Exercise Alone Not a Good Idea

Posted: May 15 in Weight Loss Blog by Staff

Do you ever feel like you are running in circles, without reaching any destination? This is an incredibly common complaint of exercise programs for weight loss—especially among those who attempt to lose weight through exercise alone. A recent study found that attempts at losing weight without any dietary component are almost always futile. The most successful method for losing weight is partnering with a medical weight loss program—especially programs that feature weight loss surgery as a primary strategy for weight loss success.

The Problem with Exercise Alone

Being physically active is a great component for a healthy lifestyle. Heading to the gym a few times a week, going walking or running every day, or even attending workout classes like yoga or aerobics are great ways to take time for yourself and burn calories. However, these lifestyle changes alone may not actually help you lose weight.

The problem is that exercise alone doesn’t take up a whole lot of your day. If you head to the gym for one hour a day, then that means you are doing something else with 23 hours of your day. Being on your feet and being active for one hour is great, but not when it means you let yourself off the hook for any healthy behaviors throughout the rest of the day.

A collection of studies in the past 10 years have looked at the impact of exercise as a weight loss tool, and the consensus is evident: exercise on its own does not lead to weight loss. Instead, those who exercise without taking in consideration for any other healthy habits are more likely to experience stagnant weight.

If you decide that you want to start exercising, look at that choice as an addition to your other healthy habits. Exercise is shown to make people more hungry and fatigued, and so if your workout is going to force you to overeat afterwards, or to lay around the rest of the day, then it may end up doing more harm than good. You need to look at healthy habits that can support a healthy workout strategy. Snack on healthy foods, drink plenty of fluids, and try to stay active outside of your workout routine. Using exercise as part of a well-rounded weight loss program is still a highly effective strategy. Talk to your weight loss surgeon for further advice regarding how to best reach your weight loss goals.