There's a question that's constantly asked: is diet or exercise more important for weight loss? While both are key components of weight loss, it's very challenging, if not impossible, to out-exercise a poor diet. Conversely, a good diet can lead to weight loss results even if an exercise program is less than stellar.
Calorie Burning Basics
Your body burns a certain number of calories every day, even if you sit in bed all day. This is known as your basal metabolic rate (BMR). The key to weight loss is that you have to eat less than your BMR or burn enough calories to offset any excess consumption above BMR. To lose 1lb, you will need to reduce or burn 3,500 calories.
Your body burns a certain number of calories every day, even if you sit in bed all day. This is known as your basal metabolic rate (BMR). The key to weight loss is that you have to eat less than your BMR or burn enough calories to offset any excess consumption above BMR. To lose 1lb, you will need to reduce or burn 3,500 calories.
The Candy Bar Example
Let's say I decide to treat myself to a nice, fattening, unhealthy candy bar. I eat my fair share of them over the course of the year. A candy bar takes me about 1 minute to eat. I just added 300 calories to my intake. If I want to burn that off, I'm going to need to exercise for 30 minutes. I could have saved that time by not eating those 300 calories in the first place. That's the simplest reason diet is more important than exercise for weight loss.
Let's say I decide to treat myself to a nice, fattening, unhealthy candy bar. I eat my fair share of them over the course of the year. A candy bar takes me about 1 minute to eat. I just added 300 calories to my intake. If I want to burn that off, I'm going to need to exercise for 30 minutes. I could have saved that time by not eating those 300 calories in the first place. That's the simplest reason diet is more important than exercise for weight loss.
Creating a Caloric Deficit
The key to weight loss is to create a caloric deficit. If you're currently eating 500-1,000 calories over BMR, you would need to exercise 1-2 hours per day. The alternative is to focus on dieting and gradually reduce those calories. That's not to say that exercise doesn't have a place in the equation. Any calories you burn exercising are a great bonus. It's just that there aren't enough hours in the day to exercise long enough to burn off a significant caloric surplus.
The key to weight loss is to create a caloric deficit. If you're currently eating 500-1,000 calories over BMR, you would need to exercise 1-2 hours per day. The alternative is to focus on dieting and gradually reduce those calories. That's not to say that exercise doesn't have a place in the equation. Any calories you burn exercising are a great bonus. It's just that there aren't enough hours in the day to exercise long enough to burn off a significant caloric surplus.
Accelerating Weight Loss
The best starting point for weight loss is to focus on your diet. However, as you get closer to your ideal weight, there is only so far you can reduce your caloric intake. At this point, you'll need to really focus on exercise to burn excess calories. Additionally, resistance training is critical to not losing muscle mass when you're eating a caloric deficit. While diet is more important than exercise for weight loss, combining the two will really help you burn fat and lose a significant amount of weight.
The best starting point for weight loss is to focus on your diet. However, as you get closer to your ideal weight, there is only so far you can reduce your caloric intake. At this point, you'll need to really focus on exercise to burn excess calories. Additionally, resistance training is critical to not losing muscle mass when you're eating a caloric deficit. While diet is more important than exercise for weight loss, combining the two will really help you burn fat and lose a significant amount of weight.
Dave provides no-nonsense "best of the best" diet and exercise tips to lose fat and build lean, defined muscle without spending hours in the gym. There's no point in using a bodybuilder routine to get a fitness model physique. These are Not Your Average Fitness Tips.
Read more about HIIT workout routines and download a FREE copy of Dave's Fitness in a Flash report to help get a lean, athletic look in no time.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Dave_Marte
I love the way you write and share your niche! Very interesting and different! Keep it coming!
ReplyDeleteDietsinreview