Let’s solve some myths right here right now. Yes exercise is
very important and essential for improving your health. Exercise also has the
power to boost your energy, assist in preventing cancer, enhance your mood, reduce the risk
of heart disease and potentially stop the onset of diabetes. However, when it
comes to losing weight, the best and most efficient way to achieve this is to focus on your EATING (no 'D' word in sight (diet) as to me this suggests deprivation) We explain why below.
The Goal: To Lose Weight
Focus: Your Eating.
Why: You may have heard of the 80% diet 20 % exercise ratio
and the fact that abs are made in the kitchen, not at the gym. Whilst I do not
entirely agree with this statement- in my opinion abs are made with Pilates! -
the ratio seems right on track. If you are falling short with your weight loss
goals, the first thing to do is to look at your diet. If you are not fueling
your body with healthy foods, you are never going to lose weight and keep it
off. Also, never ever use exercise as a way to justify indulgent meals that you
consume. It’s a terrible downwards spiral to say “I'll just eat a pizza / tub
of ice cream / block of chocolate and exercise the calories away”. That would
take many more hours than you realise!
The reason that healthy eating is so crucial and directly linked with weight loss is that what you eat is much easier to modify than your exercise
routine. If you want to lose weight, you plan an eating program where you ditch
high calorie foods with high GI levels and little or no nutrients for low
calorie foods with low GI levels and lots of nutrients. Saying no to the pizza
and saying yes to a baked chicken breast takes all of a few seconds and reduces
your copious hours at the gym to make up for eating that greasy pizza. Women’s
Health Magazine weight loss expert Tara Diversi explains more. “A 7km walk
takes a little over an hour for most people and burns around 2000 kilojoules.
It takes much less time and less effort to cut 2000 to 4000 kilojoules a day
with some small and consistent food changes”. Consequently a healthy balanced eating plan is the most direct and shortest way towards dropping a dress size.
Without realising it, people tend to underestimate the
calories they consume and overestimate the calories they burn. Controlling
your portion sizes and the food you put in your mouth is much simpler and more
efficient than going for a 5 hour run every day (and who has the time to
exercise 5 plus hours a day! Not I).
A nutritious eating plan is imperative to weight loss, as your body
needs energy to function. You cannot go on a 10 km walk/run or participate in a
tough Pilates class without your body functioning at its best ability.
We definitely do not mean to say that you should cease
exercise and lose weight by just eating well. Exercise is vital because if you
never challenge your body, you will never see results. Toning and sculpting
muscles comes from regular and frequent exercise. Pilates, swimming, running,
lifting weights, whatever your exercise regime is important as it assists you
in increasing muscle mass, strength and endurance. Eating healthily alone will not and
cannot do this.
It appears that the old saying is true; it really does take
two to tango. With a healthy & nutritious focus to eating and frequent exercise weight
loss will happen! It won’t be easy by any means, but the things we want most in
life never are. One thing is for certain though; it will be worth it.
x Emily
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