6 Myths About Exercise & Weight Loss

There are many common myths out there on the subject of exercise for weight loss in women that we all tend to hold as true.

Dr. Mimi Secor, a popular National Speaker and Consultant, and author of the book, Debut a New You: Transforming Your Life at Any Age, addresses them, while also offering some helpful suggestions to what can really aid in the weight loss process.

  1. MYTH: “You can easily lose weight exercising.” Most people think they can exercise to lose weight. Unfortunately, it is difficult to burn off that many calories, so diet is also usually a necessary component.
  2. MYTH: “You CAN out-exercise an unhealthy diet.” Many people think they can do hours of cardio exercise and effectively lose weight. Contrary to popular myth, you can NOT out-exercise an unhealthy diet.
  3. MYTH: “Exercise is essential for weight loss.”  Actually this is not true. Nutrition is the greatest contributor to weight loss. Of course, it is healthy to add exercise to nutrition for weight loss, but not essential—especially initially. There are also other options, like surgery, to help you with weight loss. Finding a doctor to talk to about bariatric surgery, like in Denver, might help you determine if you need surgery in the first place.
  4. MYTH: “Increasing exercise will increase weight loss.” This is not necessarily true. Too much exercise can actually backfire by causing increased stress levels which can raise cortisol, and in turn, stall out weight loss.
  5. MYTH: “Steady state cardio is effective for weight loss.” This is what most people think, but it is actually false. The best approach for burning maximum calories is HITT exercise. This stands for high-intensity interval training. This involves exercising to your maximum capacity for 20-30 minutes.
  6. MYTH: “Eating less and moving more is generally effective for weight loss.” Even most health care professionals believe this myth. The problem with this concept is that it doesn’t factor in the unique metabolic needs or characteristics of each individual. In reality, effective weight loss usually requires analyzing and adjusting macros (protein, fats, and carbohydrates).

Dr. Mimi Secor is a popular National Speaker and Consultant, educating advanced practice clinicians and consumers around the country and the world. She is the author of the book, Debut a New You: Transforming Your Life at Any Age.

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The Editorial Team at Lake Oconee Health is made up of skilled health and wellness writers and experts, led by Daniel Casciato who has over 25 years of experience in healthcare writing. Since 1998, we have produced compelling and informative content for numerous publications, establishing ourselves as a trusted resource for health and wellness information. We aim to provide our readers with valuable insights and guidance to help them lead healthier and happier lives.

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