Have you been chasing weight loss for as long as you can remember but never seem to get the results you want?
Do you feel disappointed and disheartened after countless hours of hard, exhausting exercise?
Too many of us feel this way and are left feeling hopeless after months of committing to a new and improved body. We feel motivated every so often to ‘really give it a go this time’, buying a new gym membership and cramming exercise into our already busy lives, in the hope that this time we may actually lose a few pounds.
Then after a month or two of hard work, we become frustrated by the results and decide there is no hope and stop trying.
If this all sounds too familiar, you’re probably wondering what the solution is, or if there even is one.
You may have even diagnosed yourself with some sort of condition that sounds something like ‘my metabolism is too slow’ or ‘maybe my genetics mean I can’t lose weight’.
I’m here to tell you that although these things sometimes do play a role in people’s weight loss journeys, they probably don’t apply to you. The good news is that there may be a simple solution…..
The importance of calories
I’m sure you’re all aware of what calories are and why they stop us from reaching our goals, but many people overlook them when trying to lose weight. A common mistake is focusing too much on exercise, thinking that if you’re working hard enough then you are bound to shred some fat, right?
The truth is that no amount of exercise can make you lose fat unless you are in a calorie deficit. This means that the overall number of calories being ‘burnt’ needs to be higher than the number of calories going in. So, when someone is exercising for two hours each day but can’t seem to lose any weight, it’s nearly always because they are still consuming more calories than they are burning.
The bottom line is, you need to really prioritise your diet in order to reach your goals, whether you decide to work with a nutritionist or simply track your own calories, it is a must!
Is exercise pointless then?
You may be thinking that everything I’ve just said means you may as well quit the gym and never bother exercising again.
That isn’t exactly what I’m saying at all.
Exercise can obviously increase the calories being used throughout the day which will contribute towards that calorie deficit you need to be in. Exercise has also been shown to decrease hunger and increase satiety(1) which may help you consume less, again leading to a calorie deficit.
Exercise isn’t all about losing weight though. Don’t forget the impact exercise has on our mental and physical health(2,3).
Conclusion
When it comes to weight loss and improving body composition, my advice remains simple.
Keep exercising and make sure you are in a calorie deficit!
At the end of the day, weight loss and lifestyle changes are a long term journey, so don’t be too hard on yourself, keep making adjustments if needed, and most importantly…..
Don’t give up!