Why Does Exercise Help to Lose Weight

Posted by Lorna on September 2nd, 2008 at 09:29am

Usually those of us who hate to exercise ask the question, “Why does exercise help to lose weight?” because of course we don’t want to do it and are always told how we must in order to lose weight. If you are like me and are told that something is good for you, the natural next thing to pop into your mind is WHY? Why is it good for me and why do I have to do it?

We can lose weight by losing body fat, by losing water or by losing muscle. Most dieters will see an immediate 2 to 3 pound weight loss because of losing water. They become excited at this early success from whatever diet or weight loss program they just started and then become disappointed when they do not continue to see rapid weight loss despite working the diet or program. The best way and healthier way to lose weight is to lose body fat not muscle. If you hate to change your eating habits and flatly refuse to, if you increase your exercise level and maintain the same diet including the amount of food you consume you will lose weight. That is because you are burning more calories with the increased level of exercise you are doing. Whenever you burn more calories than you consume, the natural result is a loss of weight.

Not every body has the same energy or caloric needs because not all of our bodies are the same proportion (shape, height or weight), age, or type (male/female). This body difference along with our different activity levels equates to different daily caloric needs. This is why in a situation where everyone is eating the same meals like in a school cafeteria, or camp situation one person consuming the exact same amount and type of foods will gain weight, another will lose weight and another will stay the same. The reason for the difference can be found in all of the other factors previously mentioned - body proportion, sex, age and activity level. If age and sex are the same as well as type and amount of food but one person is sedentary (non-active) and the other is active physically the person who is sedentary will gain body fat.

You can easily increase your physical level of activity each day simply by making a few changes in how you go about your day such as taking the stairs instead of using the elevator, walking the dog instead of watching TV, walk around while being in a waiting room instead of sitting in a chair while waiting. Take any opportunity to move instead of staying still that you can possibly find in your daily routine. Our bodies were designed for daily activity. When we recognize that design and take advantage of what our bodies can do we allow our bodies to maintain health the way they are designed to do.

Individuals who strive to diet and lose weight without adding exercise to the mix over time will begin to gain the weight back. The weight loss these individuals are experiencing is due to water and muscle loss as stated in the beginning of the article. There is only so much water and muscle to lose before your body becomes unhealthy. If you plan on losing weight the healthy way - diet and exercise are necessary and are inter-related.

Tags: Exercise, exercise to lose weight