Many people want to lose weight for different reasons. Some aim to be healthier while some want to boost their confidence.
Are you planning to shed some pounds, too? Whatever your reason is, keep in mind that losing weight requires a significant amount of willpower and discipline. You need to invest a lot of time and effort before you achieve your desired result.
Exercise and Diet
Exercise and diet are two effective ways to lose weight. You always hear it, yet you still can’t figure out how you can make both work for you. Why is that so?
There are different types of exercise that you can do depending on the body part that you want to concentrate on. The same thing goes for the food you you eat.You would need to fully understand how your body works to know which type of exercise or diet matches your needs.
Moreover, while there are numerous things we could do to achieve and maintain a healthy weight,one thing that you should consider is the amount of resources you have: energy, time, and money. These are important concerns that some people forget to take into account when sharing and trying certain recommendations. Some of us tend to forget the fact that we need to be realistic and practical enough to make our fitness goals more achievable.
Exercise vs. Diet: Which is More Important?
This is one of the most common questions that numerous fitness enthusiasts ask. Should one go for physical activities or opt for eating the right kind and amount of food?
Basically, losing and gaining weight highly depend on caloric consumption and expenditure.Needless to say, eating calories that are less than what you expend makes you lose weight while eating calories that are more than what you expend makes you gain weight. Generally speaking, weight loss can indeed occur through proper exercise or diet.
Meanwhile, it is important to take note that exercise-focused programs are relatively ineffective when it comes to weight loss. Here are some reasons why:
1.Calorie expenditure via exercise is small compared to the large system of things.
Did you know that we spend a great amount of calories each day by just staying alive? This is what we call resting metabolic rate. The truth is adding exercise barely increases the amount of calories burned by the body especially if you don’t do it in right amounts.
2.Most people fail to correctly estimate calorie intake and calorie expenditure.
For instance, there is a study in which the participants were asked to exercise and make an estimate of their caloric expenditure. Afterwards, they went on a buffet and consumed the amount of calories they believed they have burned during the exercise. The result: The participants ate twice or thrice the amount of calories that they actually burned.
From these details, diet is apparently more effective compared to exercise. But that doesn’t mean you should not include it in your daily activities. Take note that you lose weight through eating less, but you gain a better health through exercise.
In hindsight, a healthy weight loss requires both diet and exercise. Just make sure to do them the proper way.
Exercise vs. Diet: Which is Better for Your General Health Goals?
It is undeniable that diet and exercise help a lot in improving one’s health. Here are some aspects of your well-being and the right ways to enhance them:
Weight loss
You have just learned that if you want to shed some pounds, you should focus on diet more. As for exercise, you should do it with the aim to maintain your ideal weight or prevent weight gain.
According to a study, people who choose to exercise for weight loss lose only two or three percent of their weight in six months to one year.Generally speaking, it is easier to just avoid consuming 500 calories in one day than to burn the same amount.
Should you decide to eat less calories, make sure to follow these three principles: First, you should go for a plant-based diet; for instance, fruits, vegetables, heart-healthy fats, etc. Second, limit your intake of processed foods like deli meats, frozen meals, and refined carbohydrates. Third, increase your intake of low-calorie–dense foods.
Heart health
A study has found that women who are physically fit are less likely to suffer or die from heart disease. Apart from helping a person stay trim, exercise fights off stress, increases the flow of blood, and lowers cholesterol.
It is best to opt for cardio exercise; for instance, biking or running. Do this for around 150 minutes in one week with varying intensities. This is to improve your cardiac capacity without exhausting your body.
It also helps to do weight lifting twice a week for 20 minutes per session.
Energy
If you want to increase your energy, you should focus on your diet. While it is true that exercise can provide you with an immediate flow of energy, it is a good diet that can provide you with a steady supply.
To keep a good and even blood-sugar level, it is best to eat up to six times each day or once every three hours. Consume three 200-calorie snacks apart from your main meals. Ideal snacks include good sources of complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, and lean protein.
Apparently, diet and exercise are truly helpful in achieving and maintaining a healthy body. But our health has numerous facets and each one requires a different approach. Before you start your journey to a better well-being, make sure to educate yourself about various healthy options and apply the ones that fit your body’s needs.
Summary
Weight loss or health goals in general – You have just learned that both objectives require proper diet and exercise. While diet is more effective in shedding some pounds, exercise is crucial to ensure a healthy weight loss and prevent weight gain. When it comes to general health goals, one is more effective than the other depending on the aspect that you want to focus on.
In the end, what you need to do is properly educate yourself and carefully do what works for you.
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