Weight Loss: Diet vs. Exercise

Ever wondered which is better when trying to lose weight, diet or exercise? Below is the fitness center December blog to help answer that question.

Anyone trying to lose weight has heard about calories in vs. calories out. But there is more to weight loss than calorie counting. Both diet and exercise will help you slim down, but which is better? As a rule of thumb weight loss is generally 75% diet and 25% exercise. Yes, you can lose weight if you just watch what you eat but exercise is also a very important part of your weight loss journey.

For your diet, Shawn M. Talbott, former director of the University of Utah Nutrition Clinic, suggests fruits, vegetables, lean proteins and whole grain carbohydrates. But be careful and don’t cut calories too low because your metabolism will slow down and you will notice a decrease in muscle mass.

Exercising will help your body burn more fat. Since muscle has a greater density than fat, you might not see it on the scale but may notice your clothes fitting better. For the exercise component, Michele Olson, professor at Auburn University at Montgomery, recommends 5-7 workouts a week for 50 minutes at moderate intensity. You’ll get leaner faster by doing bodyweight exercises like squats, lunges, push-ups and planks.

For more information about this topic check out this website: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/30/exercise-vs-diet-for-weight-loss_n_5207271.html