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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To loose weight by exercise alone

61 replies

Dollyboo · 13/02/2013 21:06

Well, I've not been able to give up chocolate/ sweet foods. All my meals are pretty healthy but I've been on a plateau with my weight for several months. AIBU?

OP posts:
HollyBerryBush · 13/02/2013 21:08

muscle weighs more than fat, so it depends on whether you are wanting to tone up to drop a dress size or lose a great deal of weight, and exercise will kick start your metabolism.

sydlexic · 13/02/2013 21:10

If you create a deficit between calories in and out then you will lose weight.

KeepingCalmAndPostingNicely · 13/02/2013 21:12

Sorry - are you being unreasonable about what? And it's lose not loose.

Original poster
Dollyboo · 13/02/2013 21:12

Holly- I would like to drop a dress size. I'm a very comfortable 14 and would like to go to a size12. Anything less makes me look ill. I dont Suit being slimmer. Ive had issues with emotional eating forever and am on the nhs waiting list to be seen. I really can't control my eating.

OP posts:
Bunfags · 13/02/2013 21:13

Exercise is important of course, but a majority of weightloss, or more accurately losing fat nd becoming buff is done with diet. There's a body building expression "abs are made in the kitchen". You aren't a body builder, but the priciple is the same. If you are eating too many calories to lose fat, you won't see the benefits of the exercise.

Original poster
Dollyboo · 13/02/2013 21:14

Keeping- oh I beg your pardon?? Apologies....,,LOSE

OP posts:
CMOTDibbler · 13/02/2013 21:14

You'll have to do an awful lot of exercise to see weightloss if you are still eating the chocs. 30 minutes running is less than one cupcake for instance.

Try myfitnesspal or foodfocus, log what you eat and what you do and see how it adds up

Original poster
Dollyboo · 13/02/2013 21:16

CMOT- I'm on MFP. Take today for example, I ate a frozen curly wurly and a chocolate digestive bar. I wished I hadn't but am not able to control the urges.

OP posts:
Yakshemash · 13/02/2013 21:16

Do you currently do a lot if exercise OP? I don't want to piss on your bonfire, but it takes a fuck of a lot of exercise to burn off even one or two 'sweet treats'... Think 40 mins running for one Mars Bar (I'm guessing, but I'm not far out).

Yakshemash · 13/02/2013 21:17

X-post! I cycle over 100 miles a week but I still pack weight on if I don't control my sweet tooth.

PoppyWearer · 13/02/2013 21:17

What syd said. It's about calories in/out. You need a lot of exercise to shift the calories, sadly.

sarahseashell · 13/02/2013 21:18

bit cold for a frozen one Grin

if you eat that just eat less for tea/ less bread or whatever?

Original poster
Dollyboo · 13/02/2013 21:18

Yak- nope, I'm not doing a huge amount maybe 2 hours a week on the treadmill at home.
I am hoping that joining a gym tomorrow will make me feel better and less want to binge on crap.

OP posts:
Anifrangapani · 13/02/2013 21:21

When I exersise I am more mindful of what I am eating. Although I also know people who do lots of sport and put weight on. I guess they feel they will burn it off.

lastnightidreamt · 13/02/2013 21:21

Unfortunately I agree with other posters. It's pretty much impossible to lose weight with exercise alone. In fact, I find that on days I exercise, I eat more due to a) feeling hungrier and b) feeling that I can. This would no way be compensated for by the calories that I had used up.

Obviously exercise plays a huge part in well-being (mental and physical), but to lose weight, you've got to control the diet too.

Original poster
Dollyboo · 13/02/2013 21:22

I really wish I could control my emotional eating problems. It's a lot better than it previously was....Just wish I could lose some body fat around 7 lbs.

OP posts:
MrsMiniversCharlady · 13/02/2013 21:22

What about doing intermittant fasting? I find it basically impossible to completely give up chocolate/biscuits etc, but with IF I only have to deny myself for a day at a time and know that the next day I can have something to treat myself. Although I actually feel fewer hunger pangs and cravings on the fast days!

EmmaBemma · 13/02/2013 21:24

It's totally do-able. Just make sure you don't overeat after exercise, as so many people do, and make sure your exercise is varied and of sufficient regularity and intensity. I do an hour of mixed cardio and weights 5 times per week (mix of running, bike, rowing machine, core exercises and free weights), I eat what I want, never ever diet, and my weight has been stable for the last 4 years or so, my BMI is 21 I think. (ie, fine, I'm a size 10 at 5 foot 9)

Original poster
Dollyboo · 13/02/2013 21:24

Mrs- hmmm, it's not something I've come across. How does it dork?

OP posts:
mamapants · 13/02/2013 21:28

I find exercise is the only way to lose weight. If I am really vcareful and don't eat any treats it doesn't make any difference to my weight but when I'm really enjoying my exercise I quickly get back to a weight I'm happy with and still enjoy all the treats I want.

MoodyDidIt · 13/02/2013 21:28

i was shredding 3 times a week last year for about 6 months and while i definitely toned up, and felt good mentally, i was permanently starving, and did not lose an ounce, in fact i gained weight (only a couple lbs) but was v disheartening

yellowbrickrd · 13/02/2013 21:29

I tried this but i'm sorry to say it doesn't work. If you already have problems controlling your eating it will just go off the scale due to real hunger - I decided to train for a half marathon and ended up putting ON weight and picking up a heel injury.

yellowbrickrd · 13/02/2013 21:32

I also second IF - i'm doing 5:2 and losing steadily, it's the first diet i've ever been able to stick to as it allows you to be 'normal' most of the time.

NewAtThisMalarky · 13/02/2013 21:33

If you are struggling with emotional eating and cravings, then EFT or hynotherapy can be really effective to break the emotional link to the food. I know, because I had the same problem. It's early days for me yet, but the cravings are not really there now.

Worth thinking about.

BikeRunSki · 13/02/2013 21:34

In my experience, diet and exercise is the way to lose weight.