Exercise daily, but I don't have an active lifestyle

Wasted Ink

Full Member
I've been losing weight over the past year. I've tried eating different amounts of calories throughout this time. At one point I tried to eat 1200-1300 and exercise. I lost a GOOD amount of weight on that (2-3lb a wk,) but then decided it probably wasn't healthy long term to eat so few calories. Since then I've been eating 1500 (approx) and losing 0.5lb-1lb some weeks (some weeks I just stall or even gain.)

I do exercise five days a week for one hour and two days a week for 20 minutes (interval training.) I do weights twice a week (full-body workout - 1 hour per session.) This makes me sound like I'm very active indeed. The problem is, however, this is some of the only exercise I do. During the day I can spend 8-10 hours + working on the computer and my only movment is from room to room (aside from when I do go out - which is only a few times a week.)

Therefore I assume that my exercise therefore pulls me up to "moderate" activity, rather than very active. I have actually been advised to increase my calories by many people to 1600-1700 a day. However, do you think this would be counterproductive and I should actually lower them to less than 1500, since my actual lifestyle is far less active than average?
 
I personally think that you should leave the calories as they are if you are happy with the food you eat at the moment.

With that in mind, just try fit some more exercise in, take a one mile walk before work, thats just 15 minutes, take a 2 mile walk at dinner, thats just 30 minutes, and take a 3 mile stroll in the evening, even fairly slowly, its less than an hour, with that in mind the total is 6 miles of walking which if you could do even 4 days a week would be more than enougth to lose an extra 2lb on top of what you are already losing.

Yes, its a good idea to do a big amount of exercise in a short amount of time, however if you can't find the time to extend that, then just do frequent small bits of exercise.
 
i would stick to what you have gotten the best results with the 1200-1300 until you get closer to your goal then you can give or take 100-200 calories until you hit where you normally want to be..I am about 10lbs from goal and do between 1000-1400 a day and thats enough food for me
 
Your gym exercise routine sounds great, and if its working to take weight off you gradually and effectively then keep it oging, just make sure to keep progressing each exercise as soon as you are ready.

However, as a trainer I do always notice that a lack of NEPA (or Non-Exercise Physical Activity) can have a huge effect on your efforts. You are spot on that you've recognized that a more active lifestyle is required in addition to a great gym program.

If you listen to the advice from Rakas and do what you can to get that extra activity, then I predict that you'll start seeing some more great results.


And remember, you don't FIND time to exercise. You have to MAKE time!

Good luck
 
I personally think that you should leave the calories as they are if you are happy with the food you eat at the moment.

With that in mind, just try fit some more exercise in, take a one mile walk before work, thats just 15 minutes, take a 2 mile walk at dinner, thats just 30 minutes, and take a 3 mile stroll in the evening, even fairly slowly, its less than an hour, with that in mind the total is 6 miles of walking which if you could do even 4 days a week would be more than enougth to lose an extra 2lb on top of what you are already losing.

Yes, its a good idea to do a big amount of exercise in a short amount of time, however if you can't find the time to extend that, then just do frequent small bits of exercise.

Thanks! This is very good advice and I'm going to try and incorporate it into my days from now on. Broken down into little chunks, it seems far more manageable.


Your gym exercise routine sounds great, and if its working to take weight off you gradually and effectively then keep it oging, just make sure to keep progressing each exercise as soon as you are ready.

However, as a trainer I do always notice that a lack of NEPA (or Non-Exercise Physical Activity) can have a huge effect on your efforts. You are spot on that you've recognized that a more active lifestyle is required in addition to a great gym program.


If you listen to the advice from Rakas and do what you can to get that extra activity, then I predict that you'll start seeing some more great results.


And remember, you don't FIND time to exercise. You have to MAKE time!

Good luck

Thanks for the advice. I have long suspected that my somewhat inactive lifestyle is responsible for my slow weight loss. I do feel like I really have to push myself during that one hour session and be very careful with calories in order to see a loss. My NEPA really is minimal. I get about an hour walking around the supermarket once a week and now and again, a Friday in town (but this is rare.) The rest of my activity is just walking room to room in the house.

I have also decided that when I can, I will try and go out more in my spare time (for my sanity and for NEPA-sake.) If I could get to town for a few hours once or twice a week, I would burn up to an extra 600 calories on those days! Crazy!

For anyone else that is interested, Dangers Of Sitting | Relieve Low Back Pain | Reduce Low Back Pain | Canada's Leading Authority in Human Movement | Dev Chengkalath this article is quite fascinating.

:)
 
Keep going

8st for years, then 17 yr ago I was gaining weight. then 11 yr ago, my Doc told me i had type 2 diabetes,
I have not been to serious about losing weight,
then 4 weeks ago I found Dukan Diet,

i started at 87.5 kg, today I am 81.2 kg,

I have been eating lots of Salads, some cottage cheese mixed with Prawns Salmon, no meat,
I have stopped my insulin injection, I take 2 metiform in the morning,
I also eat, Huntly Palmers Cracker biscuits, My salads have lettuce, Carrot, green pepper, tomato, red onion, tiny grated Cheese,
may add a egg, green soya beans, lite mayo, the plate is full
will go and see my Doc very soon
 
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