Vigorous exercise could lead to weight gain?

[OceanBound]

The author of this article was interviewed by CNN this morning. And then I read the article in Time magazine. They say that basically people who exercise eat more and thus don't get any weight loss benefits. While I know it's easy to think of rewarding oneself after a rigorous workout, I just don't like the implications of the study. Like I'd be better off weight-wise being a complete couch potato and eating 1/2 muffin less a day??? Oh well, I'm not giving up the gym no matter what!

Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin - TIME

[cmc]

I've read of some peer reviewed studies that say it's better to be fit and overweight; than unfit and slim, or unfit and heavy.
The articles I've read note that being sedentary rather than active is a health risk regardless of the BMI being in a good range or not..

edited to add:

pg 2
That's one reason humans can gain weight with just an extra half-muffin a day: we almost instantly store most of the calories we don't need...

pg 4
In short, it's what you eat, not how hard you try to work it off, that matters more in losing weight

.

Thanks for sharing, I enjoyed reading this article.

[MycoolFitz]

Muscle weighs more then fat, even in the brain.

[OceanBound]

Originally Posted by MycoolFitz

Muscle weighs more then fat, even in the brain.

We have muscle in our brains?

[Gypsy Feet]

I was actually pretty disappointed when I started my job and didn't drop weight faster. It is extremely physical, but I have to nosh on fruit and lean protein all day to make it through. I feel strong and fit though, and that is a marvelous thing.

[yeahgr8]

What this is saying that if you exercise and still eat crap you dont lose as much weight as if you exercise and stick to a sensible diet...******* articles like this really **** me off, it's hard enough to encourage someone with a 'lazy' lifestyle to get into exercise! Thanks OB for posting it though:-)

I think it's useful to remember that some of the doctors and members of varioius professions were the guys that i used to drink with hanging off the end of the bar! lol be careful make your own minds up over articles like this...

[OceanBound]

Originally Posted by Phaleron

I've seen this article, the conclusions are invalid.

I don't think they are invalid. Conclusions will vary though. I think they are right in that if you reward yourself with something high in calories because you went to the gym, it'll be a wash weight-wise. But who says you need to eat more or worse food when you exercise unless you train many hours a day?

[Fubarcdn]

I think that in order for exercise to be effective it must be combined with a commitment to a healthy lifestyle and a healthy diet.
I think the writer of the article is somehow trying to justify still having a fat belly by combining bits and pieces from several studies to prove a point.
This is very dangerous thinking not only for the writer who may say I will just quit the gym but more so for anyone that may read it and decide not to join because of it.
As magazine readership falls and budgets are cut we will likely see more of this type of article to fill the spaces of magazines that can no longer afford in depth quality journalism.

[itisatruth]

Our bodies are complex things ~ I don't believe it's a one answer fits all kind of thing....yet the old standby holds true: burn more calories than you take in and lose weight. Exercise burns calories........and there are many ways to get exercise without going to the gym. Seems like the author of the article needs to find something he enjoys.

We have different metabolisms and burn calories at different rates but the fact that people make bad choices after exercise doesn't make exercise a bad thing. Weight gain (excluding muscle gains) while working out occurs when poor choices in diet are made after/before the work out. For me personally, I'm the opposite...if I've just worked out the last thing I want to do is eat crappy food.

[cwdsi]

Ultimately, the key to losing weight is what is called "negative energy balance", meaning that you burn more calories than you consume on a daily basis. The rough estimate is that you need to burn about 3500 calories to lose a pound of fat.

Now, this article implies that most people binge on junk food after they workout and have no willpower on their food choices. Of course you're not going to lose weight if you run for two miles, burn 500 calories, and then go to McDonald's and eat a Big Mac with a supersized order of fries and a drink. That's common sense, or I'd like to think so anyway.

""In general, for weight loss, exercise is pretty useless," says Eric Ravussin, chair in diabetes and metabolism at Louisiana State University and a prominent exercise researcher." What the hell is this? This is COMPLETE nonsense. Is the author seriously arguing the premise that exercise is actually counterproductive to weight loss? There is no better way to lose weight than when you combine exercise with proper nutrition.

"If you force yourself to jog for an hour, your self-regulatory capacity is proportionately enfeebled. Rather than lunching on a salad, you'll be more likely to opt for pizza." Whatever you say buddy. Some people don't exercise at all, yet opt to have the pizza instead of the salad anyway.

In addition, if you start a weight training regiment, you're more likely to lose weight and keep it off because having more muscle mass equates to a higher Basal Metabolic Rate (the amount of calories your body burns during natural metabolic processes when you're doing nothing, like sitting around). Your body becomes more efficient as you work yourself into shape.

This article is horrible. It could have been 1 simple page instead of a rambling four pages with filler. The author somehow salvaged the proper conclusion (yeah, watch your diet) which actually doesn't even fit in with the rest of the article. The solution is simple: if you're not losing weight (or gaining weight) even though you exercise frequently, assess your diet and adjust accordingly.

Sorry for rambling and making an unorganized post, but the article was thatbad.

[yeahgr8]

Originally Posted by cwdsi

Ultimately, the key to losing weight is what is called "negative energy balance", meaning that you burn more calories than you consume on a daily basis. The rough estimate is that you need to burn about 3500 calories to lose a pound of fat.

Now, this article implies that most people binge on junk food after they workout and have no willpower on their food choices. Of course you're not going to lose weight if you run for two miles, burn 500 calories, and then go to McDonald's and eat a Big Mac with a supersized order of fries and a drink. That's common sense, or I'd like to think so anyway.

""In general, for weight loss, exercise is pretty useless," says Eric Ravussin, chair in diabetes and metabolism at Louisiana State University and a prominent exercise researcher." What the hell is this? This is COMPLETE nonsense. Is the author seriously arguing the premise that exercise is actually counterproductive to weight loss? There is no better way to lose weight than when you combine exercise with proper nutrition.

"If you force yourself to jog for an hour, your self-regulatory capacity is proportionately enfeebled. Rather than lunching on a salad, you'll be more likely to opt for pizza." Whatever you say buddy. Some people don't exercise at all, yet opt to have the pizza instead of the salad anyway.

In addition, if you start a weight training regiment, you're more likely to lose weight and keep it off because having more muscle mass equates to a higher Basal Metabolic Rate (the amount of calories your body burns during natural metabolic processes when you're doing nothing, like sitting around). Your body becomes more efficient as you work yourself into shape.

This article is horrible. It could have been 1 simple page instead of a rambling four pages with filler. The author somehow salvaged the proper conclusion (yeah, watch your diet) which actually doesn't even fit in with the rest of the article. The solution is simple: if you're not losing weight (or gaining weight) even though you exercise frequently, assess your diet and adjust accordingly.

Sorry for rambling and making an unorganized post, but the article was thatbad.

Let's have it right my friend, the article is an absolute pile of ****! Thanks for your post:-)

[arobert]

yes you are right "this article implies that most people binge on junk food after they workout and have no willpower on their food choices. Of course you're not going to lose weight if you run for two miles, burn 500 calories, and then go to McDonald's and eat a Big Mac with a supersized order of fries and a drink. That's common sense, or I'd like to think so anyway."

[jacksmith123]

I don't think so. At least in my case, it never happened. But i do know of people who have gained weight when they used to have a rigorous gymming routine and suddenly quit. I guess it all depends on your body nature and genes.