Has anyone reached their ideal weight without exercise?

[bunjies]

I've been low carbing for nearly 2 years and have so far lost just over 2 stone and have another 2.5 to go. Not amazing but better than nothing at all. I've been stalled for a few weeks and whilst I am converted to the health benefits of this woe I am frustrated at the lack of loss recently. I don't exercise at all other than what I do round the house and in the garden. I am really lazy and hate doing exercise, especially if I'm on my own. I cannot motivate myself at all. Has anyone actually managed to get to their ideal weight without having to exercise?

Please...?

Hi Bunjies

I am not at my ideal weight yet but I have lost about 4 1/2 stone so far and have another couple of stone to go. I have also been low carbing and am terrible with exercise. My weight loss has really slowed down the last few weeks and I really know I should do some exercise but my excuse is that I don't seem to have the time although I know I should make an effort to try and find the time.

You can up your exercise without needing much time! Do a bit of walking - to the next bus stop if you use the bus, parking further away if you drive.

When the kids are in bed you can change into your trackie bottoms and go out, walk briskly for 5, 10, 15 or 20 minutes to speed up your metabolism and heart rate, and then be back home inside 30 minutes. Once you've been doing this for a while, you may want to do Couch25K, which many Mumsnetters have used with great success.

If you don't have a DP/DH at home to enable you to go out for a short walk, you could get a rebounder (small trampoline) and start gently with five minutes or so, building up to longer sessions. You can do this in front of the TV. Argos have a fab Reebok one for about 30 quid, or look on Gumtree or the local paper.

I started with a rebounder while I was using Foodfocus, and bounced for about three months before starting couch25k. I'm now hooked on running, as I love having that 30 minutes on my own to clear my head in the evening.

You don't have to think big. Even a tiny bit more exercise will help.

annner i was going to say just the same thing - dont feel you have to go to the gym or classes, just be a bit more active in your everyday life. Walk instead of driving whenever it is possible. Do some gardening, be a bit more vigorous when you do the cleaning.

Oh, and I find Just Dance on the wii fit gets my heart rate up in a fun way. Or just have a dance to the radio

All those things count as exercise and are perfectly keep-up-able!

OK, thanks for all the exercise related advice which I am well aware of. Have tried C25K but knees not strong enough so had to stop after week 6, have Wii Fit but have no motivation. Went to the gym for 3 months last year, 4x a week but didn't actually lose any weight. Really looking for any evidence that you can reach your target weight without exercise.

mummymels - that's a fantastic weight loss! Well done. How long did it take to get to this point?

Anyone else?

well I lost 3 stone after uni and have just lost 18 pound after ds was born and did not exercise.

I will say that I had to be in the right frame of mind and it meant a real regime of menu planning and portion control, I know that if i exercised I wouldn't need to be so strict but I really couldnt be arsed, which is ironic considering the time I take planning but the key thing is I enjoy cooking and shopping for food and I hate exercising - also I figure hauling a 2 stone son around contributes towards it.

My sister is much fitter than me but isn't as slim, she eats what she wants and exercises a lot but again she enjoys exercising, so each to their own. It suits each of us, she would rather be fitter, I would rather be slimmer (and yes I realise her attitude is the healthier one)

Low carbing is fantastic but 2 stone in and it needs tweaking. You probably need to go back to an induction phase for a couple of weeks or shock your body and do a fortnight of low gi low fat eating incorporating good carbs.

Failing that it'll have to be exercise.

I lost nearly 5 stone without exercise on Slimming World back in 1994 - however I was only 24 back then so I think you find it easier when you are younger. However, I have list 2 stone in the last year with watching what I eat & exercising & whilst I am still heavier than I was when I was 24 I look slimmer because of the exercise - plus I am healthier (ie heart healthy - lung healthy)

So its up to you if you just want to look better or be actually fitter for your future.

Yes with a gastric band.

Thanks guys.

alouiseg - I've been wondering myself whether I need to have a bit of a break to kick start the loss. I'm thinking about doing the 7 day juice thing, especially as I'm really craving fruit .

Joby1970 - the sad thing is that right now I think I would rather be slim than fit . Probably not the healthiest of attitudes but there you go.

Without being more active you may well lose the weight, but you won't be able to keep it off.

Once you end your low carbing or juicing, or whatever, and go back to normal food, the weight will go back on.

Lifestyle change is vital for weight loss maintenance even if you can shift the pounds without one. Trust me. I've been there.

Nobody here has suggested taking up new sports; we've just pointed out ways of becoming more active.

well done ladies glad to know im not on my own i started my diet in Jan 10 and have lost 1 and a half stones im aimimg to loose more my job involves running around plus ive got a 2 yr old who keeps me on my feet and my healthy eating, i have no time or money for the gym as well being a single mum and all now that the weather is brightening up im thinking of abandoning the car as much as possible and either do the bus or walking.