When it comes to weight loss, we all know that there are no two ways about it; some sacrifices have to be made, and there will definitely be a bit of sweating before that ideal weight is reached. However, we have all at some point wondered about diet and exercise, which one works better than the other? Which one is more important and can be relied on to effectively help one lose more weight?
Recent studies show that we spend most of our time trying to shed the extra kilos through physical exercise while in essence we are ignoring the real root of the problem; diet. It is much easier to reduce our caloric intake than to take up so much then try to shed it all off later. For instance, restricting yourself to 500 calories per day works better than another person who consumes 3,500 calories per day in the hope that they would lose weight by exercise. Physical exercise burns off an average of 200 calories per day which is twice the amount of energy needed when dieting. When you need to burn such an amount of calories you will take an average of two hours in the gym, or you could just ignore that cupcake, soda and fries to achieve the same results.
The average person will not spend a lot of time in vigorous exercise and even if they do, it is difficult for them to maintain the discipline to do it daily. With exercise, there are also chances of being hungry after a physical workout then replacing the whole amount of calories lost. Someone once said it is easier to take off the bullets from the gun than to wear a bullet proof vest, so how about dieting as a form of ‘not loading the gun’ in the first place? Caloric restrictions are much more effective than taking in the calories and hoping they would be shed off later. Although physical exercise is important for a long term weight loss goal, it is dieting that would get you to your desired weight quicker.
Of course combining physical exercise with dieting works wonders for a person who wants to lose weight fast so we cannot ignore exercising in its entirety. Take for example a person who has taken up a crash dieting course and lost a lot of weight. It is physical exercise that will help them maintain their new body. Physical exercise is also great for lowering blood cholesterol, building muscle and boosting your mood.
Our verdict? Eating less is better than exercising more for an effective weight loss procedure. However, combining them both will achieve great results for a person’s general wellness. Limit your caloric intake to prevent weight gain in the first place. Research has shown that people who solely rely on exercise for weight loss are more likely to have bad eating habits as a form of ‘compensation’ for their hard work. Remember, as you grow older it becomes harder to exercise more so it is much easier to control your weight through dieting. The effects of maintaining good eating habits last long and can be incorporated into your daily routine without much of a hassle.