Is it possible to lose weight without working out?

I use to work out a lot, but currently I don't have the time to get to the gym.

So I was wondering if I just diet and watch what I eat will I lose weight?

Fri. Mar 3, 1:55pm

Yes you will definitely lose weight. However, you will not change the shape of your body much.

Friday, March 03, 2006, 2:13 PM

IMO, everyone has time to workout. It's a matter of making exercise a priority and finding ways to fit it in. It can be done.

Friday, March 03, 2006, 2:13 PM

Yes, I successfully lost 30 lbs on Weight Watchers in 2000 without working out. I spent over 4 hours a day commuting and had neither the time nor energy. The only exercise I got was the 15-min walk between the train station and my office twice a day.

Friday, March 03, 2006, 2:44 PM

Absolutely!

I hear that losing weight is 80% nutrition and 20% exercise. That 20% is still significant, but I say start eating well! It doesn't have to be all or nothing. You may find that losing weight will motivate you to get some form of exercise in, even if it's the cliche of taking the stairs instead of the elevator, etc. lol :) But it all works!

Friday, March 03, 2006, 2:58 PM

I DID IT!

I lost 20+ lbs on diet and trying to move about more. But, if you want quicker results and to actually be healthier, exercise is essential.
Good luck either way!!!

Friday, March 03, 2006, 3:04 PM

If you don't exercise and gain muscle, you may be losing muscle when you lose weight. I agree with the other poster, there is always time, it may not be what you WANT to do but make it part of your day.

Friday, March 03, 2006, 3:17 PM

I double agree with those that said you can always make time, there is time if you want it.

Think about it like this, the benefits of diet and exercise are far greater and if you train yourself to do both the weight will stay off quite longer into the future I am sure.

Friday, March 03, 2006, 3:34 PM

No time

Do you watch at least 30 minutes of TV a day - even just the news? Or do you read a book for at least 30 minutes a day? Or even 15 minutes...

If you do, you have time to exercise. There are plenty of exercise tapes out there that you can do in 15-30 minutes a day. Or even just walking, situps, weights, whatever. It is just a matter of setting your priorities.

I'm not being judgemental - if exercise is not your priority there is nothing wrong with that! I know a woman who said she could exercise in the morning but she didn't because she'd rather go to church instead. You can't argue with that, right?

Just don't say you don't have time - it's more likely you just have other things that are more important.

Friday, March 03, 2006, 3:45 PM

To the poster who said she didn't exercise and lost weight, and her only exercise was a 15-minute walk from the train twice a day - that's a good amount of exercise!! That's half an hour of cardio a day! And probably a good mile and a half or more a day! The little things do add up, even if you're not sweating on a treadmill.

Friday, March 03, 2006, 3:57 PM

By defininition cardio should have your bpm over 160 or 150 (or whatever - limits decrease with age).

It's true that walking to and from work for 15 mins is better than nothing, but I still wouldn't really call it exercise. Not unless it's a brisk walk, and who would want to end up sweaty by the time they reach work?

Friday, March 03, 2006, 5:40 PM

totally agree. Movement doesn't necessarily mean exercise. Sure, it's better than nothing, but it's not the same. A liesurely stroll through the mall for an hour isn't exercise. You have to increase your heart rate into the "target zone". If you're not doing that, you're not doing a cardio workout.

I personally get disgusted with the idea that parking your car a little further away is considered "getting more exercise." Little steps are a start. But they're not the goal. I agree that few people don't have time for exercise. You're on this website- you obviously make time for this. Sometimes I think people should spend less time online here, and more time making (Instead of microwaving) meals and getting a workout in...

Friday, March 03, 2006, 7:17 PM

Yes you can

I at this time get very little exercise. I changed my eating habits and that has helped me lose weight. While only doing peertrainer for 2 months, I have lost just over 10 lbs. Don't get me wrong, I do move around alot during the day. I bought a pedometer and found out that an average work day I walk close to 4 miles. But I don't really count this as exercise, because it takes place over ten hours. When I get home, alot of times I am just to tired to walk a mile around the block. I do occasionally use and old exercise bike/machine we have, but find that I can only use if for about 5 minutes. My neck starts to hurt, as well as other muscles.

