Time article - exercise wont make you thin

• Wow! The recent article in Time magazine why exercise won’t make you thin has really caused a stir in the fitness and health industry.
  http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1914857-1,00.html
  
  It caused a stir in me when I read it. In my opinion, this article puts a slant on only one factor of health and missed the big picture of health and fitness.
  
  Although I don’t agree with some of the content and how it’s presented, let’s take this opportunity to put a positive spin back on exercise and learn the balanced facts to weight loss.
  
  1) Exercise makes you hungry.
  
  Yes it does. The basic premise here is that you increase your metabolism, which burns more calories. This creates a need for more calories to replenish and restore your energy and rebuild muscle.
  
  The key here is not the extra hunger; it’s the food you choose to replenish your energy. If you go and eat donuts and pizza after a workout on a regular basis, then yes exercise will NOT help you get thin. And you will likely gain weight.
  
  If you are choosing the right calories with a good quality workout shake or a balanced meal of lean protein, veggies, good complex carbs, then YES you will promote lean body mass and weight loss.
  
  A regular daily diet including; lean protein, lots of high nutrient green, yellow, and orange veggies, low in saturated fats and simple sugar carbohydrates, will help promote quality muscle, develop good eating habits, and diminish the want for the nasty after workout junk food.
  
  
  2) All exercise is NOT created equal.
  
  The article doesn’t reference the type of exercise used for the studies. We already know that high intensity circuit type resistance training burns significantly more calories than just cardio. And if a daily walk is the only level of exercise for weight loss, this will not get you thin – particularly if your diet is full of high calorie and fat foods or you are a carbohydrate junkie.
  
  3) Without Diet and exercise you will NOT lose the weight.
  Our mantra at boot camp and with private clients is; you can out eat the best training program. I know this because I’m not perfect and I have done it.
  
  Your food and calorie intake is the key to any weight loss program. Actually its probably 80% or more important than exercise alone.
  
  Put a good quality diet together with some intense circuits and you have the recipe for weight loss. I’m certain that this is a recipe that Jamie will support.
  
  
  4) Its not all about the weight loss. What else will you achieve from exercise?
  
  The article focuses primarily on weight loss. Hopefully if you read this and were not familiar with the benefits of both diet and exercise to be healthy and fit, you were not discouraged about exercising. There are so many other possible benefits to exercising alone:
  -Lean body mass
  -Lower cholesterol
  -Clear mind
  -Camaraderie
  -Increase energy
  -Increase bone density
  -Increase strength
  -More agility to play with your kids and grandkids
  -Overall lower risk of disease
  …You get the point.
  
  Bottom line to this article is that if your goal is to lose weight and form a lean fit body the recipe is exercise AND diet. Not just exercise.
  
  If your goal is to enjoy where you are in life and eat what you want, then keep up an exercise program 3-5 times a week that burns tons of calories. Butt still watch what you eat for your overall health. It can catch up to you before you know it.
  
  And as always, schedule a free assessment with me if you want to find out where you are, where you want to go, and how to get there.
  
  Live well
  
  Coach Greg