Weight loss is one of those things where ‘one-size doesn’t fit all.’ Everyone has their weight loss goals, and beyond that everyone’s body is structured differently thus losing weight differently. The age old question begs; should you diet or workout to lose weight?
To lose weight, you will need to burn off more calories than you consume in a day. On the other hand, to lose fat as opposed to muscle, you’ll need to workout and strengthen as well as build lean muscle.
It takes a combination of diet and exercise actually to lose weight.
Dieting to Lose Weight
By dieting, we are referring to eating a healthy and balanced diet. To lose weight by dieting, it means reducing the number of calories consumed daily by at least 500 calories.
Eating less/burning off 3,500 calories every week is necessary to lose one pound in weight.
Weight loss can occur through dieting alone, but it is important to eat the right foods. However, the problem with dieting is that often muscle is lost because there isn’t an outlet to effectively build them up.
Workout to Lose Weight
Similarly, you can lose weight by working out in the gym. When it comes to working out for weight loss, consistency is key.
A 3.5 mile run daily should add up to 3,500 calories burnt off weekly. If you are too busy and can’t go outside for running, you can have affordable treadmills for sale and workout at home.
Likewise, when working out if the body is not properly fuelled to lose fat and build muscle; weight loss will essentially be as a result of muscle loss.
Dieting and Working Out to Lose Weight
You might have deduced by now that the best way to lose weight is to establish the right balance between working out and dieting.
Here are some guidelines that can help you find the right balance between exercise and dieting to help you lose weight:
- Know precisely how much calories you should be eating daily to sustain your current weight. Finding out your recommended daily calorie intake should be easy because there are several online calculators nowadays that help out with this.
- Once you know just how much calories you need to eat each day, reduce the amount by at least 20% for weight loss. It is recommended to up your protein intake to help you stay full for longer on fewer calories.
- It is better to track your macronutrients intake rather than counting calories. On any weight loss journey, getting in the right amount of nutrients your body needs to maintain normal functions is far important than the overall amount of calories consumed.
- Work in 30 minutes of exercise into your daily regime. Start with daily walks when initially picking out exerciseand build up as your body gets stronger. However, this will only work out once you get your diet in check.
Stay Consistent and Give it Time
Most people who start any diet or workout plan expect to see the weight drop quickly. However, it takes the time to lose weight just like it took the time to gain the weight.
Consistency is the most important aspect of weight loss. You have to stay true to your diet plan and keep up with your workouts to achieve your fitness goals.
It might also take some time to find the right balance of diet and exercise that effectively works for you to lose weight. Don’t throw in the towel if the scale isn’t going down; often, your diet will determine whether you lose weight or not. Switch things up with the help of a nutritionist and trainer if you hit a snarl up.
Last but not least, take it one day at a time, and the weight will come off eventually.
In summary, it takes a combination of exercise and the right diet to lose weight and keep it off. Get the help of a nutritionist to work on your diet and work with a trainer to get a fitness plan that will work for you.