ImalittleLESSfluffyNOW's Journal, 19 Mar 23

at least she's out walking 🙂 

I ended up not syncing my exercise/workouts from my watch to this app because I didn’t want to get those burned calories counted so I can eat more calories. Anything burned to me is “bonus” to contribute to weight loss and I stay at tracking/eating the same amount of calories regardless but that’s just me.😉 

When I was actively in weight loss mode, I looked at exercise as a means to be healthier. I still knew I had to keep my calories lower. I didn't start going to the Gym til after I met my goals. Prior to that walking, gardening, some Yoga/ stretches were my forms of exercise. Now that I've added weights/ Treadmill, etc. I know I CAN eat a little more cause I have maintained the loss & even gradually lost a few more lbs. My purpose in joining the Gym was for health reasons, though....not to be able to eat more. 

I like walking to clear my head and to have a separation from my workday. It’s good on so many levels though. Just makes me feel better. I’m a little limited right now because of Sadie, but we still try to enjoy our adventures and see the world every day. Even if it’s in the dark. 

Is your friend at a healthy weight currently? Does she workout 3x/week doing other cardio? If so, walking an extra hour to burn 300 calories so that she can have a scoop of ice cream on Friday night sounds perfectly reasonable (balance). If she's overweight or out of shape, eating more is never the answer. 

I'm of 2 minds on this. On one hand, I know you can't outrun your fork. Too many people use activity as an excuse to overeat, and the food industry is happy to encourage them. On the other, it is all about balance. I've thought about upping my activity to give me a little room to eat more because it's easier to get all the nutrients I need on a few more calories and, frankly, I really love food 😂 The real trick is to not add on more calories than the activity consumes, which is hard to do when an hour's run can be completely undone by 5 minutes with a slice of pecan pie 

I try to walk to avoid blood clots. But I do use walking longer distances and high incline for my cut phase so I can eat more.  

JustBananas, Friend is overweight - I'm just shocked when I hear " those calories don't count" " I walked so I can eat extra ???". I just feel she will never realize what it takes. Calorie deficit, moving more, building muscle and determination to stay the course and trust the process.  

@Ima: there's really no tactful way to ask a friend, "Don't you want to lose weight?" Maddening, I know, because the extra pounds are hard on the heart, and we want our friends happy & healthy. If she brings up any new illnesses, that's your opening, but otherwise we can only offer to walk with them. 

While it really depends on what else she's doing, but many people don't grasp that exercise doesn't burn as many calories as they think. I certainly eat more on a day I went cross country skiing for 3 hours, but a day when I walk 3 miles? Nope, not so much. Even on ski days, I try not to go wild. Even though an active person can eat more and either maintain or run a deficit, it's a common misconception that exercise means you can eat whatever you want 

Your friend is the one who needs to decide if she wants to lose weight. I don't walk to be able to eat more, for me I don't want to waste the effort it takes when I do a long walk. But I also think it's just good to get out in fresh air and move so at least she's doing that.