For those planning to hit the gym to lose weight, take note. A new study suggests that diet is far more important than physical activity, including walking, fidgeting and formal exercise. The reason is that exercise increases appetite especially with prolonged endurance exercise or with weight lifting that can ultimately sabotage the best of intentions, the CNN has reported.
People who lose weight gradually (about 1 to 2 pounds per week) are more successful at keeping weight off, according to the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention. About 10 per cent of our calories are burned digesting the food we eat and roughly 10 per cent to 30 per cent are lost through physical activity, the study said.
“It could not be more true. What you omit from your diet is so much more important than how much you exercise,” nutritionist Lisa Drayer was quoted as saying to CNN. All of your ‘calories in’ come from the food you eat and the beverages you drink, but only a portion of your ‘calories out’ are lost through exercise, according to Drayer.
The average person — excluding professional athletes — burns five per cent to 15 per cent of their daily calories through exercise, said Alexxai Kravitz, Investigator at the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases in the US. It is not nearly equal to food intake, which accounts for 100 per cent of the energy intake of the body, said Kravitz.
All this is not to say that exercise does not have its place. It is certainly important for building strength and muscle mass and flexibility and can help manage diseases, including heart disease and diabetes. But although exercise can help with weight loss, diet is a much more important lifestyle factor, Drayer noted.
5 fat-burning foods to include in diet
Weight loss is not an easy journey but can be made easier by knowing the right kinds of food to eat and in the right quantities. There are some magic fat burning foods that are really helpful in weight loss.
While we all know in general what to eat and not to eat on weight loss diets, there are some magic foods that are really helpful in weight loss with quick results. Their properties are really beneficial in aiding weight loss and giving you the lean and thin body you aim for.
Fatty fish
Contrary to its name, fatty fishes like salmon, sardines, herring, etc. help you lose weight because of the high protein content in them. They increase the feeling of fullness and ensure you do not feel hungry too often to avoid overeating. Fish also increase metabolism and help in weight loss.
Eggs
Eggs are extremely helpful in weight loss and really help in burning the fat and making you really slim and lean. Eggs, just like fish are rich in protein. Eggs also increase metabolic activity and help in staying fuller for longer, so you do not feel the need to overeat.
Green tea
The most popular choice among teas is green tea which can burn around 70 calories in a day! Green tea has antioxidants that improve metabolism and burns fat. It is recommended to drink a cup of green tea especially if you are trying to lose belly fat.
Chilli peppers
You may be surprised to see this one on your list but apparently, chilli peppers have an antioxidant in them called capsaicin which helps in regulating weight. Chilli peppers also make you feel fuller for longer and keep you from overeating.
Greek Yoghurt
This can be your dessert option as most of them are off limits when you are on a diet. Greek yoghurt has probiotics that build immunity and reduce bloating and irritation in the digestive system. Greek yoghurt is also rich in protein, potassium and calcium.
