Today I spotted a co-worker in the break room with some yummy looking snacks and said so. She would not let me have any because she wanted me to stay true to my blog. LOL. But then she added that she has been exercising and just not losing weight. Before I could say anything she said, "I know I need to change my diet, too, because losing weight is 90% diet." While I don't think that percentage is correct, I agree with the basic premise. Getting in shape is more than just losing (or gaining) weight. You need to exercise. The exercise needs to include some intense cardio sessions three or four days a week, and weight training the other days. Okay, yes, you can flip that around for more weight training days and a little less cardio. My point is the need for balance. If you lose weight just by cutting back on food you get what I call skinny fat. If you try to lose weight by only doing exercise and not changing what and how much you eat you become "strong fat."
If you want to lose weight AND get in shape you MUST change your eating habits and you must exercise. But make it easy on yourself at the start. Just cut back a little on the food. Cut out the sugary and salty snacks. And, for goodness sake, don't kill yourself doing heavy weights right off the bat. You don't need a diet book or purchase an exercise plan. Don't get me wrong - there are some great healthy diet books out there that make sense. And the same is true of many great exercise plans that you purchase.
All I am saying is this: give yourself a chance for success by starting with a simple plan of eating a little less and exercising more. Start walking for 20 or 30 minutes each day, and quit the snacks. A month later add in some strength exercise. Make simple changes in your daily life. Park at the far end of the parking lot when going to the mall; even better, park at the opposite end from the store you want to visit. Take the stairs. Two at a time if you are able so you can work those glutes. No snacks at night. Eat a good breakfast, a low calorie energy bar in the middle of the morning. Eat a sensible lunch that you brought from home. No more fast food. These are things you can do and begin to see real progress in three of four weeks. I did and it worked. And don't forget to drink water. You'll be surprised at how often your body is thirsty, not hungry. While you are doing this check out some of the local gyms, or ask your friends if they know a good personal trainer. And before you get crazy and do anything drastic, it would be good to check with a professional.
Exercise or Diet? It Takes Both. See Rule #1 and Rule #2. Eat Right. Exercise. And don't forget Rule #3 - get plenty of rest.
Here's a bonus. Earlier this week I read the article below over at ManimalMethod.com that basically says the same thing. Go give them a read! And leave a comment with your thoughts about having balance!
What Keeps You From Your Results
Be sure to get some breakfast, and take a Clif Bar with you.
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