Diet and exercise?

[161_3_494]

Hello, I am looking to lose weight and gain fitness. I went for my first run today and really enjoyed it! Is a strict diet suggested to lose weight, or could I be a bit more lenient with diet because I’m exercising?

[IannodaTruffe Mentor]

Welcome to the forum and well done on getting started.

This guide to the plan is essential reading healthunlocked.com/couchto5...

and explains that a half hour workout every other day does not burn significant calories to make you lose weight..........but you will lose inches.

Enjoy your journey.

[161_3_494 in reply to IannodaTruffe]

Thank you very much!

[Speedy60 Graduate]

There is a saying - you can't outrun a poor diet. I lost weight by cutting out poor quality white carbs, fatty meat and alcohol, but that was before I started running.

Myfitnesspal is a good app for keeping track of your diet; if you can link it to a Fitbit, so much the better!

One thing about exercise though, especially running: you might be better throwing away your scales and using a tape measure. A kilo of muscle is more dense than a kilo of fat.

Good luck

[tropical64]

Focus on both fitness and a eating plan that's sustainable.Since losing over 35kg in a year I am now working on my fitness goals and maintaining weight .Still have 7kg to go but feeling healthier and happier since losing the kg's.Find an exercise that works for you .When the UK is back to normal - maybe join a local exercise class .I have personally found the camaraderie of being in a group setting has enabled me to learn from others and have the support of a qualified instructor .

[Scw787 Graduate]

I’ve (re) joined weight watchers-sensible eating and this. So far I’m on week 3 of it all-4 lbs down and more to the point feeling better .... good luck !

[Saladays Graduate in reply to Scw787]

I think that’s a really important point - that you feel better. Do you think you make better food choices because you feel better?

[2718281 Graduate]

I would say that a strict diet is not going to help, I don't know about you, but to me "strict" leads automatically to not sustainable, and that doesn't help long term. I think if you want to lose weight exercise is not going to be the key to success (though there are studies that show that is key to not gaining the weight again), you will need to follow some healthy eating plan that is sustainable to you

[HappyGrecian]

I would suggest exercising AND looking at your diet. I started C25K a month before the lockdown, combined with weight training At the gym on the days I wasn’t running, and calorie counting. I cut out alcohol, white bread, pasta, biscuits and chocolate, and in that month I was losing 3 or 4 pounds a week.

It’s not been so great the last few weeks, as I was really enjoying using the gym, but I’ve just about sustained the C25K (I’m on week 6 Day 3 now), and have started cycling.

As others have commented, I think the weight is easiest to lose at first, but as you exercise more your muscles build up, so actual weight loss happens at a slower rate. The advice to use a tape measure is good, I’ve noticed that my trouser belt can be tightened a lot more now than a couple of months ago!

[Hidden]

If your aim is to lose weight then diet is more important in the long run.

There is a weight loss forum and a healthy eating forum on here that might interest you.

But running will help too so go for it.. 😊👍

Stay safe 🌈