Losing weight without really exercising?

I've posted a couple of topics on here with no responses, so if I don't get one this time... hmmmm. I guess I'm not too interesting. Noticed that with a few other people's topics. Guess it's just the luck of the draw.

Here goes nothing...

I know this is an awful excuse, but I literally have no time! This is why I've gained weight, I grab what's easy because I'm always at work or on the go. I seriously feel that my apartment is an extended stay hotel... all I do is sleep there! Of course I occasionally cook meals but I'm usually at work till 7 and end up getting settled in at home around 8. Way too late for me to eat since I need to go to bed around 10:30 to get my full 8 hours (which I absolutely have to have!) Then it's right back to the 10 hour days at the dealership. 

I have always lost significant amounts of weight without exercise, but I was also 18 at that time... and this last time I lost weight it was due to a medication. I guess I've always had it pretty easy, this time I want to just eat healthier all around. I still have a large amount of muscle vs fat left from when I danced in high school... but eventually that WILL go away!

I guess I'm wondering if any of you have kept the exercise very low key, and just really watched the calorie intake. That is much easier than working out for me. I do run around quite a bit all day since my job requires me to jump at any moment and get something done.

I just have to get back into the groove of choosing healthier things on the go! Soon, I know it will get easier again...

Of course you can! But remember that you risk losing significant muscle with the fat. Just be sure to eat your 1200 cals/day (or more if you exercise). Maybe you can do some "secret" exercising at work at your desk or on a break? Maybe take a dance class on the weekend? FUN!

You can lose weight that way (just, as the last poster said, make sure you're eating within a healthy calorie range.) But you will lose muscle as well. And, at least in my experience, a body with muscle tone looks much slimmer than one at the same weight without it.

i recommend at least some sort of excercise to build muscle... i know you are short on time, but what about something like Jillian Michael's 30 day shred? it is a 20 minute workout... and you do A LOT during it.

I am in the exact same boat. Does anyone know a good workout routine you can do at your desk or at work? I know there's a few things to do, but I haven't ever seen an organized program that would be a healthy addition to my day.

I've lost all my weight with no exercise at all but it takes a really long time for me to lose a pound.  I realize that I don't have much muscle mass, but there's nothing I can do about it.   I just know that the less I weigh, the easier it is to move.

 I can't do a lot because of medical conditions, but I do have a routine of mild exercises for flexibility and balance.  I do some of them, to increase range of motion, while I'm watching TV, very slowly, at intervals during the day. The ones for balance I do during just moving around the house.  They include heel to toe walking (like on a tightrope) forwards and backwards, and standing on one foot for 10 seconds without touching anything.  I suppose you could do them sitting at a desk or in an office too.  None of them burns any calories to speak of.  I also try to walk for 10 minutes a day on level surfaces, like the hallways in my building.  Somedays I have to stay in bed.

So, yes, you can lose weight without exercising if you are patient enough.

A really good low-key exercise for busy people is to get hold of a pedometer and aim to get 10,000 steps a day.  What you find happens is that you start to walk more, take the car less....use the stairs, not the lift....  walk up and down the office/home, sit down less... you might even fell encouraged to take a walk after supper or during your lunchbreak.   10,000 steps a day, every day can make a bigger impact on not only your weight but also your general long-term health prospects ... which is arguably more important.  And, by fitting this exercise naturally into your regular day rather than having to take time out to 'do exercise' it means it can easily become a pleasant habit.

Weight-loss is possible without exercise but it's slow. 

I've lost 175 pounds with no exercise. Just kept my calories in sedentary mode. However, I DO exercise now, because I cannot fathom living my life off my maintenance number :) Gotta have my cake and eat it too.

There's always TIME to exercise. Even if it's not getting in the gym type exercise.

Hey also some tips for you eating on the go, on your days off, prepare a meal that can be reheated and place them in individual servings, that way you can eat and go when needed. Have veggies and other low cal snacks to take to work. SOmetimes, a soup or sandwich is a great quick meal. I make a chicken chili that I get 4-6 servings out of per recipe, and an asian pork soup that is delicious. It's low-cal, but very healthy. And always eat breakfast. I can cook and egg and make some toast in under five minutes. It's tasty, but very filling.

I used to use the excuse that i had no time for exercise, or to eat healthy, but really I did, I just had to make that time important. I don't exercsie everyday at the gym, but I try to walk on my work breaks, and even if its too cold to go outside, I have an exercise ball and some fitness videos at home. Just 20 minutes goes a long way. WHile you can lose weight without exercise, you have to be super disciplined in your eating habits, to make sure you eat enough, but not too much. Exercise is great for your heart and body, even just walking 30 minutes a day. And guess what? There is research out there that says that all 30 minutes do not have to be done at once! So...that means you can do 3-10 minute walks, and still get the benefit...the same goes for jogging and running. Have a great day!  

