NYT Article: For weight loss, eating less is more important than exercise.
Triplestep
Posts: 239 Member
Apologies if this has been posted before - it's a New York Times piece from last June. Essentially the author is saying that - while exercise has many, many bennefits - if weight loss is your primary goal, then food choices are more important.
He is not saying that exercise plays no role. But he is saying that many people devote lots of time to the gym (getting there, working out, getting cleaned up after) and then say they have no time to prepare healthy meals. For weight loss, this time commitment should be reversed, he says, and he explains why.
It's a quick read with plenty of links that are also interesting, like this one - his own suggestions about what and how to eat considering all the advice out there.
This really resonated with me. If I had to break down the top three demands on my time, as an empty-nester, it would be work, meal planning and exercise. I've always struggled with my weight, but gained most of it in the last decade because work always took most of my attention. I was conscious about what I put in my mouth, but work stress usually led to over-eating, and the amount of time work took up led to zero exercise.
I've been losing slowly but consistently over the last few months by prioritizing food first and exercising second. Time spent catching up on work during nights and weekends (necessary and expected in my job) has been a distant third. I have been more successful with this weight loss attempt than any other in my adult life, measured not just by pounds, but longevity. I feel overwhelmed at work, but the exercise is helping with that stress.
He is not saying that exercise plays no role. But he is saying that many people devote lots of time to the gym (getting there, working out, getting cleaned up after) and then say they have no time to prepare healthy meals. For weight loss, this time commitment should be reversed, he says, and he explains why.
It's a quick read with plenty of links that are also interesting, like this one - his own suggestions about what and how to eat considering all the advice out there.
This really resonated with me. If I had to break down the top three demands on my time, as an empty-nester, it would be work, meal planning and exercise. I've always struggled with my weight, but gained most of it in the last decade because work always took most of my attention. I was conscious about what I put in my mouth, but work stress usually led to over-eating, and the amount of time work took up led to zero exercise.
I've been losing slowly but consistently over the last few months by prioritizing food first and exercising second. Time spent catching up on work during nights and weekends (necessary and expected in my job) has been a distant third. I have been more successful with this weight loss attempt than any other in my adult life, measured not just by pounds, but longevity. I feel overwhelmed at work, but the exercise is helping with that stress.
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Well yeah.
But realistically, if I wasn't exercising, there's no way I would have been able to lose weight, because I have a big appetite.0 -
Well, I guess if I didn't have time to cook nutritious meals due to time spent exercising, that would indeed be a problem. I think that's kind of a cop out, however.
When I exercise regularly, I sleep better, I feel better physically and emotionally, and I want to make better food choices. I used to self-soothe with food, and now I manage stress with exercise.
For me, exercise, eating better, and losing weight are inextricably linked.0 -
Exercise IS for fitness and health. It can help with calorie deficit and many use it to create a bigger one so they can consume a bit more, but yes it basically comes down to CICO for weight loss.
OP you'll find on this site that CICO is king and there are many that have lost weight with little to mild exercise in the Success sections.
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Yeah, I don't exercise for weight loss, I exercise for fitness and health.0
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rankinsect wrote: »Yeah, I don't exercise for weight loss, I exercise for fitness and health.
Then the article is not for or about you. *shrug*. I titled the post "FOR WEIGHT LOSS eating less is more important than exercise."
People - this is an article about time management with respect to weight loss efforts. I thought it would be helpful for some of the newbies here - lots of folks are asking for help saying they don't have the time to exercise. I knew some would comment w/out reading the piece, but I do a pretty good job of summarizing in my post.0 -
Oh trust there are several threads out there asking if exercising is necessary for weight loss.Triplestep wrote: »rankinsect wrote: »Yeah, I don't exercise for weight loss, I exercise for fitness and health.
Then the article is not for or about you. *shrug*. I titled the post "FOR WEIGHT LOSS eating less is more important than exercise."
People - this is an article about time management with respect to weight loss efforts. It I thought it would be helpful for some of the newbies here - lots of folks are asking for help saying they don't have the time to exercise. I knew some would comment w/out reading the piece, but I do a pretty good job of summarizing in my post.
http://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/search?adv=&search=is+exercise+necessary+for+weight+loss?&title=&author=&cat=all&tags=&discussion_d=1&comment_c=1&group_group=1&within=1+day&date=
A.C.E. Certified Personal and Group Fitness Trainer
IDEA Fitness member
Kickboxing Certified Instructor
Been in fitness for 30 years and have studied kinesiology and nutrition
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The article is 100% correct. When I was going to the gym daily, I lost 0 lbs. When I stopped going to the gym and started eating 1200 calories a day is when I started losing weight.0
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Exercise IS for fitness and health. It can help with calorie deficit and many use it to create a bigger one so they can consume a bit more, but yes it basically comes down to CICO for weight loss.
