Want to help someone loose fat. Any recommendations

[zubairs]

What is the best starting point for a person who has never exercised/dieted in their life?

I understand the caloric deficit component but what about the exercise? Do they start with cardio only or a mix of weights/cardio?

Keep in mind they have no intention of getting ripped or gaining muscle. All they want is to get fit and live a healthy life.

[Redfish225]

What is the best starting point for a person who has never exercised/dieted in their life?

I understand the caloric deficit component but what about the exercise? Do they start with cardio only or a mix of weights/cardio?

Keep in mind they have no intention of getting ripped or gaining muscle. All they want is to get fit and live a healthy life.

1. Calorie deficit

If they’d like a boost

2. Cardio


It’s that simple. And


3. Discipline

[bayrider]

Best answer is they need a mix of cardio and weight lifting with a proper diet.

A more realistic answer is - find something they like to do, enough to do it consistently. Consistency and doing the activity over time is the key. Example some people love cardio so for them they run. Some hate cardio so they only lift. I have a friend who does neither but kayaks all the time. He looks like a weight lifter due to all the shoulder activity rowing the kayak.

Go to the gym and try a few things, see what they like (well maybe the word is don't hate) and ease into the activity.

[Maverick2015]

The first thing is to start tracking calories. Everything else kind of builds on that. You understand the concept of a calorie deficit, so I won't get into that. It can be hard to eat below maintenance. So if you want to eat more, then you have to be more active. Look up NEAT if you haven't already. Cardio is good for the heart and does burn some calories (not as much as you are usually told though). Weight lifting helps to keep more of the muscle you have instead of losing it to the calorie deficit. This means more fat lost per pound of body weight lost. It also burns some calories too.

So start with something you feel you will actually do. For me lately that has been lifting (not that I can lift a lot). Previously I added in jogging to my lifting routine and plan to start that up again soon. The heart is a muscle and does get a workout lifting, but I noticed a big difference in general stamina after doing cardio before.

Any way you get to a calorie deficit works. Both lifting and cardio have their benefits, but you can lose weight with either if you really wanted to. Even though we have some recommendations, it really it is up to you and your goals.

[Runway37]

For me the hardest part is the first week or two of the change in diet. I am doing IF on the 8/16 schedule and I had to suck it up and deal with the discomfort for a week or two, but I came out the other side and for the most part the discomfort and real cravings for ****ty food are gone. Moral support and telling them things get better might be beneficial.

As for exercise, I'll let the experienced people answer that one. I can only speak to diet because I know what's worked well for me. And even then I know far to little, I can really only speak to the psychological part.