Exercise is an important component of staying in shape, but nutrition accounts for 80% of your health.
Ever see an ad that promises to make you lose 30 pounds in a month?
Is this possible? Yes. Is this healthy? For most people it is not. Most people would have to be on unbalanced or unhealthy diets to achieve this rate of weight loss. Such diets result in significant loss of muscle mass, nutritional deficiencies and metabolic disturbances. These are undesirable outcomes that you should aim to avoid.
In general, how quickly an individual can lose the weight in a healthy manner depends on five factors: (1) on your metabolism, (2) your health profile, (3) how quickly you are able to align your dietary habits with your physiological needs, (4) your physical limitations or ability to exercise, (5) how much time you are willing and able to invest in your health objectives.
With this information, your nutritionist can estimate how quickly you will be able to achieve your goal.
As a general rule, the recommended rate of weight loss is between one pound to two pounds a week on average. Because weight loss can vary considerably from week to week, the average is often based on results over a month or two.
It is not unusual however for some people to lose weight a little below or above the recommended range. Healthy weight loss, without muscle loss, can be observed between 0.5 pounds to 3 pounds per week depending on each individual’s profile as stated above.
Is exercise required for weight loss? No, but it’s definitely a plus. Mind you, individuals meeting their recommended dietary objectives are usually capable of losing 0.5 pounds a week without exercising above and beyond their daily activities. Some even lose one pound a week with little to no exercise. This is good news for those with physical limitations or those who can’t exercise regularly.
While exercise is a plus, it’s important to understand that those who rely primarily on exercise to manage their weight are at greater risk of gaining significant weight if they get injured or are incapable of pursuing the same level of physical activity, the ex-soccer player who puts on 35 pounds because his knee injury prevents him from playing, for example. It’s a common phenomenon.
Exercise is an important component of staying in shape, but nutrition accounts for 80% of your health.
Those who successfully maintain their weight by emphasizing good nutrition are less likely to experience undesirable weight gain while they recover from an injury.
Choosing to lose weight within the recommended range is safer and practical for most people. Achieving better health should be prioritized over speed in your weight loss strategy.
Healthy is beautiful.
Article courtesy of Weight-Loss-Montreal.ca
For more information, or to speak with a dietitian, call 1-844-790-4574 or visit www.Weight-Loss-Montreal.ca
