Struggling with weight loss and "tried everything?"

bunnysone

I met a member of the gym this week who has told me that she is struggling to lose weight, has thyroid issues, has gone through menopause and has used various personal trainers. She has also consulted dieticians, doctors, tried different diets.

She is active, and regularly uses the gym for about an hour at a time, doing reasonable intensity, for about 5 days a week. She eats well too.

So far she has only lost about a kg.

I asked if anybody had ever put her through endurance training. Apparently this has never been suggested to her.

Endurance training will keep your body working hard (not high intensity) but for a long period of time. Something like cycling for 3-4 hours, or a steady bushwalk on an uneven trail with hills, especially with a backpack.

It will force your body to draw on the fat stores to keep going.

I know of many people who have succeeded in fat loss through training for endurance. There are many friends I have on here who run half, or full marathons, triathlons, more than 50km cycles and 30km plus mountainbiking. This is the kind of activity to try.

Haven't tried it yet but tried everything else? Step up to the plate then ...

Matt_Wild

Diet is king. What is her diet. All the exercise in the world won't matter if she's overeating. What is her diet?

bunnysone

Diet is king. What is her diet. All the exercise in the world won't matter if she's overeating. What is her diet?

I think you've completely missed the point.
This post was to suggest a different kind of training (endurance) to those who feel they have tried everything.
My use of the member was to give an example of someone who felt that way.

Matt_Wild

Re-reading it I can see what you're driving at, I saw it as question sorry.

I wouldn't agree however, diet is king. All that exercise is simply burning calories... which a properly sorted diet would sort.

johnwhitent

Agree on the importance of endurance training. A good diet is essential, HIIT is valuable, lifting is necessary, but endurance training is too often overlooked as a crucial component of getting rid of weight/fat.