Is diet or exercise more important? This is a common question many of us ask when starting our weight loss journey. While movement is certainly important, diet actually plays a more important role in weight loss. Generally, weight loss is 75% diet and 25% exercise. Check out 5 reasons below.

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You can’t out exercise a bad diet

It is a lot easier to cut calories than to burn them off. A seemingly healthy fast food choice, such as a turkey sandwich, can actually pack 500-plus calories. You would need to run more than four miles to ‘undo’ it. That mile counter only increases the less healthy the food choice. Not many people have the free time to keep this up.

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You can lose weight no matter how much you exercise

A healthy daily calorie count should be determined for your body specifically. There is no set calorie target everyone should try to meet when trying to lose weight. Factors such as your own current body weight should be considered. This will allow you to lose weight no matter how much you exercise

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Most people underestimate the amount of calories they consume

Whether you are generally careful about what you eat or proactively try to exercise, most of us don’t actually know how many calories we are consuming. In many cases, that number is more than our bodies need. Whether you exercise or not, it is important to educate oneself on how many calories the foods we love to eat contain.

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You can lose weight faster by dieting

It is easier to deny yourself a certain number of calories per week, than it is to work those calories off. In some cases, calorie reduction can be as easy as switching to 2% milk and ordering your favorite coffee beverage without whipped cream. Most would agree that this is much easier and less time consuming than running 5 miles.

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Dieting increases energy

Yes, exercise gives you an immediate energy boost. However, a healthy diet will provide you with steady energy. It is important to keep your blood sugar level balanced to help with energy fluctuations. Healthy diet also helps balance serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels, which are responsible for keeping your mood up. Let’s face it. If we are in a better mood, we probably have more energy and motivation to keep up our weight loss journey.

There’s no better time than right now to make changes to your current lifestyle. Not only will you feel better about yourself, but the changes that will impact you will also make a huge difference for your family. Let Springfield Weight Loss Center help you on your weight loss journey.

Are you ready to change your life and start your weight loss journey? Schedule an appointment today. Call us at 217-718-2462.