Studies have shown that the more effective way to lose weight is by exercising and not just cutting the amount of calories that you consume. It is, of course, beneficial if you combine the two, but if you are to choose between them, exercising is the better option.
Various studies have come to the conclusion that if you try to lose weight just by cutting the number of calories you have and dieting alone, you are also more prone to losing your muscle mass, which is not a good thing to happen. On the other hand, if you lose weight by exercising and working out, you are going to lose weight but keep that muscle mass at the same time as well.
Diet or Exercise?
This goes to show that if a person wants to lose weight and has the option between dieting and exercising, they should definitely go with exercising and start working out more and more, as this is the healthier way to lose weight than compared to dieting and becoming weaker as a result. If these people are committed to putting in that extra effort and time that it takes to work out and not lose the benefits of all that effort by binging and having a lot of food, they are definitely going to be better off than those people who just diet.
It is of course essential to note that the sum of the parts is better than either in isolation, meaning that losing weight by just exercising or by just restricting your calorie intake alone will not give you as many benefits as if you combine the two and try to lose weight by exercising and restricting the number of calories you consume at the same time. Exercising is the better option if considered in isolation, but people who only exercise definitely miss out on some of the really helpful health benefits offered by restricting the calories you consume.
This does not mean that dieting alone is a bad thing, as there are many advantages to this as well, like reducing the risks of many diseases, and it is important to note that it is an effective way of losing weight. Studies have also shown that there are also some benefits gained by restricting calorie intake, that cannot be gained by just losing weight through exercise.
About Shaun Hudson
Shaun Hudson loves sports, being outdoors, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle. After many unsuccessful attempts to lose weight, he finally was able to drop 25 pounds and keep it off. The secret? He kept a journal of his activity, diet, and daily life. That journal changed his life, and has since evolved into this website. Read his full bio.