Exercise and Calorie Restriction

[delfinajones 1]

Interesting article on new research on this subject in the New York Times today-link here:

Weighing the Evidence on Exercise - NYTimes.com

[Jachut 487]

Very interesting.

I would swear its my exercise habits that keep me thin. Many people would call me extreme because I run nearly every day, but in reality a daily 50 minute jog is "moderate" exercise, not very intense. I did much more intense exercise (interval sprints, hard circuit training etc) during my losing phase and as I've returned to full time work, I really just enjoy chilling out in the evening with a nice long run and some good music.

So i guess, I've naturally falling into the pattern they're recommending.

I never found exercise made me eat a lot more though, but that could very well be band related. I never ever had the results that I had combining the band with running.

[BetsyB 9]

what the federal government currently recommends for weight loss but “a lot more than what many people would be able or willing to do,”

This has long frustrated me. The governmental recommendations have consistently been tailored to the American public in a way designed to appeal to the lowest common denominator. Instead of trumpeting the need for 60 minutes/day, the message has been diluted for years.

If that had resulted in a nation of people who actually moved their bodies each and every day (as was their rationale), it would represent a victory. But instead, it utterly de-emphasized the importance of exercise, and helped create a nation of NON-exercisers.

Certainly, personal responsibility is paramount. But when the agencies we look to for guidance downplay the role of exercise (as they have for the past 3 years), then those who do actively seek guidance are shortchanged.

This article appeared in the NYT yesterday. The same information appeared in the Journal of the American Medical Association in March, 2010--as well as in other sources within the last couple of months.

But the information is NOT NEW. The data were published by the government in 2008. At the time, it was broadly acknowledged that they would represent "too much" for the American public---the belief was that, upon hearing that they need to exercise for 60 minutes, most Americans would say, "I can't do that!" and therefore do nothing.

As a result, the recommendations barely made a blip on the radar at when it was introduced. When it did receive attention in the mainstream media, experts hurriedly explained that the 60 recommended minutes did not need to be continuous, and could include activities of daily living.

This did a huge disservice to Americans. Helping them stick their fingers in their collective ears and sing, "LA LA LA LA LA! I can't hear you!" in the face of important data was wrong, wrong, wrong. Downplaying the importance of exercise did not result in a population that eagerly embraced the watered-down 30-minutes-most-days stuff. It created a bunch of people who think that "running after" their toddlers or walking from the parking lot into the office is exercise. It created a deluded America.

This kind of paternalism is so harmful. Shielding people from information that is crucial to health is wrong. It is up to the individual to change his or her behaviors--but decisions should be made with all of the available information.

I'm really glad that it's finally being addressed.

Not that I feel strongly about it or anything LOL

[delfinajones 1]

What I found key was the recommendation to "keep moving"-that just "standing up" was better versus sitting around and that just standing could effect long term weight. More gardening, house cleaning or walking can do the trick. Humans, it seems, weren't meant to by laying around watching TV or playing with the computer for hours. Obvious but....

[Tish5632 0]

I find this very interesting. I've been told that exercise is absolutely ESSENTIAL for weight loss and I've been told that exercise will not affect weight loss at all - that it only matters "what you put into your mouth". I was told each of these items above by medical doctors. Now, I'm not afraid of hard work (hard exercise) but I don't really enjoy it. And because the weight loss specialist MD told me about exercise not affecting weight loss, I tend to put more faith in his opinion. (The other MD was an immunologist) BUT, I've also seen this first-hand in my own experience. My bottom line is this: I don't really enjoy exercise, but it does make me feel better, physically and emotionally - so I do it. It also increases my lung capacity (I have had asthma for 30 years). I watch "what I put in my mouth" to help with weight loss, and I had the LapBand placed to help me to put less in my mouth. I still have to make good food choices - and for me that has to be low-carb to lose weight.

[JoJo1 0]

I think the point they were trying to make, is that both calorie reduction and increased exercise must occur in order to achieve weight loss. I often mistrust the outcome of studies because you do not know what else is going on in the lives of the people in the study. They probably used some overweight people but probably some people who don't necessarily worry about what they put in their mouths, and found that they consume more calories when they work out. I do think you need to keep track of calories and their relationship to exercise to achieve long term weight loss.

I am one of only a small percentage of women, apparently, that lose their appetite when I exercise. It only works when I exercise in excess of an hour a day though. Maybe that is the whole trick, or maybe I am just weird!!! Either way, it works for me so I am going to keep doing it..... Hugs!!!!

[vlp1968 83]

Interesting article. I have found that excersise reduces my appetite. If I skip a workout I am hungrier all day.

[onenuttynurse 0]

I would agree that exercise decreases the appetite in some people. I exercise just about everyday, at least 6 days a week of hard intense exercising. When I am done,I feel great and actually will watch carefully what i am putting in my mouth. If i am having a lazy day where I don't exercise, my eating seems to slack off............I believe that calories and at least 30 minutes of exercise a day are essential.I prefer more like 1 hour because that is when i feel the best........

[BetsyB 9]

Oh, and now that I've had my little rant (!), yes---I find it impossible to lose without exercise--and impossible to maintain, too.

I've never found my appetite increased due to exercise. It seems, really, to be a deterrent to eating. If I've worked out, I don't want to undo my effort.

OTOH, it does buy me leeway, in the calorie department. My body is more forgiving of the occasional indulgence, for sure.