OP you'll find on this site that CICO is king and there are many that have lost weight with little to mild exercise in the Success sections.
I also use CICO. I also exercise partly to create a bigger calorie deficit so I can consume a bit more. The article is about time management. It does not say exercise is useless, and neither does my OP.
Maybe my OP was TLDR, but with all the helpful info here at MFP, I had no idea people felt compelled to respond to a post - and in some cases search/paste links to other threads! - w/out reading too much past the title of the OP. (And please don't all flame me saying you read it all and I'm just pouting. The responses speak for themselves.) Hopefully the article will help someone feeling overwhelmed with all the demands on his or her time.0 -
While I did read the article, since you did do a good job summing it up, it wasn't really necessary to have read the article to discuss it.0
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nothing groundbreaking here….exercise for weight loss and exercise for body composition and overall health ….0
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Triplestep wrote: »rankinsect wrote: »Yeah, I don't exercise for weight loss, I exercise for fitness and health.
Then the article is not for or about you. *shrug*. I titled the post "FOR WEIGHT LOSS eating less is more important than exercise."
People - this is an article about time management with respect to weight loss efforts. I thought it would be helpful for some of the newbies here - lots of folks are asking for help saying they don't have the time to exercise. I knew some would comment w/out reading the piece, but I do a pretty good job of summarizing in my post.
don't need to read your post to know that exercise is not necessary for weight loss …
just like I don't need to consultant an astronomer to know that sun will rise and set each day ….0 -
Truth be told, yours was the only response that seemed to be from someone who read past the title!kshama2001 wrote: »While I did read the article, since you did do a good job summing it up, it wasn't really necessary to have read the article to discuss it.
And while I bristle at the idea that it's a "cop out" to say one doesn't have time to prepare healthy meals (Last year this time I was working 20 hours and seeping four) I too now feel that exercise and eating well are linked. It didn't start out that way, but it's become that way over the past few months. (First thing I did was get a new job! Not everyone can do that.) 0 -
don't need to read your post to know that exercise is not necessary for weight loss …
just like I don't need to consultant an astronomer to know that sun will rise and set each day ….
Just like I shouldn't need to tell you that the article and my post are not directed at you if you already knew this. Or that you should not feel compelled to post just to disparage it because it might help *someone* facing time management issues. But yet somehow this is still necessary ... and with 25k+ posts. Go figure.
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Triplestep wrote: »
Truth be told, yours was the only response that seemed to be from someone who read past the title!kshama2001 wrote: »While I did read the article, since you did do a good job summing it up, it wasn't really necessary to have read the article to discuss it. And while I bristle at the idea that it's a "cop out" to say one doesn't have time to prepare healthy meals (Last year this time I was working 20 hours and sleeping four) I too now feel that exercise and eating well are linked. It didn't start out that way, but it's become that way over the past few months. (First thing I did was get a new job! Not everyone can do that.)
I think cases like yours where you literally had no time are in the minority and that usually people have the time, but chose not to spend it on meal planning, or simply do not know how.
I'm glad you found another job - that schedule is not sustainable 0 -
kshama2001 wrote: »Well, I guess if I didn't have time to cook nutritious meals due to time spent exercising, that would indeed be a problem. I think that's kind of a cop out, however.
When I exercise regularly, I sleep better, I feel better physically and emotionally, and I want to make better food choices. I used to self-soothe with food, and now I manage stress with exercise.
For me, exercise, eating better, and losing weight are inextricably linked.
This is how it is for me too. If for some reason I couldn't exercise I know I could figure it out and make due, but on the whole having a lifestyle that includes exercise makes everything else much easier for me.0 -
People are missing the point here: she's reminding MFPers to look at their own personal time allocations & make sure they are putting the appropriate time into meal planning, nutritional upgrades, and calorie calculations.
