Which works better for weight loss?
It’s an age old question! Which is better for weight loss? To increase ones exercise regime or to cut the calories?
Undoubtedly it’s a question which has confused and probably bewildered many over the years. The simple truth is that both are important but cutting the calories edges it in terms of weight loss, as a calorie reduction combats weight loss far more effectively.
Luis Rodriguez Director of www.pronokal.co.uk on London’s Harley Street said: “Regular exercise is so important in terms of our continued well being and to prevent piling on the pounds. However our experience as a company dealing in medically supervised weight loss has shown that those who have failed to maintain a structured exercise programme are far more likely to incur weight gain and often returning to their exercise programme when it has become evident that they have exceeded their target weight is often not enough to shift a stubborn weight gain. A structured diet then comes into play and is the catalyst for losing the initial weight. Exercise works hand in hand with this programme but the body is not a machine and to prevent further weight gain down the line a re-education on dietary habits is essential in order to prevent further weight gain in the future.”
In order to lose weight, one has to burn more calories than you consume. The average daily calorie intake for a man is 2500 and a woman is 2000. However we know that 3,500 calories is equivalent to 1 pound of fat, so for example if you wanted to lose a pound, you would need to burn 3,500 calories more than you actually take in. This puts into perspective the enormity of the task that many face and suddenly one can see that a gentle jog around the block will not achieve the desired affect.
Rodriguez continues: “Experience has show that people who lose weight and keep it off over the long term commit to regular physical activity. However this is in conjunction with healthy and responsible dietary control. If you lose weight by crash dieting you are more than likely to “gain” it again because the body memory will try to push you back to where it was prior to “losing” the weight. If instead you focus on “gaining quality” of life, self-esteem and body composition (being more lean), your chances maintaining your newly acquired healthy weight are far greater. We have observed that support and mentoring are essential to keep you focused on this. That is why we have a multi-disciplinary team of professionals supporting our patients.”
“If you are overweight now, my advice would be to enter into a medically supervised weight loss programme, followed by a monitored exercise programme. However, to prevent any further weight gain issues in the future it is essential that one learns how to control a diet and I cannot stress enough how important it is to re-educate the patient in terms of the food and quantities that they can enjoy.”