I think the body needs some basic exercise just to keep the circulation going; I've seen folks like my Dad atrophy away cause they couldn't get up and stretch etc.  Sad and scary.  Claire is an inspiration to me.  I have just had a flare up of back and joint pain that has not been fun and makes me feel ancient.  Tomorrow I'm headed to a physical therapist to see if I goofed caused I used a treadmill.  Yes, get in some stretching exercises if nothing else.  Get that blood moving around! 

I know exactly how you feel.  I have LONG days and a REALLY long commute to and from work so I pretty much get home and go to bed as well.  BUT I always make an effort at work to do little things to "work out".  You can do an infinite number of butt squeezes without anyone even knowing which helps.  Also, just standing in front of your desk with you knees slightly bent is a good workout for quads and abs.  If you work in an area where people can't see you at all times you can do tricep dips off your chair and even elevated push-ups off the edge of your desk (if you don't want to get on the floor in your office).  Also you can do "crunches" in your chair as well just by holding your seat with both hands, sitting back a little, and raising/lowering your legs (bent or straight) without touching the floor.  I always run up and down the stairs (two at a time) instead of walking.  And on occasion do some lunges next to your desk.  You can also find great "office workouts" just by searching online or even checking out Youtube!  I think you'll find there are ALOT of things you CAN do at work if you just use your imagination and get motivated!  Put a reminder into your outlook scheduler to pop up at set times during the day to remind you to do your 3 sets of 10 push ups and this will help you stay on task.

I started out last year with the sole intent of losing weight with out working out at all.  i lost a total of 100 lbs with out working out.  once I got to about 100 lbs down I was not burning nearly as many calories as i was before so I have recently started working out.  I hate working out more than I hate just about anything but at least I have the eating thing figured out.

You should think about eating more meals a day.  I have just about no metabolism but when I eat 4 or 5 small (at least 250 calories) meals a day I do much better on the scale.  They (as in people smarter than I, or dumber I guess) claim that if you eat several meals a day spaced out every 2 or three hours you are keeping your metabolism going at a high rate at all times.  That may be a pain in the arse but I feel like it has made up for my lack of physical activity.

Also I assume that since you work at a car dealer you are actually easily walking 10,000 steps a day (if not twice that).  I personally think that you are getting a fair amount of exercise as it is.  So eating right and making sure to have some sort of a deficit will help you lose some pounds. 

I know you can do it!

unless you have quite a bit of weight to lose i don't think it's a very good idea to lose with exercise. i've lost all the weight i'm trying to lose now before, without exercise and an unhealthy amount of calorie restriction, and i'm back at the same starting point. i could not keep that weight off. what's important to me now is that my weight loss is sustainable, and that i am living a lifestyle i can maintain beyond just the losing phase.

do you have a lunchbreak you can take a walk during? i agree that a pedometer would be a good investment as well. there are also a lot of workout dvds on the market that are quick workouts, like 20 minutes or less, and you might try one of those. try being more active in your everyday activities, like parking farther away from work and getting up to talk with a coworker instead of calling or emailing, and that can go a long way as well.

i know what you mean about sleep, though, i need 8 hours, too!

You definitely can lose weight without exercise but as others mentioned you will lose more muscle that way which will ultimately result in a slower metabolism... which results in you gaining back the weight easier next time.  No fun! 

If you have time to sit in front of your computer, watch tv, read a book, talk on the phone, go out to dinner... then you have time to work out.  Everyone has time we all just come up with a million excuses. 

Not to mention that exercise will leave you feeling great!  Dieting without exercise personally just makes me feel crummy, lethargic and tired. 

I have lost about 17 lbs. since July without really exercising, but it has been slow. I have lost between like .8 lbs. - 4 lbs. in a month...but if you are anything like me, you'll take it! The winter is awful where I live, so I definately notice that I just generally move more when there is actual sun and it is above 20 degrees! Over the summer I would occasionally take walks and ride a bike around, but nothing that was regular.

I took a yoga class for awhile but don't anymore. Now a couple times/week at night, I unroll my yoga mat, do leg lifts, stretches, and some free weight exercises. Basically I just do things I don't mind, and do it while I am watching TV or listening to my ipod.

Thank you guys for all the great posts! Yes, the pounds are slower coming off without exercise, I've noticed, but I am getting there!

I was also going to say the pedometer is a great idea since I'm on my feet a lot at the dealership (in heels mind you)... I guess maybe I should get a pedometer and track my steps. Like coatesuwyo said, I probably am doubling the 10k steps a day. I guess I didn't really think about it till now. I mean, I spend a lot of time at my desk, but when someone says go, I'm on it.

I also take walks around the lot to know where all the cars are located so I don't waste a customer's time searching!

You guys are great! I really appreciate all the great replies. I'm going to keep shooting for exercise to fit into my days. I REALLY want to try to get up earlier and do something like the 30 day Jillian Michael 20 minute workout that jenny8484 mentioned. 20 minutes in the morning really isn't that bad, it would definitely wake me up and get me ready for the day!!!

Thanks again!

I'm not sure how feasible this is at your workplace, but if possible, it may help to keep a pair of sneakers by your desk and go for a brisk 20 min walk at lunch time (or even before or after work)? It's not much, but 5x week adds up over a year.