energy required to turn fat into energy. . .
Quote:
> You need a difference of about 3,500 Calories to loose 1 pound of fat.
> That's why exercise is much more important than calorie restriction in a
> weight loss program.
> Marty B.
Consider though that walking for an hour will burn 200-300 calories.
Whereas a "Value Meal" at one of the popular fast
cooking.net">food chains can easily
weigh in at a "whopping" (pun intended <grin>) 1000-1300+ calories. The
calories lost by walking for an hour five times a week can thus be
negated by a single fast
cooking.net">food meal.
There are many individuals who exercise regularly, yet do not lose
weight, because they do not also incorporate healthier eating habits.
I would not say that "exercise is much more important than calorie
restriction", but rather that the two work together as part of a healthy
lifestyle, especially one which has a goal of weight loss.
In the short term, caloric restriction will promote quicker weight loss.
In the long term, exercise will improve the likelihood of keeping the
weight off. Those that do not include regular exercise almost always
(95%) gain back the weight they lost and frequently more.
It is important to identify what caused the weight gain and make
permanent changes in lifestyle to address this cause. In most cases it
is a combination of poor eating habits along with inactivity, but
generally, poor eating habits contribute the greatest amount to the
equation.
Jeff Johnson, MS
Performance Fitness & Nutrition
