Has anybody lost 60+ pounds without exercise and without extra skin?

I'm curious to hear some stories from people who have managed significant amounts of weight (60+ is what I'm looking for) WITHOUT exercise. To those people who are willing to share their story...

1. What was your starting weight?

2. What is your current weight?

3. How long did it take for you to reach your goal weight?

4. Did you have any extra/hanging skin near the end of your journey?

5. What was/is your diet like?

6. I'm hoping the answer to this question is no, but I'm going to ask it anyway... Did you exercise? If so, what was your routine like?


Thanks a bunch in advance everybody. :)
Much love and Alohas,

Ihilani Kapuniai aka Mztenderheart

Hi! I've lost about 75 pounds. At my heaviest,  I weighed 189...I am now, and have been, holding steady at about 115-117. It took me approx. 10 months to lose it and I have kept it off for almost a year. I do have some extra skin, but it's manageable (although I'm considering a tuck in the future). I have alo had 4 kids, so that it moreso the reason for the ksin, I'm thinking. I exercise -- I don't know how to lose that much weight without doing so. I still exercise each day, about an hour of cardio 5-6 days a week, with alternating strength 3-4 days a week. My diet is full of fruits, veggies, whole grains, and as little processed foods as I can find. I try to think of food as fuel, so I am making it a habit to RARELY eat for pleasure. Good luck!

Hi!

My starting weight was 238, and my current weight is 148. It took me about 1 year to lose 80 lbs., and another year to lose the last 10.

When I first lost, I had a little wobbly skin, but nothing hanging or out of control. The biggest place I noticed sag was in my boobs (I went from a DDD/E to a large C/small D).

My diet at first was shakey. I still ate crap, but ate only enough crap to fit within my calorie alottment. When I started I ate between 1600 and 1800 calories a day. Since then, I've become a really healthy eater (after I realized that you can eat a lot MORE when it's good for you!).

YES! I exercise and I LOVE it. I hated it at first - hated sweating, hated moving, hated everything - now I can't imagine NOT doing it. At first, I only exercised to supplement my diet (i.e. If I knew I was going out that night, I'd work out to burn off the excess cals I'd consume). Now, I try to work out every other day or everything 3rd day (3-4 times a week). It definitely helps in the weight loss.

I lift weights now (I recommend the book New Rules of Lifting for Women), and it has made the BIGGEST impact on my body. Any place where I was still jiggly is firm now, or getting there, and I FEEL strong. I highly recommend a combination of interval cardio and strength training.

Feel free to message me if you have questions!

1. What was your starting weight?  250 lbs

2. What is your current weight?  149 lbs

3. How long did it take for you to reach your goal weight?  11 months

4. Did you have any extra/hanging skin near the end of your journey?  Nope
 
5. What was/is your diet like?  Lots of veggies, water, fruit, popcorn, and 1 cheat dinner a week.

6. I'm hoping the answer to this question is no, but I'm going to ask it anyway... Did you exercise? If so, what was your routine like?  I used treadmill 3 times a week to walk.  Not run, not jog....walk.

~H~

Studies have shown that the key to KEEPING weight off is exercise, not diet.  If you want to lose weight without exercise, most likely you will gain the weight back.  I would just start slow on your exercise, and find something you enjoy. You'll thank yourself later.

Original Post by thejoyfulloser:

Studies have shown that the key to KEEPING weight off is exercise, not diet.  If you want to lose weight without exercise, most likely you will gain the weight back.  I would just start slow on your exercise, and find something you enjoy. You'll thank yourself later.

 I have actually heard the opposite...it's diet, not exercise.

~H~

1. What was your starting weight? 330 pounds

2. What is your current weight? 206 pounds

3. How long did it take for you to reach your goal weight? I still have 26 pounds to go... been at it for 2 years so far!

4. Did you have any extra/hanging skin near the end of your journey? I have excess skin on my upper arms and stomach, but everything else seems to be okay.

5. What was/is your diet like? I eat sensibly, 1400-1500 cals a day. I have a treat on the weekend (meal, drinks or something).

6. I'm hoping the answer to this question is no, but I'm going to ask it anyway... Did you exercise? If so, what was your routine like? When i first started I was very heavy so the exercise was minimal, but as the pounds came off I joined a gym and do cardio/weights/swimming 2-3 times a week. I also try to go out walking on my lunch break each day.

