Lean and Hard

In a way, this is like asking which wing of the airplane is better to keep it flying rather than plummeting to the ground, the right or the left? Stupid question, right? Similarly, both exercise and diet play an important, in fact essential, role in promoting long term weight loss. But unlike the airplane analogy, they don't necessarily have an equal effect.

Consider the math: If you spend 30 minutes on the elliptical at a moderate pace, and if you weigh 150 lbs, you will burn approximately 393 calories. If you eat a double whopper with cheese and medium fries, you will consume about 1400 calories. And they both take about the same amount of time to accomplish.

What does this mean? You have to work out like a demon to make up for eating badly, and you won't even come close.The way I look at it, exercise is crucial for building muscle and improving overall health, but it can't win the battle for fitness by itself. Controlling what enters your mouth is even more crucial when it comes to losing weight and keeping it off.

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