Exercise or Diet

Ask someone which is more important in the quest to lose weight and maintain it, diet or exercise and be ready to hear many diverse answers. Many people believe if they workout enough they can eat as many Twinkies as they can consume.  Others believe the perfect body lies within the latest hunger suppressing capsule at the drugstore.  There have been low or no carbohydrate fads that promise to help shed 10 pounds in a week and 3 minutes a day to perfect abs and thighs.  Which, if any, is correct?

Actually, neither of those emphasizes a “healthy” balance or solution.  Sure, they will lose weight but at what cost?  Too much exercise can actually cause damage to the body, dietary supplements can have adverse effects and don’t teach behavioral modification so once you stop taking the latest, greatest pill you gain the weight again, carbohydrate elimination has been shown to lower metabolism and decrease muscle tone, and let’s face it, 3 minutes a day of anything will not change your body.  So what is the answer?  Is it diet or exercise which is the key to weight loss?

To lose weight, diet is the key, but to maintain the weight loss, exercise is vital according to Robert H. Eckel, M.D., chairman of the American Heart Association's Nutrition, Physical Activity and Metabolism.  Both exercise and diet can lead to the same end result but it is easier to reduce your caloric intake by eliminating your afternoon vending machine snack versus talking a brisk 2 mile walk on a daily basis (if you are not in the habit); each of which has the same net result of minus 230 calories.

Does this mean to give up on your latest attempt to start an exercise plan? Definitely not; studies have shown most dieters regain the weight in a relatively short time period if they do not engage in physical activity.  95% of people who are successful in their endeavor to shed pounds include exercise as part of their daily routine, yes daily, not biweekly or haphazardly.  

The best advice is to start and stick to a healthy balance of both healthy eating and moderate physical activity.  Healthy eating doesn’t mean forget the caloric indulgences like a chocolate shake you enjoy but merely reduce the frequency. A good fitness routine doesn’t mean running 6 miles your first day on the track but starting a slow, consistent exercise habit that you can enjoy most days of the week.

In conclusion, diet and exercise are both necessary Make a lifestyle change and enjoy the rewards.

By Christina Leon, Staff Writer