In theory, if you're starving, exercising less helps conserve energy. But obviously you're going to place finding food and eating at the top of your to do list. But dieters today do exactly what they shouldn't do...exercise less if they were to starve and start dieting when trying to lose weight.
The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System recently published their findings from a 21 state study with over 112,000 participants on how weight loss methods affect dieter's success.
Each participant was placed into one of four categories based on the weight control method they used.
1. Increasing physical activity
2. Eating fewer calories
3. Combination of fewer calories with exercise
4. None (not trying to lose weight)
For those who were trying to lose weight, the most common weight practices were eating fewer calories without other methods (32.3% of women, 24.1% of men) and eating fewer calories with exercise (33.8% of women, 19.9% of men).
Increasing physical activity as a sole weight-loss practice was reported by 3.4% of women and 4% of men.
The last statistic on exercising without dieting is where I get lost. It's hard for me to understand how only 3% of women and 4% of men use exercise as their sole weight loss practice. Is anything wrong with this?
Yes, we are wrong. The entire weight loss industry is wrong!
It all reminds me of a slogan from a few years ago, "Simply Weight Loss." It represented a return to diet basics. And that's when it hit me, a return to diet basics is what is wrong.
Dieting is Wrong
You're too heavy and you need to lose weight. The extra pounds pushing you above your ideal weight, resulted from a chronic state of positive energy balance...eating more calories (energy) than the body needs.
This is usually followed by the question, "Why doesn't my body just get rid of the extra energy?" I totally agree. Just get rid of all that extra energy, send it on it's way.
Unfortunately, the laws of thermodynamics are what mess things up.
The tough law to get around involves the whole idea that you can't create or destroy energy. It's constant. Since you can't simply destroy energy, you have no choice but to use the extra energy (packed into calories) or store it.
So, how does this make dieting wrong? Dieting only works in theory. In theory, dieting, which is synonymous with calorie restriction, causes total body energy to decrease in hopes of creating an energy deficit.
To make up for this deficit, the body will tap into energy stores to cover immediate needs. So, in theory, dieting causes weight loss.
Is this what occurs in dieters? Yes and no.
The Best Method for Using Stored Energy
Dieting, a.k.a. calorie restriction, slows down the resting metabolic rate, throwing the body into a state of energy conservation. This is not conducive of weight loss but instead is perfect for gaining weight.
Those dieters that do lose weight and keep it off, practice my concept of slow & low.
Now what? Exercise.
What is the best method for using the extra energy we didn't use in the past? Exercise. Start an exercise program first, one that centers on muscle tone and strength, then use dieting on an as needed basis to lower total body energy.
The Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System published perfect statistics. We should be using exercise as a sole weight loss method more often.
To Healthy Living!
Michael Smith, MD
Chief Medical Consultant
Diet Basics Website
Dr. Michael Smith is the Chief Medical Consultant for Diet Basics, a content based website dedicated to the on-line dieter. Please visit Dr. Smith at the slow & low and learn about things like, "Your Real Dieting Problem" and "Diet Shock." Dr. Smith's site is true cutting edge material. In an internet full of weight loss "experts" it's obvious when you find a real professional -- The Diet Basics Website.
Wood Dale Chicago prom limo .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareNo One I Know Looks Like a Bathing Beauty, so... Read More
Gastric bypass surgery involves stapling the stomach to make it... Read More
Barriers to healthy diets are placed into four broad categories:... Read More
Are you unhappy with your current weight but aren't "motivated"... Read More
Many patients of gastric bypass report feeling fearful of succeeding... Read More
From driving up your blood pressure and cholesterol, to increasing... Read More
The human body is designed to run best on a... Read More
Drink plenty of water. Our body needs a lot of... Read More
Every weight loss surgery patient I've met said they at... Read More
Considering the US Center for Disease Control's advice is a... Read More
I was so embarrassed for her. After a grueling 45... Read More
You could try one of the many sexual enhancement drugs... Read More
Visualizing and Declarations are today's topics.Visualize what you want as... Read More
Weight loss, diets and "carbs" are common household topics. There... Read More
The safe way to lose weight begins with a thorough... Read More
First off, let me start by saying this list is... Read More
Quick, what's the first thought that pops into your head... Read More
Low self-esteem produces a game of control. It causes a... Read More
If I were asked, "what is the most difficult thing... Read More
MYTH: Fad diets work for permanent weight loss.FACT: Fad diets... Read More
Get to the ROOT of the matter: If the plants... Read More
Life is extraordinary filled with wonderful people to show up... Read More
In our quest to get that "perfect" body, we actually... Read More
Healthy living begins with healthy eating and healthy eating begins... Read More
All Diets Are Based on the Same Premise: Eat Less... Read More
Antigo wedding limo ..There are a few different ways to determine if you... Read More
The world today has more obese and overweight people than... Read More
* Not walking on a treadmill everyday for 45 minutes... Read More
We are inundated by exhortations to lose weight - from... Read More
When Instant Results Take TimeYesterday I decided to "get back... Read More
Food manufacturers can easily manipulate a whole population by the... Read More
The words I read made me furious. There it was,... Read More
Some of you will not like what I have to... Read More
Some of my dieting tips are not conventional. You can... Read More
Weight Loss Red Flag GuideDespite claims to the contrary, there... Read More
If you are like everyone else who has hit rock... Read More
Thankfully, winter does not last forever! In the spring there... Read More
Is it easy to lose weight? Yes. Losing weight is... Read More
If you want to reduce your body fat, focus on... Read More
You may not like what I have to say, even... Read More
To continue the educational series on your health and fitness... Read More
The overweight and obesity epidemic is a worldwide problem. There... Read More
Whole grains and weight loss have a definite, scientific, and... Read More
Body wraps can help tone and tighten the skin, improve... Read More
Axiom Number Two: Hunger ControlTrying to lose weight without understanding... Read More
If you're serious about losing weight and getting fit, you... Read More
Now this is the real American Dream! I'm here to... Read More
If you know someone that has been trying to lose... Read More
Nitrates and nitrites are preservatives that are added to certain... Read More
5 Easy Steps to A Healthier WeightAlthough different people have... Read More
Weight Loss |