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.
shuttle from O'Hare Brocton .. Lockport Chicago limo O’HareYou've decided it's time to lose some weight. A lot... Read More
In life, various factors contribute to weight gain. Be it... Read More
When we discover that we are heavier than we want... Read More
This is a layman marketer's observations on diets and weight... Read More
It is not recommended to lose more than 1 pound... Read More
Cellulite is a recent addition to the English language. In... Read More
You may be considering weight loss surgery if you are... Read More
Your brain has this really interesting system that is kind... Read More
Gastric bypass surgery involves stapling the stomach to make it... Read More
The confusion about eating healthy and dieting will now be... Read More
There are a lot of "crash" diets out there that... Read More
As a Master swimmer I am made painfully aware, each... Read More
Obesity acceptance, also known as fat acceptance, has a simple,... Read More
A common claim from gastric bypass detractors is that after... Read More
Most people are unsure about how to begin a fat... Read More
Every day, it seems, a new study pertaining to weight... Read More
Why was the FDA trying to hide the facts about... Read More
One thing's for sure, in this day & age, if... Read More
These days, Jennifer Secrist has little interest in idle activities.... Read More
If you're taking a fiber supplement or eating a high... Read More
Have you ever wondered why diet books always seem to... Read More
You are probably familiar with the weight loss connection with... Read More
Motivation is a factor often overlooked when it comes to... Read More
Fat Loss in GeneralThis morning I conducted a search engine... Read More
Obesity and fast foods - there's little doubt about the... Read More
Chicago charter limousine service Hickory Hills ..The cost of a tummy tuck is something to consider... Read More
False campaignsMore than 50 percent of Americans and Canadians are... Read More
An eating disorder is a life threatening condition that often... Read More
Are you Telling Yourself It's Too Hard to Lose Weight?Telling... Read More
Water is useful when we are trying for losing weight.... Read More
Generally, weight loss surgery such as the gastric bypass will... Read More
Several months ago I was in desperate need of weight... Read More
Getting started on an exercise program is one thing. Staying... Read More
Do you compete in sports for weight loss or fat... Read More
As a low carb dieter, you have probably been bombarded... Read More
1. Increase your water intake to at least 1 gallon... Read More
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor; nor do I play... Read More
Which diet pill are you currently taking for your weight... Read More
The act of taking the first step is what separates... Read More
One thing I really must say at the outset of... Read More
Protein is an essential nutrient necessary for maintaining good health.... Read More
Search Yahoo for "papaya" and "kirstie" and you'll find at... Read More
Welcome to bodybuilding weightloss exercise tips!This is the engine room... Read More
For the past several years one subject has been coming... Read More
You won't believe what happened to me today!I was getting... Read More
Here are 5 solutions to slimming:1. Set Mini-Goals: Try setting... Read More
Obesity, especially in children, is a matter of rapidly growing... Read More
FACT: Obesity accounts for 300,000 deaths a year in the... Read More
Having just returned from a week of basking on a... Read More
Among the most popular forms of dieting is the South... Read More
Weight Loss |