Why Exercise Alone May Not Be the Key to Weight Loss

One of the best quotes I have ever heard in regards to health and fitness is "You can't out-run your diet." I have found this to be true personally and it seems like the research is catching up. Many years ago, I would exercise vigorously 4 days a week, typically Monday through Thursday, and then not exercise at all Friday through Sunday. In fact, I would be quite sedentary Friday-Sunday. I wouldn't necessarily eat poorly Friday-Sunday but the point is that there was no balance, and ultimately, no meaningful weight loss.

An article by Gretchen Reynolds from the New York Times titled "Why Exercise Alone May Not Be the Key to Weight Loss" discusses this point exactly. A key point to take away is this: "Scientists involved in this research have suspected and sometimes shown that exercisers, whatever their species, tend to become hungrier and consume more calories after physical activity. They also may grow more sedentary outside of exercise sessions. Together or separately, these changes could compensate for the extra energy used during exercise, meaning that, over all, energy expenditure doesn’t change and a person’s or rodent’s weight remains stubbornly the same."

For the rats in the study, it was hypothesized that "...the animals’ bodies and brains sensed the beginnings of an energy deficit when the mice began to run and sent out biological signals that somehow advised the animals to slow down, conserve energy, maintain homeostasis and not drop weight."

What is the takeaway? Exercising more does not compensate for a poor diet and lack of physical activity outside of those exercise sessions. It is about finding the balance which includes a healthy diet and moving your body outside of gym/exercise activity.