struggling with an undiagnosed side pain and now a foot issue. I am also aging as turning 58 soon. I’ve had a bit of weight creep on in this time and so now ideally need to lose 15 lbs - certainly not gain anymore. I have a big event in a year. I may be able to pick up activity again but I’ll likely need to cut way back.

If this has been your situation, any thoughts on what might work best in terms of diet? Calorie intake of 1000 daily, low- carb only? I’m only 5 ft and soon 58 so 1k to 1200 always seems to be the suggested amount to lose. Before I’d also add in exercise and I could maintain with just a bit more. I will also look into maybe a personal trainer but with the current economic fears I want to cut back on luxuries.

I’m wondering if I just focus on diet and light weights. Would love any similar success stories. Thank you!

[Anonymous]

Weight loss is from diet not exercise so you'll be fine to cut calories.

[Anonymous]

I would worry more about maintaining muscle mass in your current situation. Is it possible to life heavier weights? Dropping to 1000 calories is never advisable, you’ll start to lose muscle mass.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would worry more about maintaining muscle mass in your current situation. Is it possible to life heavier weights? Dropping to 1000 calories is never advisable, you’ll start to lose muscle mass.

This. Don't reduce calories that much OP, simply cut out the carbs, alcohol, etc.

[Anonymous]

I am in the same boat due to an injury.

Years ago I found success with keto/atkins so may do that again.

[Anonymous]

Eat more and “better” calories, your body is hoarding calories because you starve it.
Cut 90% or dairy and gluten out of your diet. Only use 100% canola and 100% olive oil.

[Anonymous]

Weight loss has never been mainly about exercise, OP, even though of course it helps expend the calories you eat. But by far the most efficient way to lost weight is to just eat less. Calories in, calories out. I know lots of people don't want to believe it, because it's really hard for them to eat less (and a lot don't want to count calories and don't understand how caloric some foods actually are!). But that's how it works.

I'm 45, in perimenopause, I had my thyroid surgically removed 10 years ago. Hormonal fluctuations lead to difficulties with weight loss, I'll be the first to recognize it! But weight loss is STILL calories in, calories out.

Eat less. It's OK if you go down below 1000 calories! Nutritional information isn't tailored to small people like you and I. When I'm losing weight, I have to go down below 1000 calories. If I stay at 1200 for long, I gain. In order to make it easier, I advise you to switch to a higher-fiber diet which will keep you feeling full longer. The first month, you'll go to bed hungry, and it will be particularly hard around your period, when hormones are yelling at you to eat more carbs. I love farro, and barley and other such grains. I have switched them out for refined white rice, white bread and conventional pasta. My personal difficulty is that I'm surrounded by processed food eaten by my husband and teens, and that's hard to resist sometimes when it's right under my nose.

You can do it, OP.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Weight loss has never been mainly about exercise, OP, even though of course it helps expend the calories you eat. But by far the most efficient way to lost weight is to just eat less. Calories in, calories out. I know lots of people don't want to believe it, because it's really hard for them to eat less (and a lot don't want to count calories and don't understand how caloric some foods actually are!). But that's how it works.

I'm 45, in perimenopause, I had my thyroid surgically removed 10 years ago. Hormonal fluctuations lead to difficulties with weight loss, I'll be the first to recognize it! But weight loss is STILL calories in, calories out.

Eat less. It's OK if you go down below 1000 calories! Nutritional information isn't tailored to small people like you and I. When I'm losing weight, I have to go down below 1000 calories. If I stay at 1200 for long, I gain. In order to make it easier, I advise you to switch to a higher-fiber diet which will keep you feeling full longer. The first month, you'll go to bed hungry, and it will be particularly hard around your period, when hormones are yelling at you to eat more carbs. I love farro, and barley and other such grains. I have switched them out for refined white rice, white bread and conventional pasta. My personal difficulty is that I'm surrounded by processed food eaten by my husband and teens, and that's hard to resist sometimes when it's right under my nose.

You can do it, OP.

If OP is 5’ and trying rying to lose 15 lbs, she is not in the 1200 a day calorie category, unless she going for low single digit body fat %.
She needs to eat better and provide her body nutrients not starve it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Eat more and “better” calories, your body is hoarding calories because you starve it.
Cut 90% or dairy and gluten out of your diet. Only use 100% canola and 100% olive oil.

No, no, no, no, and obviously no.

[Anonymous]

Intermittent fasting and calorie counting has worked for me, OP, and I am down 55 lbs. no exercise as I had surgery. I actually find it easier to lose when sedentary because hard exercise makes me hungrier.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Weight loss has never been mainly about exercise, OP, even though of course it helps expend the calories you eat. But by far the most efficient way to lost weight is to just eat less. Calories in, calories out. I know lots of people don't want to believe it, because it's really hard for them to eat less (and a lot don't want to count calories and don't understand how caloric some foods actually are!). But that's how it works.

I'm 45, in perimenopause, I had my thyroid surgically removed 10 years ago. Hormonal fluctuations lead to difficulties with weight loss, I'll be the first to recognize it! But weight loss is STILL calories in, calories out.

Eat less. It's OK if you go down below 1000 calories! Nutritional information isn't tailored to small people like you and I. When I'm losing weight, I have to go down below 1000 calories. If I stay at 1200 for long, I gain. In order to make it easier, I advise you to switch to a higher-fiber diet which will keep you feeling full longer. The first month, you'll go to bed hungry, and it will be particularly hard around your period, when hormones are yelling at you to eat more carbs. I love farro, and barley and other such grains. I have switched them out for refined white rice, white bread and conventional pasta. My personal difficulty is that I'm surrounded by processed food eaten by my husband and teens, and that's hard to resist sometimes when it's right under my nose.

You can do it, OP.

I'm the same age as OP, and this made me chuckle. As another 5-footer, I agree with the rest of what you wrote.