Friday, March 03, 2006, 9:41 PM

In the past I have lost 40 pounds and never exercised. I went down 4 sizes in clothes and got my figure back. I hate to exercise but now I force myself to get out and walk almost everyday. It makes me sleep better and I feel alot better.

Sunday, March 05, 2006, 11:00 AM

You can fit in some exercises in between other stuff throughout the day.
For example-- I do leg lifts and waist exercises while brushing my teeth. If you are sitting at your desk, you can also do leg exercises and lifts under your desk and other little isometric exercises where you tighten and release various muscles.... It's not a lot, but it will help with firming a bit.

Try sitting on a balance ball and lifting some light hand weights on while watching TV, or even just standing and doing leg lifts, lunges and other exercises while watching TV.

If you don't have a tread mill, even walking in place while watching TV will get your body moving!!

Monday, March 06, 2006, 10:54 AM

Hey, it depends on who you are. If you are 70 years old, walking half an hour a day does count as exercise, possibly even cardio. If you are 20 (and not disabled, obese, or rehabbing an injury) don't kid yourself.

Monday, March 06, 2006, 11:18 AM

I did that.

I lost 44 lbs. without exercise. Now at a lower weight, I find myself *wanting* to move! Before I just didn't have the energy.

Having said that, it took me one full year to lose that weight. Would probably have been quite a bit quicker if I'd exercised.

Monday, March 06, 2006, 11:51 AM

Yes. The only caveat is post pregnancy.

Thursday, November 01, 2007, 10:55 AM

working out... just a little to get started

If you hear a little inner voice whispering... you need to exercise, I suggest you take action. If you can walk comfortably, it's pretty easy (and enjoyable) to squeeze in a five minute walk every day to start with and during those five minutes if you do two 30 second "power walks", you will be amazed at the quick results. Walk as fast as you can, like a speed walker for 30 seconds. I carry a kitchen timer set for the 30 seconds. It boosts your strength very quickly.

I know from experience. I am 44, 237 lbs and walk for an hour and 15 minutes 5xweek with 5 two-minutes power walks. It feels great!!! And when I skip a day, I honestly miss it.

I encourage you to gradually increase both the time of your walk and the power bursts. Good Luck.

Thursday, November 01, 2007, 11:54 AM

When I first started losing weight, I did diet and exercise. I lost about 50 pounds that way. Then, I suffered a back injury and was in bed all the time. I dropped my calories a bit and still lost weight... about 14 more pounds, without exercise. Now my back is fine and I'm going to start exercising again, but it is definitely possible. One problem, though, is that I felt much flabbier and rubbery when I wasn't working out.

Thursday, November 01, 2007, 3:02 PM

I am in a possition right now that I cannot exercise. Though my heart crys to be able to. (health problems.)
I have been actively dieting now for Just over 6 months and have lost 125 pounds.
You can lose weight without exersize. In that time I have done what you all would call exercise 2 times. Literally.
But I don't agree that when a person goes shopping or walks 15 min twice a day, or just gets up and moves, you can't call that exercise. For some people that would not be exercise while for others like myself it is a huge amount of exercise and my body feels it.
It can be very discouraging not being able to do what others do but in time my body will heal and I will be able to get into shape.

I have a walking video that I love by Leslie Sansone and it is perfect for this time of year of when it rains or snows..... I used to be able to do it twice a day and you get a 2 mile work out each time. About 45 min I think. And it is a work out. And works differnt muscles than when you are just plain walking outside. I say plain walking because she mixes it up with different movements.

Good luck OP I hope you can find some time for yourself and pamper your body with exercise.

Thursday, November 01, 2007, 10:27 PM

I too have lost weight in the past without exercising. I prefer to exercise now to keep toned up. I don't want to be thin but flabby.

Friday, November 02, 2007, 12:44 PM

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