Well, both. The simplest and healthiest way to lose weight is to eat less and exercise more. It’s not rocket science really, but when it comes to implementation things do tend to get rocky. At the same time, if you Google eating less vs. exercising more when trying to lose weight, you'll see a bunch of ambiguous information and no straight answer. Finally, for all those tired of BBW dating, shopping at 'plus’ stores, and putting health at risk, we’d like to take a closer look at this issue to figure out the best course of action.
Source: Flickr
#1: Eating Less Is Easier
Let’s put it this way, jogging or swimming for 30 minutes burns off about 350-400 calories. Think about it, swimming for half an hour is a pretty strenuous exercise, and yet 350 or even 400 calories is not much really. It would be far easier not to consume those calories than to have to work your behind off every day to lose weight or stay in shape. Remember that calories are not just found in food, but lurk around every corner when you least expect them, including that soda you drink so often. Two 16-ounce sodas contain about 350 calories so wouldn't it be easier to forfeit the pleasure of drinking sugary drinks than to have to run for half an hour to burn it off?
#2: Why Exercising More Matters
Losing weight should be a mathematical equation, right? You burn more than you consume, and you see pounds melting. You’re told to eat less, so you eat less, and as a result you’re feeling hungry most of the time, you’re irritable, and your sleep is disrupted. And yet, the scale won't budge and neither will your waist circumference. The solution is quite simple, in addition to eating less, you also need to exercise more to stimulate your metabolism to burn off enough calories to see a drop in your weight. If you're not a fitness enthusiast, start slow so you don’t put too much stress on your body, but forget the 2-3 times a week nonsense because it won't get you anywhere. Exercise every single day for 20-25 minutes to get into decent shape, and once your muscles get stronger you can introduce less frequent and longer workouts.
#3: Down With The Numbers
Losing weight is not about numbers, but about feeling good in your own skin. Some people who weigh 115 pounds have Buddha bellies bigger than those weighing 150 pounds. That’s why you need to forget about what the scale and measuring tape say, and focus on building your muscles. As a result of exercising, your muscles will grow and you might see a rise in your weight simply because muscles weigh more than fat, but don't let this scare you. You're on the right track if this is the problem you’re having. Total body workouts are your friends, and so are sports, not just running to the gym after work for a quick sprint on the treadmill. Tennis, pole dancing and rollerblading are some great alternatives to your typical circuit training with a personal trainer, and like with any goal, the key is to pick an activity you like so your motivation doesn’t depend solely on weight loss.
About the author:
Stefan is a writer and a blogger in his spare time. He also works for First Beat Media, a company that mainly focuses on the online dating niche and similar services.