Food is fuel & first response medicine for our bodies. It is paramount. I work seven days a week substitute teaching & caregiving. I devote the entirety of Saturday afternoons to grocery shopping and ingredient prepping for 6 days of family breakfasts, lunches, and dinners. It is some of the most important work I do ALL WEEK! I can make up a Zumba class or miss a day of weight training but I can't undo a full week of poor food choices for my entire family. If I know a weekend will be super busy I substitute another night for this duty.
If you are struggling to establish healthy routines start with the food and expand from there. Your body will thank you from the inside out.0 -
Its responses like I see here that make me shake my head and wonder who the hell some people think they are. This site is FULL of first timers that are completely CLUELESS. Just look at all the *kitten* fad diets and shakes you see posted. Then when someone posts good information they get treated like they are the only ones here that don't know the content they posted.
Get over yourselves already.
To the OP - Great post and nice job summarizing. This is the type of thing we should see here every day. Thank you.0 -
I agree. Thanks very much for the helpful post.0
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Its responses like I see here that make me shake my head and wonder who the hell some people think they are. This site is FULL of first timers that are completely CLUELESS. Just look at all the *kitten* fad diets and shakes you see posted. Then when someone posts good information they get treated like they are the only ones here that don't know the content they posted.
Get over yourselves already.
To the OP - Great post and nice job summarizing. This is the type of thing we should see here every day. Thank you.
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Lot of hangry people here0
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Triplestep wrote: »don't need to read your post to know that exercise is not necessary for weight loss …
just like I don't need to consultant an astronomer to know that sun will rise and set each day ….
Just like I shouldn't need to tell you that the article and my post are not directed at you if you already knew this. Or that you should not feel compelled to post just to disparage it because it might help *someone* facing time management issues. But yet somehow this is still necessary ... and with 25k+ posts. Go figure.
well, reading the response in this thread I am not the only one that felt the need to correct your OP.
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Usually the people who post rude things like "well duh...that's common knowledge" think that because they've spent the better part of the last 5 years here, usually with the exact same torso selfie profile pic. You'd think if they've known all the right answers all this time, you'd see some new pics of their progress now and then.Its responses like I see here that make me shake my head and wonder who the hell some people think they are. This site is FULL of first timers that are completely CLUELESS. Just look at all the *kitten* fad diets and shakes you see posted. Then when someone posts good information they get treated like they are the only ones here that don't know the content they posted.
Get over yourselves already.
To the OP - Great post and nice job summarizing. This is the type of thing we should see here every day. Thank you.
The ignore button is a nice tool.0 -
Good advice!If you are struggling to establish healthy routines start with the food and expand from there. Your body will thank you from the inside out.
Thanks!To the OP - Great post and nice job summarizing. This is the type of thing we should see here every day. Thank you.
Thanks, I'll have to start using it - some of these responses read like ignore button auditions.WalkingAlong wrote: »The ignore button is a nice tool.
You didn't correct my OP. (And apparently don't know what "disparage" means.) *ignore*well, reading the response in this thread I am not the only one that felt the need to correct your OP.
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It's true, but I do better when I exercise.0
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Thank you for this. A few years ago, I was in serious training and did a ton of cardio (cycling). I got nice defined legs, but didn't lose anything because I was hungry and used the excuse to eat lots. It sure did nothing for weight loss.
Now I spend much more time focusing on the food intake and prepping healthy meals and the pounds are finally dropping.0 -
I read Tosca Reno's Eat Clean Diet a few years back. She is a middle aged figure competitor and model who is of the opinion that your body is made 80% in the kitchen, 10% in the gym, and 10% by genetics. Makes sense to focus on the kitchen aspect for weight loss. 0
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WalkingAlong wrote: »
Usually the people who post rude things like "well duh...that's common knowledge" think that because they've spent the better part of the last 5 years here, usually with the exact same torso selfie profile pic. You'd think if they've known all the right answers all this time, you'd see some new pics of their progress now and then.Its responses like I see here that make me shake my head and wonder who the hell some people think they are. This site is FULL of first timers that are completely CLUELESS. Just look at all the *kitten* fad diets and shakes you see posted. Then when someone posts good information they get treated like they are the only ones here that don't know the content they posted.
Get over yourselves already.
To the OP - Great post and nice job summarizing. This is the type of thing we should see here every day. Thank you.
The ignore button is a nice tool.
hilarious, coming from someone without the intestinal fortitude to post a profile picture...0
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