Are you ready to drop some pounds and get your body ready for summer? What is the best way to lose weight? Through diet or exercise? Scientific studies show that both are needed for weight management and optimal health.
As a rule of thumb, weight loss is typically 80 percent diet and 20 percent exercise. Weight loss through nutrition seems to be more effective than physical activity. You have to do huge amounts of physical activity for weight loss, but you may see quicker results just by cutting calories.
However, once you’ve lost the unwanted pounds, exercise is the key to keeping the weight off. Additionally, exercise can have other positive impactful health perks, like improving the quality of your sleep, lowering your cholesterol and blood pressure, reducing your stress level, increased energy, and reducing the risk of health issues such as diabetes and heart disease.
Although you can lose weight with diet alone, exercise is without a doubt an important component. Without it, only a portion of your weight loss is from fat; not to mention, you’re stripping away muscle and bone density. Since working out stimulates muscle growth, losing weight through exercise means you’re burning mostly fat. The number on the scale may not seem impactful, but because muscle takes up less space than fat does, you look smaller and your clothes fit better.
Seems like a trick question! Both diet and exercise play important roles in weight loss and weight management and are equally important. Make a plan today!