Diet vs Fitness – Which Is More Important For Health

When it comes to sustainable weight loss, which is better? Is it intense exercise that leaves your breathless, or is eating a healthy diet rich in fruits, veggies and lean protein the better route to go?

Depending on who you ask, you’ll probably get a variety of responses to this old-age question. Some might say that exercise is the most important part of the weight-loss equation while others swear by their diet.

With so much fluff available online, it can be tough to discern the real deal. In fact, trying to navigate the fitness-diet seas can only be compared to driving with a blindfold on.

Many places like Diet Fitness King will tell you that implementing both diet and fitness together is the most effective plan of attack.

Fitness Versus Diet

When it comes to losing weight, there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Everyone is different and as such, so are their weight loss efforts. However, there are a few rules that generally apply to all of us.

What we eat plays a huge role in how we look and feel. Diets low in fat give us glowing skin and shiny, bouncy hair, whereas diets high in fat can leave both our skin and waistline looking a bit lackluster.

But as the trend towards healthy eating continues to grow, so does the need to incorporate healthier lifestyle choices. And that doesn’t only mean whipping up smoothies post-party smoothies. We’re talking the whole nine yards.

You are What You Eat

Eating right helps us lose weight, feel better about ourselves and reduce risk of serious illness. However, eating a healthy diet won’t do much good it you’re out dancing until dawn every weekend.

In fact, when combined with a lack of physical activity, you probably won’t see any benefit at all. In addition to squelching party-hard ways, consuming nutrient-dense foods, in combination with exercising, is the best way to go.

But like most things in life, there is a catch. What you eat is just as important as how much you exercise. For example, hitting the gym for an hour only to turn around and eat a chocolate bar just doesn’t work. At this point, some people may be scratching their heads and asking, “Why can’t I indulge?”

Indulging is very different than eating an unhealthy diet. But when you think about it, you should be able to have your cake and eat it too. We totally agree. You worked hard and deserve a reward.

The ongoing debate about whether what we eat is more important how much we exercise seems to indicate that even die-hard gym goer’s can undo whatever progress they make when they sip one too many or have just one more slice.

And on the topic of exercise, how much do we really need? Is it better to sweat it out on the daily, or can you down dog three times a week and still achieve your fitness goals?

Relatively speaking, adults are supposed to engage in no less than 150 minutes of cardiovascular activity every week. Exercising exclusively doesn’t promote weight loss. Studies show that mindful eating is more likely to result in sustainable weight loss when compared daily sweat sessions.

But why? Because people have their eye on the prize, which is to lose weight and look better for a specific event or time. They aren’t focusing on the future. Sadly, even when they reach their goals, all of their hard efforts go to waste as they begin to slack at the gym and continue to eat as much as they did when they worked out regularly.

If all this negatively has got you down, rest assured there is a bright light at the end of the weight loss tunnel. Thankfully, it is possible to have the best of both worlds.

The Weight Debate

By balancing what you eat and doing exercise you enjoy, you can not only reach your fitness goals but sustain them as well. So, if you’re still scratching your head wondering how to see the results you want, we’ve got the deets.

Yep, you read that right. Even if you haven’t fallen in love with exercise, choose something you enjoy. Everyone has days where they just can’t muster the energy to work out. But when you exercise consistently, your body begins to crave it.

Our bodies were made to move, so the more you do it, the more you will want to do it. If love to dance, join Zumba. If you enjoy walking outside, buy a high-quality pair of sneakers and hit the open road.

Heck, you can even start lifting weights. Weight lifting, when done with lighter weights and higher reps, definitely packs a punch. The key is finding what motivates you to move.

Burn Baby Burn

Before, exercise was all about burn. How many calories you burned while working out. But all of this calorie counting can lead to burn out, not to mention exercise addiction. Focus on the moment. How do you feel after working out?

Create a different set of goals like how many minutes were you able to exercise without stopping, or the number of burpees you did perfectly. These personalized incentives go a long way to boost motivation and performance.

Final Thoughts

Trying to navigate the blurred lines between a healthy diet and exercise may not be easy, but it’s definitely possible. The key is finding the right balance. Staying active keeps us young, wards off disease and boosts cognition but eating what you love, in moderation is good for your soul.