Combining Exercise with Dieting

You’ve probably heard it before, “You can’t out-exercise a bad diet.” And while that may be true to an extent, there are some benefits to pairing exercise with dieting that are worth considering. Let’s take a closer look at whether or not you should combine exercise with dieting.

The Pros of Combining Exercise with Dieting

There are several benefits to combining exercise with dieting, including:

  1. You’ll Lose More Weight (and Keep It Off)
    If you pair exercise with dieting, you’ll lose more weight than if you just dieted alone. In fact, one study showed that people who combined diet and exercise lost more than twice as much weight as those who just changed their diet. And not only will you lose more weight, but you’re also more likely to keep the weight off in the long-term. That’s because when you add exercise to your weight-loss plan, you’re building muscle and burning fat, which helps your body burn more calories even at rest.
  2. You’ll See Results Faster
    When you combine diet and exercise, you’ll see results faster than if you just changed your diet. That’s because adding exercise to your routine helps speed up your metabolism and burn more calories. In fact, one study showed that people who combined diet and exercise lost more weight in the first six months than those who just changed their diet. And the results kept coming: at the one-year mark, the combo group was still ahead in terms of weight loss. So if you want to see results fast, adding exercise to your weight-loss plan is the way to go.
  3. You’ll Get Healthier (and Stay Healthy)
    When you lose weight through diet and exercise, you don’t just feel better—you also become healthier. That’s because carrying around extra weight puts strain on your heart and lungs and can lead to health problems like high blood pressure, diabetes, and even cancer. But when you lose weight by combining diet and exercise, you improve your overall health and reduce your risk of developing these chronic diseases. In fact, one study showed that people who combined diet and exercise were half as likely to develop high blood pressure as those who only changed their diet. So not only will you lose weight when you combine diet and exercise—you’ll also get healthier in the process.
  4. You’ll Have More Energy
    When people start exercising regularly, they often report feeling more energetic throughout the day. This increased energy level may be due to improved circulation from physical activity or from the release of endorphins (chemicals produced by the body that act as natural painkillers). Whatever the reason, regular exercise can give you a much-needed boost of energy when you’re trying to slim down.

The Cons of Combining Exercise with Dieting

While there are several advantages to combining diet and exercise, there are also a few potential disadvantages worth considering:

1. It Can Be Time-Consuming
One of the biggest drawbacks of adding exercise to your weight-loss plan is that it can take up a lot of time—time that you might not have if you’re already working full time or taking care of a family. If time is an issue for you, there are ways to work around it by exercising in shorter bursts throughout the day or choosing exercises that are less time-consuming (such as walking or light jogging)

2. It Can Be Expensive
Another potential downside of adding exercise into the mix is that it can add up financially—especially if you join a gym or purchase workout equipment. If cost is an issue for you, there are plenty of free or low-cost options available (such as walking outdoors or working out at home), so don’t let this deter you from getting active.

As with anything in life, there are pros and cons to everything—and combining diet with exercise is no different. However, when all is said and done, the pros far outweigh the cons when it comes to this particular topic! By pairing these two healthy habits together, not only will you lose weight—you’ll also improve your overall health in the process! So if you’re looking for a way to boost your weight-loss efforts, consider adding some extra physical activity into the mix!