Exercise vs. Diet – BowlFit Fitness Tip of the Week

We had a debate in my anatomy and physiology class one day when a question to a test asked,

“Can a type 2 diabetic reverse their condition with exercise alone?”

The answer was yes, but many class mates were up in arms because it didn’t include diet.

Here is the difference:

Changing your diet and opting the Diets that work, alone can and will lead to weight loss. If you are looking to lose weight 80% of that depends on diet alone. However, exercise is what changes your metabolism. Exercise improves the way your body breaks down food and utilizes it for energy. The more you exercise and build muscle the more food your body needs to supply those muscles with energy, your resting metabolic weight increases. This is why Michael Phelps can eat 10,000 calories a day and not gain weight – his body needs it to be as active as he is.

Physiologically, exercise can Trump diet but if you want improved overall health and body composition you will want to make wiser diet choices as well. To make healthy lifestyle changes both exercise and a change in diet are necessary for long term health.