Times Article Why exercise wont make you thin

Subject Description

http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1914857,00.html

This article has been a major topic with many of the clients that are coming in to see me this week.  They are constently asking me my thoughts.  As a trainer and exercise phys guy, I think they want me to argue against what is being said.

I have to admit that I hadn't read the article until just now, but here's what I've been sharing with these people (as they continue to do chops and single leg squats).

Weight Loss / Management is 80% nutrition and 20% exercise.  I think if you factor in lifestyle activity then the percentages are a little better, maybe something like 70% nutrition and 30% activity.

But most of the people that I see are sedentary for 22 hours of the day.  They work at desks, they ride and drive cars, they relax on the couch.  The hour they spend with me is their opportunity to "be active".

This level of activity is helpful for many different reasons:

1. we can keep them functional
2. we can help releive stress
3. we can influence cardiovascular health
4. we can keep them mobile and flexible

etc...

But no matter what we do within that 1,2 or 3 hours a week.  It's almost impossible to account for a poorly "lived" Friday night cocktail party or Sunday afternoon watching football.

Exercise and activity should be viewed as something we can do to improve our quality of life, that can help us also stay health and even burn a few calories.

Exercise should not be the "ticket" or justification we have for overeating everytime we go out to dinner.

Thoughts?

Messages Create a Post

Boy don't I know this East less.  Exercise more.  But more importantly, eat less. Posted by bfeld on Aug. 20, 2009 at 11:33AM