But I’ve been exercising every day for the past X months, and I still haven’t lost weight…
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard that line in my office.
Or the response to the question “What are you doing for exercise?” that for some reason is immediately answered with their weight loss efforts, or how they know they should lose weight.
PEOPLE!! Exercise has lots of benefits—some of them have to do with weight, BUT
that’s not all of it.
First, let’s talk about what exercise does for weight. Weight loss is 80% diet, 20% exercise. So, you can expect a small amount of weight loss from exercise if you have been completely sedentary, but don’t expect a great deal. What you can expect is weight stabilization. What we find in patients who have been successful in weight loss and kept that weight off for a substantial amount of time (years) is that they are exercising regularly. In addition, I tell my patients, the exercise is COSMETIC. It’s what’s going to help your body look like you want it to look, regardless of whether the scale changes. But for me, these are all extremely superficial to why I am asking people to exercise. Below are just some of the many reasons I like to encourage my patients to GET MOVING!!
- Exercise improves memory and thinking skills.
- Exercise improves symptoms of depression and anxiety.
- Exercise improves insulin resistance.
- Exercise improves blood pressure.
In fact, this infographic highlights many of the benefits, from improving bone health to improving sexual health, including some of the things mentioned above.
My active and youthful octogenarians swear by exercise, and swear it helps keep them youthful, active, and they have less achyness when they are exercising regularly.
I encourage exercise at every age. I prescribe it first for almost every chronic ailment. You will hear me mention it often. And it doesn’t have to be much depending on what benefit you are going for.
I actually recently read this article that cited a study that showed that only 7 minutes of jogging daily can cut your risk of heart attack and stroke nearly in half, and adds to your life. I’m huge on circuit training and HIIT training to maximize your time when it comes to burning fat and building muscle—and these workout generally can provide major results in minimal time. But honestly, I encourage people to move in ways they enjoy, swimming, dancing, biking—whatever makes you happy, and is something you will sustain, is something you should do. If you hate walking on a treadmill—don’t buy one. Stop using the heat of the Houston summer as the reason you don’t work out—it’s hot EVERY SUMMER! Come up with a work around.
MOVE! Not to lose weight either. Just because it’s good for you.