Losing weight by exercising is hard to do.
A guy of average size who runs at an average pace for 30 minutes, will probably lose about 300 calories.
And you would need to repeat this at least 10 times in order to lose a single pound of fat.
That's a lot of running and a lot of time.
There are other problems with trying to lose weight by exercising.
You can work up an appetite and end up eating more food or drink.
This directly 'restores' those calories you've lost by exercising.
How often do people go to the gym, lose 250 calories by exercising and then consume 500 in the cafe afterwards! This makes no sense at all if you are serious about trying to lose weight.
Exercising can help you lose weight and may have other benefits in terms of health.
But it really is not the most significant factor or the best way to go about slimming.
Reducing the amount of calories you consume each day is a far easier way and more efficient way to lose weight.
By simply cutting out say a regular sized latte and a cookie from your daily diet, you will be saving as many calories (if not more) than if you had gone for a 3-5 mile jog.
Even cutting out half as many calories, perhaps by switching to a skinny latte and swapping the cookie for a piece of fruit, could save you as many calories as running 3-5 miles every other day.
So when I advise clients on how to devise their own weight-loss program I tell them to remember that:
Focusing on your energy intake versus your activity level can help you achieve the weight you want to achieve without having to pound a treadmill for hours on end.
So remember, exercise can help you to lose weight and be made part of your program.
But you certainly don't have to include exercise in your weight loss program and can lose all the weight you want just as easily without exercise.
A guy of average size who runs at an average pace for 30 minutes, will probably lose about 300 calories.
And you would need to repeat this at least 10 times in order to lose a single pound of fat.
That's a lot of running and a lot of time.
There are other problems with trying to lose weight by exercising.
You can work up an appetite and end up eating more food or drink.
This directly 'restores' those calories you've lost by exercising.
How often do people go to the gym, lose 250 calories by exercising and then consume 500 in the cafe afterwards! This makes no sense at all if you are serious about trying to lose weight.
Exercising can help you lose weight and may have other benefits in terms of health.
But it really is not the most significant factor or the best way to go about slimming.
Reducing the amount of calories you consume each day is a far easier way and more efficient way to lose weight.
By simply cutting out say a regular sized latte and a cookie from your daily diet, you will be saving as many calories (if not more) than if you had gone for a 3-5 mile jog.
Even cutting out half as many calories, perhaps by switching to a skinny latte and swapping the cookie for a piece of fruit, could save you as many calories as running 3-5 miles every other day.
So when I advise clients on how to devise their own weight-loss program I tell them to remember that:
- Exercise can help you lose weight but it is NOT ESSENTIAL.
- If you are not careful, exercise can cause you to gain weight, if you eat more as a result.
- Your program must focus primarily on reducing the energy you are taking in rather than trying to burn off the excess fat you are already carrying.
Focusing on your energy intake versus your activity level can help you achieve the weight you want to achieve without having to pound a treadmill for hours on end.
So remember, exercise can help you to lose weight and be made part of your program.
But you certainly don't have to include exercise in your weight loss program and can lose all the weight you want just as easily without exercise.