I always knew I had a lot of weight to lose so I have done is slllllooooowwwlllllyyy!!! But I must add every person is different. The following factors play a part:

How much excess weight you carried (skin is worst with 100+ losses)

How long you carried the excess weight for (the longer the time, the longer the skin has been stretched for).

Your age (the younger you are, the more elastic and 'bouncy' your skin is).

Whether or not you have yo-yo dieted (persistant gains and losses, especially large fluctuations will really effect elasticity).

Whether you have had any children (ditto the above).

Whether or not you have exercised, goes without saying.

Although I am 25, without children, have lost weight slowly with exercise I still have an 'apron' belly. I will be having surgery this year (hopefully) once I have reached my goal weight.

You cannot predict the future of your skin, just try everything you can to minimise it. Good luck! :o)

Starting weight - 235 pounds
Current weight - 165
Goal weight - 140

It took me 3 years to get this far and I expect it to take me another year to get to 140, then I'd like to trim down another 10 pounds from that.  We'll see...

I'm an old lady, so of course things sag, but I just don't worry about it because I feel so good.

My diet is pretty much this Simple Diet Plan .  My maintenance calorie level is 1750, and I try for 1400 a day.  I depend on the Food Log to keep it all straight.

I can't exercise because of medical conditions - I did it all with diet.

I have lost 70 lbs

1.  Starting weight 210 lbs

2.  Current Weight:  140 lbs

3.  Goal Weight: 140 - 150 lbs (any where in that range is fine). 

4.  It took me a year to reach my goal weight.

5.  I think I still have some areas that could be tighter but as far as hanging - NO hanging skin...I attribute the no hanging to a slow steady reduction in weight while exercising to keep it toned.

6.  I actually threw the word diet from my vocabulary...I had decided early on it would be a lifestyle change - one that would effect my LIFE....and it has.  I eat more today than I did when I was heavier...the difference is I am eating BETTER and more nutritional foods versus JUNK....plus I exercise religiously.

7.  I do exercise...my routine has evolved...I have added things and removed things....always changing...in the beginning I think I may have walked just 1-2 miles a day...and it was at a 4.0 pace....today I do HIIT training and do every other day 7.75 miles (3 x a week) 4.5 miles with weight training (3 x a week)  

Original Post by haley_2008:

Original Post by thejoyfulloser:

Studies have shown that the key to KEEPING weight off is exercise, not diet.  If you want to lose weight without exercise, most likely you will gain the weight back.  I would just start slow on your exercise, and find something you enjoy. You'll thank yourself later.

 I have actually heard the opposite...it's diet, not exercise.

~H~

You heard wrong.

1. What was your starting weight?  198

2. What is your current weight?  131

3. How long did it take for you to reach your goal weight?  18 months

4. Did you have any extra/hanging skin near the end of your journey?  Yeah, a little bit.  My stomach & boobs were flabby but after a few months they tightened up.

5. What was/is your diet like?  I've been on and off Calorie Count.  The 1st time with Calorie Count, I lost 20 pounds in 2 months without exercising.  When I gained some of it back, I started exercising without dieting (I just cut out a few really fattening foods but otherwise ate normally).  I hit a plateau at 150, so I took Alli and went down to 129.  After I got off Alli, I was up and down between 130-145.  I returned to Calorie Count in March, trying to lose that last 10 pounds.  I've lost 7 lbs. so far.

6. I'm hoping the answer to this question is no, but I'm going to ask it anyway... Did you exercise? If so, what was your routine like?  Yes, most of the time I did exercise.  I went from 198 to 178 just dieting, but at 178, I started on the elliptical trainer.  I went gradually from 5 minutes every day to 2 hours a day.  Sometimes I would do treadmill or walking around the block too.  At one point I was on the elliptical trainer for 3 hours/4 days a week.  That was way too much for me (I started gaining weight again and I was constantly sick.)  Now, I work out on an Arctrainer for 30-40 minutes 4 days a week and I do weights about an hour every day.

