Comments on: Running your bum off?

By: crazybengal

crazybengal — Fri, 09 May 2008 21:48:11 +0000

Interesting – recent information says that short bursts of running when you are out walking is the best way to step up your metabolism – it tricks your body to think you are more active than you really are.
http://preventdisease.com/home/tips76.shtml
interval training – an old idea that appears to work. And the short bursts of running can be as short as a minute or two combined with regular walking.

By: Lynda Lippin

Lynda Lippin — Fri, 09 May 2008 21:43:19 +0000

Our bodies are certainly meant to move, but we do need to get out of the mentality that an hour on the treadmill somehow earns us the candy bar (you know, they should just attach the candy machine to the treadmill ). What, and more importantly how much, we eat is what really matters.

By: DR

DR — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:24:32 +0000

I agree that food is more important for fat loss than exercise (it is a lot easier to ingest 1000 calories than to expend 100 calories)

However, I disagree that exercise is not necessary. Our bodies are meant to move. Whether it is the treadmill, weight lifting or just a more ‘old-fashioned’ active lifestyle, exercise is vital for general health & body composition

http://secure.cihi.ca/cihiweb/dispPage.jsp?cw_page=media_05jul2005_e

I also agree that there are lots of ‘fat’ workout fanatics. 3 times at the gym each week won’t make up for a poor diet.

But there are also lots of ‘skinny-fat’ people who through reduced calories or just through their natural metabolism have low body-fat, but little muscle mass and as a result appear almost like a skeleton covered with a thin layer of fat.

Like I said, human metabolism is not a simple subject.

By: Michele

Michele — Fri, 09 May 2008 19:03:17 +0000

Sure DR … constant slow weight gain will add up but I don’t think “exercise” is necessary to prevent that. Diet is much more important.

It’s not sitting around watching television that makes a person fat; it’s the potato chips and soda and candy and cookies eaten while watching.

By: crazybengal

crazybengal — Fri, 09 May 2008 18:26:39 +0000

The myth of exercise for weight control. How many calories in a piece of toast with jam…150. How much exercise will you need to do in order to burn those calories off…walk about a mile and a half. Hmm – so if you had two slices – about three miles. If you think about calories this way…you will be walking a long way just to keep up. It is best to reduce calories rather than simply eating whatever and then think that you are going to be able to burn it all off with exercise. Exercise for muscle strength and cardiovascular fitness is very important but don’t think it can work to make you lose weight without calorie reduction – I know several very fit people who are overweight – in fact – overexercisers. I also know unfit people who are thin. Add to this the myth that fat will make you fat and fat-free with make you thin…and well…

By: DR

DR — Fri, 09 May 2008 17:22:53 +0000

When it comes to metabolism and bodyfat regulation, there are no simple answers. And that is a big problem with these studies. Scientific studies always look for the ‘magic bullet’ single cause solution.

When some people increase their exercise, their appetite increases; for others it falls. Some people find joy when exercising; others don’t

Not fair, but true

But one fact is true. You may not want to run and jump and sweat to lose 5 pounds, but if you are like most North Americans, not running and jumping and sweating will result in gaining excess fat each and every year.

An extra 1/4 lb each month is 3 lbs a year is 60 lbs in 20 years.

By the time someone gains 60 lbs of fat, there sure as heck don’t want to run and jump