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I don't want to be fat. But i don't exercise.

220 replies

Rainydays26 · 25/05/2026 11:22

I feel like I'm going to be fat for ever. I know ideally your meant to loose weight slowly but it just feels hopeless. I have lost but its now slowed right down to an almost stop.

I know the answer is exercise I do very little. I just can't get motivated. I never stick to it. I have apps as smart bike that I can do challenges with when connected to tv. I need to do core and stomach exercise I find that even harder to do. Logically I know what I need to do. And it's down to me to put the effort in. But I find it hard. When it should be simple.

Just edit to add i can't reduce calories anymore. I'm already lower than I should be.

OP posts:
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ZenNudist · 25/05/2026 11:24

It's mainly diet. Just eat less.

yoshigizzit · 25/05/2026 11:27

Exercise isn’t necessary for weight loss. It’s almost entirely diet. Exercise can help with shape and tone, and obviously has lots of other health benefits, but chances of getting slim through exercise alone are pretty unlikely (if your diet has naturally got you to being overweight). I sometimes wish it was as easy as just upping the exercise to enable me to eat what I want, but alas it’s not that simple.

bigdecisionstomake · 25/05/2026 11:27

First poster nails it. Weight loss is 80% about food. The exercise is nice to have (and good from a health point of view) but not at all necessary for losing weight.

If your weight loss has slowed you are eating too many calories and need to adjust downward again.

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Omhaf · 25/05/2026 11:28

Exercise is important and good for your health but as PP said from a weight point of view food is more important.

For me I exercise more when I weigh less cos it’s easier and I feel better about myself.

Rainydays26 · 25/05/2026 11:29

ZenNudist · 25/05/2026 11:24

It's mainly diet. Just eat less.

I edited my post after your post. Diet /calorie wise there is not much more u can do.

OP posts:
TwiggyShrimp · 25/05/2026 11:29

The answer is not exercise. That is old fashioned, out dated advice.

Exercise can make you more hungry, which is why we need to use food as fuel, when training. Also, we need calories for repair for muscles.

However, exercise is good for cardiovascular, muscle and mental health.

To lose weight, whether you exercise or not, you have to cut calories. Exercise for weight loss is optional, and not normally recommended anymore for weight loss, but reducing calories is not optional.

I lost 5 stone by reducing calories and sitting on the couch.

When I got to goal weight, I started to exercise and build muscle on maintenance (and sometimes above) calories. After losing weight, I was able to exercise because the load on my joints was lower and I had more energy etc.

When I want to lose weight, I drop calories, again. I don't do more exercise.

Sausagesmyarse · 25/05/2026 11:30

Don’t then.

I went from 25 stone to 12 stone with no exercise, I just didn’t eat loads of shit all day anymore.

Two years ago we got a dog and I walk her lots now, but before that, I was never off my arse.

inmyhair · 25/05/2026 11:32

i don't believe exercise has as much effect on weight loss as we have been led to believe. That's not to say we shouldn't do it - of course we should exercise but do it for or health reasons or because you enjoy it,

Weight loss is more about consuming less calories. Take it from a 60 year old whose weight has yo-yo'd for the last 40 years.

Comedycook · 25/05/2026 11:32

I've lost four and a half stone from diet alone...I hardly ever exercise. For health benefits I should exercise but in terms of weight loss exercise is overrated.

Error404FucksNotFound · 25/05/2026 11:32

Rainydays26 · 25/05/2026 11:29

I edited my post after your post. Diet /calorie wise there is not much more u can do.

If you are not losing weight on the calories you are having then yes, you need to reduce them.
Knock 100 off every day and see how that goes.
Being accurate is important. Track everything. Never guess - weigh and measure everything.

Everyone's body is different. It may be you need to consume fewer calories than average to see fat loss.

whattheysay · 25/05/2026 11:33

I have lost 7 stone and did no to very little exercise. I did however track my calories very well. I tried to be more active in my day to day life but that’s it.
You maybe reducing calories but you do need to work out your deficit and eat within it

Bagsoflifewipedout · 25/05/2026 11:36

I lost 5 stone with no exercise just old fashioned calorie counting as I cant exercise.
I think exercise is good for toning and mental health (before I became disabled I used swimming to maintain my mh) but it isn't the answer to weightloss.