Honestly, I'd recommend exercising.  Unless you're obese, you probably won't be able to lose weight without it.  It's hard at first, especially if you're not used to it, but if you start out slowly and do a little bit more everyday, you'll find it gets easier with time.

Hope That Helps :)

Original Post by haley_2008:

Original Post by thejoyfulloser:

Studies have shown that the key to KEEPING weight off is exercise, not diet.  If you want to lose weight without exercise, most likely you will gain the weight back.  I would just start slow on your exercise, and find something you enjoy. You'll thank yourself later.

 I have actually heard the opposite...it's diet, not exercise.

~H~

 I agree with Haley here - weight loss is totally 80% diet, 20% muscle work (i.e. get busy). My answer:

• Starting weight: 205 (heaviest) & 175 (held for 7 yrs)
• Current Weight: 140 (although I am "bulking" now it will be 135-ish)
• How long did it take: 1 year to break from 175 to 135 via diet alone; and 1 year in the gym with diet to bring me fome a size 8 @ 135 to a size 3/4 @ 135
• Extra skin: around my inner upper thighs and my stomach for sure. It's actually the only reason I don't look dam near perfect :/
• What diet was like: 1st year it was horrid, ate ok but I didn't sleep much, and I drank, smoked pot, and drank about 12 cups of coffee a day. 2nd year I cleaned it up to the max and I still have room for improvement but it's a cleaner diet than anyone I know (sans CC).
• Exercise?: Not the first year - in fact I hated exercise. But after the first year I met my bf (body builder) and my thoughts changed. I had about 35% body fat, hecka cellulite, and I was nowhere near my potential. Fattest skinny girl you ever did see! lol!!
• Now I work out 4-5 days and rest a day. Tu/Thurs/Sat are cardio days (HIIT, Spin, Long Distance Running). And my weights go in cycles of Legs, Shoulders, Back & Bi's, Chest & Tri's. And I play Basketball one day a week. About 6 mos ago I had 21% body fat... so it's workin - we'll see what I'm at this summer ;D

Finally, G'luck hun! :)

 I agree with Haley here - weight loss is totally 80% diet, 20% muscle work (i.e. get busy).

Yep proof is here :)

Original Post by haley_2008:

Original Post by thejoyfulloser:

Studies have shown that the key to KEEPING weight off is exercise, not diet.  If you want to lose weight without exercise, most likely you will gain the weight back.  I would just start slow on your exercise, and find something you enjoy. You'll thank yourself later.

 I have actually heard the opposite...it's diet, not exercise.

~H~

 Your diet is most of your weight loss. You can NOT out train your diet. However, I have seen studies that show people who regularly exercise are the ones who tend to keep it off. So I guess you're both right?

I was going to say the same thing. It seems diet is the major factor in weight loss, but exercise is key for maintaining that loss. I personally cannot live without exercise any more. For me, diet alone was never enough (maybe I wasn't trying hard enough), but when I added exercise, everything came together. I've gone from 258 to 195 (45 lbs were in the last year) and still have a long way to go, but I'm slowly getting there. I exercise like crazy, but still need to clean up my diet a bit to keep making progress. I've been stuck for a few months now.

1. What was your starting weight?

360 lbs

2. What is your current weight?

300 lbs

3. How long did it take for you to reach your goal weight?

About a year, but I honestly only worked on it off and on during that year.

4. Did you have any extra/hanging skin near the end of your journey?

Some. I still have a lot left to lose, though, so I bet it'll only get worse. 

5. What was/is your diet like?

Fairly balanced, but usually too low on protein. Average 1200 cal per day, sometimes less. (My doctor said  I'd be okay at 1000, so don't attack me for this, please?) Wide variety of fruits and veggies, whole grains when possible. Most items prepared from scratch, and most of the fats from things like olive oil, avocados, dairy, and oily fishes.

6. I'm hoping the answer to this question is no, but I'm going to ask it anyway... Did you exercise? If so, what was your routine like?

Yup. I walk about 40 minutes or so Monday through Friday, and I try to get in at least an hour and a half at the gym at least a couple of times per week, although I tend to slack off about the gym if I get sick or have too much homework. During the summer I do a lot of swimming, some bike riding, occassionally floating the river, a bit of berry-picking, and other activities that are way more entertaining than the gym!