Time magazine recently published a story in the August 17 issue that received a lot of attention. Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin examined the role of exercise and eating in weight loss, concluding that exercise, while useful for other things, would not help with losing weight.

 

What are my thoughts on this article? First, most exercise professionals would agree that eating less and better is the key to weight loss, while exercise is the key to keeping it off. But, why go to the effort to lose it if you don't intend to keep it off?
 
Second, evidence clearly shows that Americans are moving less and less on a daily basis and eating more and more. As a result, we are getting fatter and fatter. So, to title this cover story so negatively seems unconscionable to me. How many overweight people saw the cover and used it as an excuse to quit exercising, or not get started?
 
So how do we combat this trend? Both sides of the energy equation must be attacked, so while eating less and better is necessary, exercise must be part of the plan. Ways to accomplish this include increasing exercise and non-exercise activity throughout the day to augment calorie burn; eat every few hours to keep from getting so hungry that you make poor food choices and to keep your metabolism burning at a higher rate; and reward yourself in ways other than food, which is obviously counterproductive.
 
It is a fact that losing weight is more difficult than gaining; losing a lot of weight is harder than losing a little. It is much better not to have the problem in the first place, which is where exercise is most effective - at keeping the weight off.
 
It is important to remember that most research in this area is based on self reported data. Research also shows that we underestimate our food intake and overestimate our exercise. There is plenty of evidence to support the effectiveness of exercise in weight loss - but there is also evidence to support any point of view you want.
 
The author of the Times article is a male who weighs 163 pounds and seems to exercise 30-60 minutes on 4 days, although he calls it "all the time". While his age, height and body fat are not mentioned, he seems likely to be at a healthy weight, with a little more fat around the middle than he wants (much like myself). He seems to be maintaining this healthy range, probably due to his "wretched four hours of exercise a week". But he rewards himself with blueberry bars, bags of chips, and greasy burritos, blaming these eating habits on being too tired from exercise to have the energy to shop, clean and cook healthy foods. This is telling: he views exercise as "wretched", he "works (out) like a farm animal", and "exercises with a Puritan fury", but finds eating greasy burritos "satisfying". If he reversed his attitude, he might be more successful.
 
He seems to have a problem that is common in our culture: we all want perfect bodies even though we don't want to pay the necessary price to get them. We have unrealistic expectations: we want to eat and drink like gourmands but still look like Hollywood stars, without having to work for it.
 
I enjoy exercise, although on some days it can be a chore. I enjoy eating healthy foods in moderate amounts and I do not feel deprived. Occasionally, I indulge myself with what I eat or how much I eat, but I know I will return to a healthy pattern afterwards. I do not have a perfect body and I don't want one - at least, not bad enough to make the sacrifices required at age 57.
 
Anyway, what's wrong with just looking and feeling good, eating and exercising healthfully? In this case, I think good is way better than perfect.

 

Incidentally, in the September 28 issue of Time is an article about how much weight people have lost exercising with a Hula Hoop. No mention of the previous article.