Is it Diet and Exercise or Just Diet?
Reuters published an article yesterday titled Curbing Calories Works in the Long Run. What I really wish could be found is a way to curb appetite.
It seems like everyday another study shows that as important as exercise is to overall health, it really has little effect on weight loss. This is something I have believed for years. When I eat less, I lose weight, regardless of level of exercise. When I have been getting a very large amount of exercise, I do not lose weight. To lose weight, you need to cut calories, simple as that. I also tend to get a fair amount of exercise, but that is because of my interests and hobbies, not because it makes it easier to maintain an ideal weight. Exercise makes me feel better, and makes me stronger and more agile. My diet makes me less fat.
I don’t have a big problem with my weight because I am watchful over my diet, trying to control portions and eating healthy food. But, like everyone else, I wish I was not hungry as often as I am because that would make it a lot less difficult to resist the temptations.
As focused as society is on how much a person weighs, I think it is much more important, (up to a certain point), how a person feels about their weight. Being several pounds over what is considered ideal weight is less important than what you are eating. Someone who is at their ideal weight but has a diet high in sugar, fat, highly refined carbohydrates, and animal protein, and low in vegetables and whole grains, is more at risk for health problems than someone 20 pounds overweight, but who eats a healthy diet.
Focus first on what you eat, then move on to how much you eat. Exercise can then come in many forms and does not have to involve the gym, team sports, or long hikes. I read a while ago that the healthiest elderly folks often were life-long gardeners. My garden requires regular maintenance and provides lots of organic vegetables, often picked a few minutes before eating them.
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I’ve noticed the same thing in general terms, but I do notice that if I make a point of doing just a little extra walking when I am trying to lose weight that it helps. Its not dramatic, but it does seem to give my metabolism a bit of a boost. The change in diet and reduction in caloric intake, however, is effective whether or exercise or not.
Comment by Techfun — October 17, 2007 @ 2:49 pm
I have a friend who argues that it’s ALWAYS about what you eat. She is fond of pointing out that “There are no fat prisoners of war.” Kind of stark, but it makes her point.
Comment by Bobbie — October 21, 2007 @ 7:47 pm
Welcome Bobbie! Even though I have never dived in any way, shape, or form, I really like your site and will have to explore it further. Are all the photographs yours?
Your friend’s example is an extreme situation, but makes a good illustration of the point. I think exercise can help a bit if you exercise enough, but it is eating less that really works. I get a pretty good level of consistent exercise, playing hockey, hiking and gardening. But I still gain and lose weight solely based on how many calories I eat. I can go a couple of weeks being too busy to play hockey or hike and gain no weight. I can also gain a few pounds even when I am exercising more than normal, if I eat too much!
Comment by Will — October 21, 2007 @ 8:08 pm
It is about combining exercise and healthy eating habits, why would you go with one and not the other?
Of course if I had to choose I would say that for the average person a good diet will be more effective.
Comment by Stomach Exercises — February 18, 2008 @ 10:57 am
Yes, Martha, exercise is important for a variety of reasons. In my case, however, it has never made a difference in my weight. The only way I have ever lost a few pounds when I wanted to is to eat significantly less. Very hard to do because of that thing called appetite!
By the way, the girl in the photo on your home page is way too thin! LOL!
Comment by Will — February 18, 2008 @ 11:15 am
I have tried both methods. Diets and Diet & Exercise. However the second one is more efficent as you burn more calories.
Comment by The Truth About Six Pack Abs — March 6, 2008 @ 6:59 am
Hello Will, My situation is similar to you, when I eat I loose weight and even if I exercise for more than an hour per day, I hardly loose weight. I have been studying all the health literature and everything related to diet and health in general, and what I have learned is, its our overall health that matters. Moreover, we eat what our body requires, i.e. we normally eat only that much amount of food, which can easily fulfill our energy requirements. So, I personally do not believe in this concept that we can get fat by eating. Of course it true in case of overeating or just eating without consuming the energy. But otherwise our regular diet never adds up to our weight in general.
So, I would say, we should just keep a balance between what we eat and what we burn (in terms of calories). If that balance is maintained, anyone can remain fit without requiring any exercise. Therefore, it is more of “fitness” in general than “diet” or “diet and exercise”..What do you say?
Comment by Stella — April 23, 2008 @ 2:45 pm
Hi Stella - What I actually meant is that controlling diet seems to work better than exercise to control weight gain. Exercise is important for it’s own reasons, but what and how much I eat always seems to be the factor in my weight. You are lucky, or young, if you can eat all you want and not gain weight. Most of us are not that fortunate! Of course eating healthy food, rather than processed food, snacks, and soda is of utmost importance.
Comment by Will — April 23, 2008 @ 4:31 pm
Few days ago I just talked with one of my fiend. She is telling the same things. Exercise won’t make us loose weight. But if we do enough exercise, our body will be more tight. It means that even with the same weight (between when we do routin exercise and not), we’ll be able to use smaller size clothes if we do routin exercise.
Comment by Betty — May 8, 2008 @ 12:12 am