Do I have to exercise to lose weight?

Honestly, no. It is always possible to lose weight without exercising.  With the proper diet, my husband was able to lose over 30lbs without increasing his daily exercise. By simply calculating the calories he needed, balancing his macros (carbs, proteins, and fats), and diligently sticking to his diet, he was able to reach his target weight without adding exercise to his routine. It took time and effort, but he will tell you that it was well worth it.  Anything worth having is going to take time and effort.

Many people want weight loss to happen quickly.  I am here to tell you, that if it is going to last then it is going to take time.  If you want the weight to stay off, then you need to make the lifestyle changes needed to keep it off.  Dial in your nutrition, exercise, get good rest and try to de-stress your life as much as possible.

Now to address exercise. The benefits of exercising while you are working towards a weight loss goal are numerous.  I will give you what I consider 3 of the main benefits.

1.       The right type of exercise will keep you from losing muscle.

2.       The right type of exercise will build muscle which will help you to burn more fat and calories. 

3.       Exercise is a stress reliever and a mood booster.  Who doesn’t need that?!

The takeaway from this is that yes you can lose weight without exercise.  I believe though, that you will maximize your efforts if you add the right type of exercise to your routine.  You will most likely find that you will achieve your goals faster than without exercise.

Looking to lose weight?  Don’t know where to start?  I would love to be able to help you with your nutrition and help you get started on a workout routine that is right for you.