Believe it or not, exercise has actually been called into question recently due to some studies that have been published around the world. In fact, what experts are saying is that exercise may actually encourage weight gain! Can you believe that? Doing something that has been touted for so long as a healthy and necessary part of our lives is being chastised and said to have negative consequences!
In all honesty, these studies are complete bull. You see, what every study fails to mention is not whether or not a person will actually lose weight, children included, if they exercise or not. We know for a fact that exercise will definitely have positive effects for anyone who actually does exercise on a frequent basis. Where the studies are misleading people is in the nutritional area that is supposed to accompany exercise.
What the doctors are saying is that exercise, by its very nature, causes us to need more energy (food). That of course triggers an emotional response that makes us have cravings, thus causing us to seek out any type of food to fill these cravings. The problem lies in what type of food we are eating. If exercise forces us to need about 100-500 more calories per day that we really work out, then of course we need to eat a little more. However, filling up on junk food, including soda pop, candy, popcorn, cookies, etc. isn’t doing the job. You need to eat high quality proteins, fats, and carbohydrates to ensure the cravings you feel are actually being filled with proper nutrition.
I will state that again: eating the right types of food in conjunction with exercise will inevitably lead to weight loss. No binging on ice cream, donuts, cookies, cake, muffins, bagels or any other form of sugar-laden treat! Instead, go for some high fiber, 100% whole grains, mixed with carbs from fruits and veggies, along with good quality sources of protein in order to combat these cravings.
Eating is a necessary complement to exercise, but it is up to you to ensure that your family eats the right foods to help spur on weight loss!
