Diet Vs Exercise- What Works Best for Weight Loss

Diet or Exercise? Which one is better? Let’s find out the whys and hows and then come to a conclusion. To understand this theory let’s first have a look at some basic points about diets and exercises. 

• Your body is different from any other body. So, if a low-carb diet suits someone else, it won’t necessarily suit you.
• Crash diets and Fad diets will only slow down your metabolism.
• Before starting any weight loss program do consider your body type and your lifestyle.
• Talk to your doctor to find out whether your weight gain is genetic, and if you are medically not fit.
• Physical activity helps if you suffer from anxiety, depression or other mental illnesses.

Diet Vs. Exercise-The 80/20 Rule

The 80/20 rule imposes 20% effort and reclaims 80% results, you can apply this Pareto principle in weight loss too but in a slightly different manner. 

In weight loss, you should give your 80% to the diet and 20% to the overall exercises you are planning to take. To be extra careful, keep a note on what you eat, how you eat and when you eat.

There will be times when you just don’t feel like following the diet and want to eat something outside. So do it, but stick to your diet anyway.  That way, you do not have to run 10 miles a day to burn the cupcakes, soda, potato wafers, or the huge piece of cake that looked so dangerously inviting.

Does that mean you should stop exercising and focus only on diet? Let’s find out.

Role Of Exercise:

It is no doubt that by following a diet you will lose weight but you may also lose muscle mass. Your metabolic rate slows down when you lose muscle mass. That’s because your muscles are situated where a high amount of mitochondria are present. Mitochondria are cell organelles that help convert glucose to energy (metabolism). 

So, to prevent this you need to exercise on a daily basis. In fact, a mixed workout is said to be the best workout. You can follow 3 days of strength training and 2-3 days of cardio to achieve your weight loss targets.  

Why is diet important?

Diet is very important when it comes to weight loss because if you have an intense workout and don’t eat right it straight away affects your body. So, every time you think of straying away from your weight loss diet, contemplate if it would be really worth it. Yes, you should let go sometimes. But pick healthier foods for enjoying a cheat meal. 

Who Wins – Diet Or Exercise?

Diet is the winner. Diet is identical to three pillars of weight loss, whereas, exercise is equivalent to one. So, if you don’t keep your diet in check, no matter how many hours you grind at the gym, you will not lose weight. Also, you cannot encourage weight loss or well-being without exercise. Regular exercising can help in improving your mental health and a few chronic conditions over time.

Over to you: 

The weight loss journey is a bumpy ride. It will test your willpower to stay put and achieve your goal. But it’s worth following the 80/20 rule and improving your overall lifestyle. The end result – you will feel better and be more productive and active, and your mental health will improve. So, keep the four pillars of weight loss intact and you will not have to go on a fad diet to lose weight.