What matters more?

valpreston
valpreston Posts: 28
in Health and Weight Loss
It was mentioned to me that weight loss is 80% diet and 20% exercise. I would assume that changes to your diet (eating clean-er) is more important and more effective in weight loss goals that the type/amount of exercise. What do you think?

Two years ago, I lost weight mostly by getting off my butt and walking (at an aerobic rate) almost every single day. I made some changes to my diet, but not as many as I have this year. This year I have been tracking my calories and working out 5 days a week (working with a personal trainer). Weight loss has been at a similar rate, but I think I have developed better overall muscle (not just in my legs).

Either way, I plan to keep at it as something is working.

Replies

  • rainbowbow
    rainbowbow Posts: 7,490 Member
    Caloric deficit is the only thing that matters as far as weight loss is concerned. Be it through you consuming less calories and creating a deficit... OR you working out and creating a deficit that way. Or you can do them in combination. Whichever fits your specific goals. :)
  • IveLanded
    IveLanded Posts: 797 Member
    My personal observation is that weight loss is 33% diet, 33% exercise, and 33% mental.

    I put just as much effort into my diet as I do into my work outs.........both have changed radically over the past few months. But what really put me over the edge was changing my entire perspective on eating and working out and weight loss. :)
  • silkysly
    silkysly Posts: 701 Member
    It's about your health...
  • SunnyAndrsn
    SunnyAndrsn Posts: 369 Member
    I think it's important to do both; there is a synergistic effect. I started exercising in November, but didn't start improving my diet and watching my calorie intake until a little over a month ago. I lost 7 pounds with just exercise November-Mid Feb. Since adding a healthier diet to the mix, I've lost 11 pounds.

    Getting 18 pounds off of my 5' frame has also helped my stamina, energy level, and overall fitness, which has allowed me to increase my endurance, the length of time I work out, and the intensity of my workout.

    Why do just one when both have the best effect? We know that diet and exercise together improve cardiovascular health better than just diet or exercise. We know that overall health is impacted--for diabetics there is better control, and in some cases with Type II diabetes, people have been able to reduce the need for medications.

    All that being said, this is at least 50% mental for me.
  • WittneeT29
    WittneeT29 Posts: 47 Member
    I think the saying of weight loss being 80% diet and 20% exercise results from the idea that you cannot compensate for a poor diet through exercise. It would be difficult to work out enough on a daily basis to work off an extra 2 Big Macs a day (you set yourself up for injury and burn out!).

    There is a good possibility that when you began working out you were not eating a terribly large surplus of calories in your diet. Perhaps you were only overeating enough to gain a pound or two a month (easy to do). Then, if you began walking, you could easily walk off those extra calories and some additional calories resulting in weight loss.

    You could just as easily began counting calories, cut your calories by 500 to 1000 a day and lost weight with no exercise.
    However, if a person watches his/her diet AND exercises the person will lose weight at a more optimal rate.

    Obviously any numbers put to the weight loss equation are an estimation. To my knowledge, science has not discovered an exact true formula for weight loss, or we would all be much better off! There are many factors that play a part-- diet, exercise, metabolism, hormones, non exercise activity thermogenesis (the calories you burn by activities that aren't exercise but aren't sitting on your duff), etc.

    So... To answer your question--it matters what is working for you! If you would like to exercise a bit more so you can eat a bit more and still stay in deficit, do it! If that helps you stick to a plan and lose weight, that is what matters more for you.
    If you would prefer to be lazy and eat less, you can still lose weight! However, for health reasons a mixture of both is the best option.

    Just my .02! Hope it helps!
  • dinosnopro
    dinosnopro Posts: 2,177 Member
    Caloric deficit is the only thing that matters as far as weight loss is concerned. Be it through you consuming less calories and creating a deficit... OR you working out and creating a deficit that way. Or you can do them in combination. Whichever fits your specific goals. :)



    I agree
  • SergeantSunshine_reused
    SergeantSunshine_reused Posts: 5,382 Member
    Caloric deficit is the only thing that matters as far as weight loss is concerned. Be it through you consuming less calories and creating a deficit... OR you working out and creating a deficit that way. Or you can do them in combination. Whichever fits your specific goals. :)



    I agree

    Exactly! Good to eat whole foods for nutrition and not all processed foods, but for weightloss you only need to eat under maintenance

Categories