DIET VS. EXERCISE
May 10th, 2008Hey there, how are you doing? This week I thought of discussing about a topic that has been debated upon for many years now…
Yes diet vs. exercise which is the best way to lose weight???
DIET
Dieting, or temporarily changing one’s eating habits in order to shed body fat is at best, a band-aid approach to weight loss. A more sensible method involves taking the time to learn how to eat, what foods are good for you, and what you need to avoid or moderate in your daily diet.
Instead of blindly following the latest fad diet, educate yourself through reading, seeking out a nutritionist, or even consulting your doctor on what’s best for you. Eating right can involve a bit of leg-work, but eventually you’ll learn that fad and gimmick diets are just a waste of time.
Most experts agree that the best way to reduce body fat is to never let the unwanted calories cross your lips in the first place. The simplicity of this statement is lost on many of us, but you’ll be amazed at how much less you need to exercise when you stop eating too much of the wrong foods.
At the same time, nutritional requirements of protein, carbohydrate and yes, even fat, must be met. You also need minimum daily requirements of vitamins and minerals, as well as plenty of water and fiber. This is where the self-education really kicks in, –out and out starvation just won’t work, and can lead to serious eating disorders, such as anorexia and bulimia. But don’t forget about the fringe benefits of eating sensibly. The resulting lowered cholesterol and triglyceride levels reduces your risk of heart disease, while stable blood sugar minimizes your risk of diabetes and its associate problems. Your risk of developing certain types of cancer is also significantly lessened.
EXERCISE
To date exercise is the closest we’ve come to finding the fountain of youth. Exercise can change the way you look, feel, and perform, as well as have a tremendously positive impact on your health and almost every aspect of your life. But it isn’t all good news.
For an exercise program to get results, you need to set aside a certain amount of time and energy! Running yourself into the ground, working long hours, and not sleeping right hardly makes for the ideal scenario. Here too the solution involves a bit of self-education, discipline, and prioritizing. You’ll need to take a realistic look at how much time you can devote to an exercise program, and restructure your daily schedule accordingly. The key to success is formulating a plan that doesn’t waste your time and effort doing the wrong thing.
Another hazard to avoid when taking to the gym is exercising too much, or over training. This can sabotage the most well intentioned novice or seasoned athlete. Over training can also make you sick, or set you up for an overuse injury. A comprehensive plan based on sound knowledge will help steer you clear of this all too common problem.
Setting up a simple, economical home gym will also help overcome some of the time limitations by cutting out travel to and from the gym. With a small initial investment and a few square feet of floor space, you can add convenience to the list of why an exercise program can be so effective.
In conclusion I think diet with exercise is the best method of losing weight.
Even if dieting is very successful for you, think about what your body is going to look like. Sagging skin and no muscle tone is not as attractive as sculpted muscles and a contoured look. You can take years off your appearance just by keeping your body toned and tight.
Exercise is work. Why work hard at burning fat just to put it back on again at your next meal? You can work out extremely hard but if it’s followed by an “eat whatever I want” attitude it will take considerably longer to reach fitness goals. And, they may never be achieved.
For optimal results, put diet and exercise together. They work hand in hand. One boosts calorie burning by adding more calories burning muscle in your body. The other limits the amount of calories taken in. Put them both together for a great body that will stay that way for years to come.
So choose the wiser option…and shed those excess pounds. Take care see you soon with another article.