This article on Time.com fascinated me.
In case you’re short on time, here’s the gist of the article. Despite the conventional wisdom of the last few decades that says exercise is beneficial if not necessary for weight loss, many people still have trouble losing weight despite hours in the gym. Why?
- People who exercise often eat more because A) the exercise makes them hungry, and B) they feel they have “earned” the right to eat more food or less healthy food.
- Because they get tired after exercising and feel they have “done enough” for the day, many exercisers are actually less active the rest of the time.
So for some people, despite the other health benefits, exercise is actually counterproductive for weight loss. Surprised? I was, too, but it makes sense based on my own experience and what I’ve heard from other people. If I run for half an hour, I might burn 300 calories and then decide I deserve a 1000-calorie Braum’s milkshake as a reward. Then I’ll relax in my recliner the rest of the night watching a movie. Sound familiar?
So, according to this article and much of the current research, the traditional adage still holds true:
Weight Change = Calories Consumed – Calories Burned
The problem is that many who exercise are consuming more calories and burning fewer than they realize.