Time's twist...
I will give it to Time. They came up with a great sounding title and twist for their article. It's one that we would all want to read - "Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin." I mean let's face it; we could all use just one more reason to keep us from doing something good for our bodies. Thank goodness that Time cleared this up for us. Now we all know that exercise is bad. What were we thinking? Sure...much later in the article they mention that you should keep exercising to keep your heart healthy and to prevent disease, but they bury that behind statements like "exercise could actually make you gain weight."
What's their point...
As you read through the article, the author lays out his vigorous workout routine - classes, trainers, ellipticals, and more. Then he exclaims (and I'm paraphrasing a bit), "But I still have a fat gut that hangs over my belt!" His conclusion is that exercise doesn't make you thin and then gives us the same "so you better take the stairs" or "park the car far away and walk" routine that we've been hearing for years. Don't get me wrong. Increasing your daily activity is important, but the stairs alone won't do it.
The problem with this logic...
The problem with this logic is that it's NOT LOGICAL! You can't say that action A (exercising) does not lead to result B (weight loss) if you forget to throw in that pesky action A 1/2 (overeating). That's like saying saving money throughout the week does not build your bank account if you forgot to mention your big spending spree. Oops!
Let's play a little game...
Humor me for just a minute; I'd like to play a little game with you. I don't know, let's call it "You've Got Common Sense!" Here is round 1 - If you budget for $100 worth of expenses each month but spend $150, would you really expect to stay on budget? Of course not; your spending exceeds your budget. You've got "common sense!"
Good; let's go to round 2 - We can thank grade school for this one. If train A leaves for Chicago going 80 miles per hour and train B leaves for Chicago at the very same time going 60 miles per hour and they are both the same distance away, which train will arrive first? Train A, of course, because it's speed exceeds that of train B. Congratulations, you've got (everybody) "COMMON SENSE!" Can you hear the studio audience screaming it out?
Final round, and it's the bonus round - If you burn 2,000 calories in a day and eat 2,500 calories in that very same day, will you burn body fat? No, of course not. Your calories coming in exceed the amount going out. Congratulations! Tell 'em what they have, Johnny! You've just used your "COMMON SENSE!" Don't you just love game shows?
Now here is where I agree...
The article does mention that performing vigorous exercise makes you hungry. In the industry, we call this a raised metabolism. It means you are burning calories; we think it's a good thing. The writer introduces studies that conclude that if you feel hungry, you are more likely to over-eat. He backs up this point even more by stating that because you have worked out, you are more likely to justify eating poorly. You feel entitled to that doughnut, that Ding Dong, or that sugary "sports" drink. And you know what? He's right! Many of us do this A WHOLE LOT. But we are smarter than this. We have more common sense than this. We have more control than this. And I'm not just talking about sheer will power. We have the power to plan, the power to choose the places that we frequent, the power to make a grocery list, and the power to think ahead and not get caught up in situations. We have these powers; we just have to use them.
Let's be fair here. It's not exercise that keeps you from losing or gaining weight. The title of this article shouldn't be, "Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin." It should be "Why Over-Eating Will Make You Fat." Let's be fair. I know, Time, that your title may get more readers, but it's simply not accurate. Why don't we try asking those that are in the shape that they want to be in how they got there. Ask those that were able to raise their metabolisms AND focus on their food at the same time, how they did it. Ask all the lean and fit spin instructors, personal trainers, and daily exercisers what their secret is. They will tell you that it's no secret at all - diet and exercise. Is this really a breaking news story? I don't think so; and you know it's not.
Get fed up...
I'm sorry, but I've had enough. Haven't you? Aren't you tired of this vicious cycle of "new studies" and "breaking stories" that really just try to dress up something that we all already know and pass it off as something "groundbreaking?" Aren't you tired of pill pushers and gimmicky gadgets? Haven't you had enough spin? Can't you see that there are actually those that want to make you believe that you are trapped, weak, and out of control? Hey...who doesn't want to believe that "it's not your fault?" Then you can blame someone other than you. We can blame our childhood, our work environment, or EXERCISE. Yeah...that's the culprit. Anyone or anything outside of ourselves.
Stand up...
If you can't see it, I promise you it's there. You have to stand up, pump your fist in the air, and declare your freedom. Every time you see a ridiculous story that will only bring you down, fight back. When you find that the circumstances are controlling you and not the other way around, fight back. When you find your own thoughts convincing you that you can't or that you are weak or full of fear, fight back. There are those that will try to put their thumbs on top of you and pin you down. Fight back!
I'm starting a movement right here, right now...
I am declaring a fitness awakening. No longer will we be influenced by commercials when it comes to how we view our bodies. No longer will we buy the hype, when we know deep down inside the truth. No longer will we let any publication discourage, demotivate, or dis-empower us when it comes to being healthy, fit, and strong. From now on, we operate on our own power. We create our own visions, utilize the abundance of resources inside of us all, and align ourselves with the truth. And what's the truth? You were born to be fit, healthy, strong, lean, and powerful. You are those things. We just have to wake them up! Will you join me?
I'm Rooting You On!
P.S. I'm not sure why Time did not include these people in their study - Exercise and Weight Loss. They lost weight, and they even did it with exercise.
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