Lunbellerosa · 25/05/2026 11:37

You can lose without exercise. Can you walk?
Lower calories than you should be is not helping either.
Have you worked out your TDEE? whats your height and weight? How old are you?

passmeaglass · 25/05/2026 11:37

Are there any food swaps you can do? It depends what your body needs but mine responded massively to eating more protein and fibre and reducing carbs. If you eat any biscuit and chocolate you could replace the calories with nuts or something which will have a different impact on your body.

RoseField1 · 25/05/2026 11:38

Rainydays26 · 25/05/2026 11:29

I edited my post after your post. Diet /calorie wise there is not much more u can do.

What do you mean?

Rainydays26 · 25/05/2026 11:42

Ok so everyone is saying its not really down to exercise. Several people have said it. So i accept that.

But my calories are low. I know 100% that I don't go over. I'm strict with that. But my body is still fat especially my stomach.

OP posts:
AmazedinSpaces · 25/05/2026 11:44

How fat is fat, OP? What's your bmi? It may be that your tummy is not toned if you have loose skin, having lost weight. I don't look at myself much naked because it's not a pretty sight, but I look pretty good in clothes now and that's good enough for me!

NeverDropYourMooncup · 25/05/2026 11:46

To be fair, if the OP has reduced energy intake to the minimum healthy level, some exercise could be beneficial - not just in energy expenditure exercising itself, but in increasing muscle percentage, as that increases TDEE. And after a prolonged period of restriction, it'll also be good for bone health to do weight bearing exercise, improve core strength to make normal living more comfortable, that kind of thing.

OP, you could try bargaining with yourself - just ten minutes (or five). That short period could be entirely yukky and you're relieved to stop it, but you've done it anyway - just something small, sit on the bike and pedal normally and you've beaten the block in your head that's saying 'I can't do/be arsed with a 45 minute high intensity routine with some shrieking tigger type on an exercise video' or whatever it is that you detest the most. You've got on the bike, you've moved your legs, yay.

You could do a tiny wiggle of your toes and stretch your legs out when you wake up and go to bed, maybe make a point of engaging your core muscles to get out of bed or a chair, a few circles of your ankles and a little leg raise from the sofa, a couple of calf raises in front of the fridge, sink or when you're on your way to the bathroom. Two carrier bags of fruit and veg being carried in through the door to the kitchen? Instead of trailing your arms and then dumping them on the counter, set your shoulderblades back and down, tense your biceps slightly and do five mini curls as you walk to the counter.

They are all exercise - micro exercise - but exercise nonetheless. Don't let intimidating, sweaty, time consuming perfect get in the way of doing something.

Sometimes, you'll decide 'Ah, I'll do another five/ten'

PeoniesAreMyFavouriteFlowers · 25/05/2026 11:46

What is your calorie intake?

LadyGardenersQuestionTime · 25/05/2026 11:46

Are you definitely measurably objectively “fat” - high BMI, waist more than double your height, however you want to measure it?

Or are you just not the same shape as the people you see on TV, in social media, your friends?

Betano · 25/05/2026 11:48

Honestly OP, if your calorie intake is already low then hitting 10k steps a day could really help here.

HoldMyWine · 25/05/2026 11:50

Walking is the best form of exercise but losing weight is about calories in more than anything else.

HoldMyWine · 25/05/2026 11:51

Use an app like mt fitness pal or nutria check and weigh your food. Portion control is key.

LoserWinner · 25/05/2026 11:51

Try walking on the spot while you’re watching TV.

fancytoes · 25/05/2026 11:52

If you swear your calorie intake is less than, say 1200, and made up of not many carbs or sugar, then walking will actually help shift it.

Or Mounjaro 🤷🏼‍♀️

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