Studies comparing reducing calories with exercise only yielded the following: the group who reduced calories lost an average of 19.8 pounds in 6 months, while the exercise alone groups lost less than 2 pounds in the same period. So you see you can lose weight without “exercise.”
That said, as long as you can stand and move at any level, you can improve health and boost weight loss because you will burn more calories even if it’s not traditional exercise. In fact standing burns ~1.5 times more calories than sitting for the same time and normal walking or pacing can burn 2-3 times more. For example, if a 175 pound person can stand and/or walk 1.5 hours per day more than before, they can burn an extra 150 calories per day. That translates to a 15-pound weight loss after a year.
Final note, only one single fact determines the rate of weight/fat loss: the average daily calorie deficit. This is defined as the difference between how many calories you burn (no matter how you do it) and how many calories you consume. The body never stops burning calories so even a bedridden person can lose weight. Unfortunately, because they can’t move, they won’t be able to eat much because the more you move, the more you can eat.
In theory, weight loss is simple. You need to burn more calories than you consume. In other words, calories going out of your body need to be greater than calories going into your body.
If your health prevents you from exercising, talk to your doctor about cutting your calories. Just by having your heart beat and your lungs breathe, you burn calories. Not being able to exercise does not mean you cannot eat, it simply means you have to eat less.
In addition, your doctor may be able to introduce you to ideas on training that do not fit the stereotypical high impact exercises of which you may be thinking. Many people with chronic disease can participate in low impact activities like yoga, pilates or a specialized personal trainer willing to work with your doctor. Please do not give up on a healthier lifestyle because of a chronic disease.
You can continue to lose weight without engaging in formal exercise. The key is increasing your activity level, even if you don’t engage in formal exercise. Go for walks, when you run errand's park as far away as you can so you have to walk further, take stairs instead of elevators and escalators, do as many of your own household chores as you can. If you combine an increase in activity with a mild caloric restriction this should help you lose weight at a modest rate.
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Important: This content reflects information from various individuals and organizations and may offer alternative or opposing points of view. It should not be used for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. As always, you should consult with your healthcare provider about your specific health needs.