What’s Better For Weight-Loss: Diet or Exercise

I have a pet hate. I hate when I hear people say, “I’m going on a diet.” Or when people say “I have to start exercising to lose some weight.” I inevitably want to ask them, “And when you have lost the weight from the diet, what then? And when you lost weight through exercising, what then?”

I just don’t get it that people want to continue with an “either or” approach to life. A diet is a temporary solution and in most cases does not work. An exercise program without adapted eating will not benefit you in the long run.

People know that being an ideal weight is beneficial on so many levels. They know that when they weigh less they are more mobile, and usually have more energy. But, through the bom-barding of the weight loss media, people have come to expect that a healthy and fit lifestyle is something that they can achieve overnight. The life they want will not happen overnight. It takes hard work. And it takes a winning combination of a healthy lifestyle and exercise.

A healthy diet is not time bound. It is an investment into your life. It should become a life-style. Knowing your body and knowing how much is enough, is vitally important. Educate yourself on the quality of the nutrition that you put into your mouth. A burger from the drive-through has calories as well, but they are mainly empty calories.

In the same way, exercise should form part of your life. The benefits of exercise are too many to list in this post, and I have another post (https://thrivefitness.com.au/blog/21-rewards-of-exercise) where I have extolled the virtues of exercise, please read that if you want any-more proof.

This knowledge is nothing new. It is part of ancient wisdom.

Have a look at these great men and their opinions on a healthy lifestyle:

Buddha said, “To keep the body in good health is a duty, otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear.”

Marcus Valerius Martialis, a Latin poet wrote, “Life is not merely being alive, but being well.”

Edward Smith-Stanley (1752-1834) said “Those who do not find time for exercise will have to find time for illness.”

The American physician and cardiologist who lived from 1886 to 1973 said, “A vigorous five-mile walk will do more good for an unhappy but otherwise healthy adult than all the medicine and psychology in the world.”

Lastly, I love the wit of Persius, a Roman poet and satirist who wrote, “You pray for good health and a body that will be strong in old age. Good – but your rich foods block the gods’ answer and tie Jupiter’s hands.”

In the beginning you may find that you feel like Mark Twain, who said, “The only way to keep your health is to eat what you don’t want, drink what you don’t like, and do what you’d rather not.”  But after a while you will love all that you did not. Just keep swimming.

It is never too late to start. Make today the first day of the rest of your life. Contact me for information about my online training program, or follow this link (www.thrivefitnessonline.trainerize.com) to find out how online training works.

(http://summertomato.com/great-thinkers-10-inspiring-quotes-for-healthy-living/