This is a great question as there is a little misconception about the two.
How often have you heard or said, “It will be OK (to eat whatever you want) - I’ll just work it off later”?
We’ve all said it at one time or another. But is it really true?
In fact you can burn off calories. However, most foods you’d say that about are probably close to 1000 calories. (Don’t believe me? Look it up!) Even an hour of vigorous exercise most likely will not burn, but perhaps half of that amount, depending on what you weigh.
More importantly is the source of the calories, the type of foods consumed. If the foods are high in sugar, processed or heavy meat consumption, then even though calories will be burned your body will not function at its optimum. It can’t! The body’s organs need nutrients to function at full capacity to burn fat which will result in weight loss.
Without proper nutrients from whole, healthy foods, the results of weight loss will not happen easily or quickly.
Studies have shown that an obese person can lose weight without exercise, but simply by consuming a whole foods, plant-based diet. This type of eating lifestyle consists of cutting sugar and processed foods, consuming high amounts of plant-based foods such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, seeds, legumes and whole grains or pseudograins such as oats, quinoa, amaranth, in addition to cutting meat and dairy down to a minimum.
But what about extreme amounts of exercise with a diet that includes processed and sugary foods and high amounts of meat and dairy? It does not produce the same results.
The perfect combination to lose weight safely and quickly is to consume a healthy, whole food, plant-based eating lifestyle AND exercise regularly for the benefits of cardio, strength, toning and mobility.
To answer the question of what I believe is most important between the two? It’s not only what I believe, it’s what your body believes and desires as well. For certain the answer is...foods!
