Ask anyone what the solution for lasting weight loss is and in most
cases they will undoubtedly tell you that you have to "eat healthy and
exercise." What do I have against this weight loss philosophy? I have a
few arguments against it, but the one I want to discuss in this article
is the part about exercise. I firmly believe that there isn't
necessarily
any kind of exercise required to lose weight. I'm
sure that statement got your attention, and I assure you it's based on
solid grounds.
You see, after so much research done on this topic over the years, the
best, certifiable method to lose weight that is scientifically proven is
through caloric deficit. The best way to create this deficit is to
consume fewer calories than you burn. In order to know how many calories
you burn in a day, you have to figure out what your BMR (basal
metabolic rate)/RMR (resting metabolic rate) is. Consuming a total
amount of calories below your BMR will put you in 'weight loss mode', so
to speak.
Sure, exercise helps to burn calories, but most people grossly
overestimate the amount burned during a workout. I'm not saying exercise
doesn't help a little, but it certainly isn't a need that is set in
stone. I've participated in different forums and you wouldn't believe
how many people ask what the best exercise to help them lose weight is,
when what they really should be focusing on is the amount of calories
they are consuming. This shift in mentality saves you the stress of
worrying about the types of exercise required to lose weight.
Once you focus on calories in vs. calories out, weight loss occurs more
rapidly. While on this note, I'd like to point out that there isn't a
certain amount of exercise required to lose weight either. The popular
notion is that the more you exercise the better. But don't you find that
in your personal experience the more you exercise, the hungrier you
feel? And this is where exercise tends to take us, into a situation
where we will consume more calories than the amount we burn.
So what is the most recommended action to take? Stop worrying about what
the best type or amount of exercise required to lose weight is, and
focus on the amount of calories that will put you in a caloric deficit.
Daniel explains the best way to accurately figure out your BMR/RMR in his blog. Read more about it here!
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