Is It Possible To Lose Weight Without Exercise?
This is an extremely common question because many people dread working out and want to lose weight without exercise. The idea of panting and gasping as they run, jog, cycle, swim or play sport is a very unpleasant thought for many folks who are used to leading a sedentary lifestyle.
Resistance training is more torture because of the muscular aches and pains that will follow the next day. Because exercise involves expending effort, many people don’t like it.
To answer the question as to whether you can lose weight without exercise, the answer is yes. You can definitely become skin and bone if you starve yourself long enough. However, there are several negative repercussions from losing weight through a restrictive diet alone.
Can I Lose Weight Without Exercise?
Let’s look at some of the benefits of exercise and what you can expect if you try to lose weight without working out.
You’ll Not Have A Well-Toned Body
There is a term in the fitness industry known as ‘skinny fat.’ Basically, what this means is that a person is slim yet most of their body consists of fat. This is one of the results of eating little and not exercising. Your body will not have muscle tone because you’re not exercising. This is definitely not healthy and while you may be skinny, it’s not a good state of health to be in.
Low Metabolism
Exercise boosts your metabolic rate. If you don’t exercise, your body will have a low metabolic rate. That will mean that the moment you eat more than you usually do, you’ll gain weight.
It also means that as you age and your metabolic rate drops further, you’ll gain weight even if you eat the same amount. Your slower metabolic rate will not burn the same amount of calories as it once used to. The inevitable result is weight gain.
Muscle Atrophy
As we age, we will lose muscle mass unless we constantly work our muscles. There’s a reason why Sylvester Stallone has more muscle at 70 than most men in their twenties. He never stopped working out. If you don’t exercise, you’ll lose muscle mass as you age. The more muscle you have in your body, the more calories you burn while at rest. The reverse holds true too. When you have less muscle, your tendency to gain weight is much higher. The only way to prevent weight gain as you age is to engage in resistance training.
Prevents Diseases
Your body needs exercise to stay strong. Lack of exercise can lead to cardiovascular disease. Other health issues like diabetes, blood pressure problems, osteoporosis, etc. will be able to take root in a body that is weak. Exercise isn’t just about aesthetics. There’s a very real and serious implication to not exercising enough. Your health and life is at stake here.
When you move more, your body stays limber and flexible. You become stronger and tougher. This will mean that as you age, you will be a healthier and more physically capable individual.
You may have seen many older people unable to get around without assistance or they need walking canes and other aids. In the majority of these cases, you will notice that they’ve led highly sedentary lifestyles and their lack of exercise has come back to haunt them. You really don’t want to end up in such a situation.
Free Download: 15 Minute Workouts For Busy People
For many of us, finding time to exercise when you’re busy is something we know we should do, but exercise is often the first thing to get dropped. Short workouts are a great fat-burning system that can fit in with your lifestyle. It is possible to significantly improve your health and fitness with short workout sessions. Download this free report to see how you can start and maintain a 15-minute fitness plan.