Exercise ramps up appetite, helping to explain why calories burned don’t necessarily equal calories lost, so how can we lose weight through physical activity?
If you missed the previous video, watch The Exercise “Myth” for Weight Loss (https://nutritionfacts.org/video/the-exercise-myth-for-weight-loss).
Of course, there are some Foods Designed to Hijack Our Appetites (https://nutritionfacts.org/video/foods-designed-to-hijack-our-appetites). What if you took that component away? You could get 200-Pound Weight Loss Without Hunger (https://nutritionfacts.org/video/200-pound-weight-loss-without-hunger).<
For the best way to lose weight, check out my book How Not to Diet (https://nutritionfacts.org/book/how-not-to-diet/) from your local public library. You can get a taste with my presentation on the topic: Evidence-Based Weight Loss (https://nutritionfacts.org/video/evidence-based-weight-loss-live-presentation/).
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-Michael Greger, MD FACLM
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Thanks for this interesting content! 👍
Successful weight loss:
1. 90% diet.
2. 10% exercise.
3. 100% DISCIPLINE.
Isn't it funny that some people look down on others who walk or ride a bike to get where they're going?
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It is a bit different when you do a lot of sports. Then you sometimes need to eat more than you want to eat but it can be difficult without a plan. Eg. Running 20h/week more than doubles my energy expenditure in the week and I have to make myself eat more. But you can still go up in weight
Fascinating. Thank you.
So the point about using exercise to lose weight? You have to workout about 300 minutes per week you say. I think it also depends on the intensity of exercise. If you work in a couple of high intensity days it's a bit less, but still a high total per week.
I love this channel!
The worst way to lose weight: don't change diet and do low to moderate amount of really boring exercise. Isn't that like every new year resolution diet/nutrition plan.. lmao
US average 5000 steps a day?? Nope, don´t believe that for a second 😄
insane video, such great insight
I hate to be the a*hole to point this out but this is incorrect. There is a huge difference in consuming calories from a chocolate pudding and a salad. The same amount of extra calories have the complete opposite effect on the hormonal balance hence the ability to use fat as a source of energy. None of the studies mentioned here actually tested for healthy dietary choices. They all involved foods that are high in saturated fats, cholesterol, animal protein, salt, and sugar – in short: all the stuff that impairs the ability to draw on fat for energy needs.
I do gym exercises and Pickleball as physical activities. When I go to the gym, I think of calories expenditure. When I play Pickleball, I never think of calories. It is just fun.
If you missed the previous video, watch The Exercise “Myth” for Weight Loss: https://youtu.be/NuwmXCBS42g?si=Ogtv4Zjp2to_2wWA
I’ve started walking an hour every day without changing diet and am amazed how quickly I look slimmer. Have been more sedentary than ever for a year owing to an injury. I do not like exercise but am hopeful this is something I can do and do with consistency. I hope so, I feel sprightlier.
Once again you justified my sedentary lifestyle. It’s comforting to know being lazy is paying off.
I'd say exercise has amazing benefits on the body and mind. It's only that fat loss is not among those effects. Your body needs movement to function properly
Thanks for the information on exercise
Buy a bicycle and use it daily for short trips to school, work or for fun.
Healthy exercise and fossil fuels free transportation.
I go the other way. I am not fond of exercise for the sake of exercise. I'd much rather move a yard of mulch than walk a mile. That said, after any activity I'm motivated not to negate the positive effects by 'rewarding' myself with extra calories. Knowing the details Dr. Greger provides only strengthens my resolve.
I didn't get that last bit at the end, about the limited ability of our bodies to downregulate appetite at an activity level of 71 hundred steps a day.
But the "imagination about exercise (or its intensity)"-"appetite/self indulgence" link is epic! Thanks, Dr. G!
I have definitely noticed this in my own life over the years, but I'm less likely to do it now on a regular basis.
See it's these kinds of studies which can distort everything on the basis of overeating and promoting it and deserts and promoting those. Probably with people who are BMI 30 and up too. It's the same old deal with having a preexisting theory and validating it by rigging the experiments. Every college man who wrote history papers or whatever else for humanities, did this often with selective research and having a faster track to completing the paper. Obviously the first thing that gets tossed for someone needing to lose pounds is deserts if he actually has been having those normally. Right off the bat that is. When you presume that the person wanting to drop weight is already eating sensibly, healthfully, he only needs to make small changes with the meals, and at the same time as more substantial changes with the exercise routine. So to say that's it's more the food than the exercise is entirely debatable as a theory. It depends on the type of individual.
I have stopped "exercising". After years in the military I have a strong aversion to forced exercise. When I walked specifically for exercise along the road, my brain would tell me I was hurting and tired after 1/4 of a mile. I gave up, but decided to have a peaceful walk barefoot on the beach in the morning for as long as I wanted, with no goal except enjoyment. In just a couple weeks I was walking an hour a day, stress and pain free. So no, I don't exercise. What do I do? Walk on the beach, kayak, take a swim in the pool or a relaxed bike ride to a park, and stetches/yoga. It has completely changed me from a very sedentary person to an outdoor loving mover. I move at least 90 minutes a day and have fun doing it.
It's such a BS concept.
Exercise causes my body to make happy brain chemicals.
Therefore I do not NEED happy chemicals from junk food or drugs or alcohol.
In fact, the greatest benefit I get from exercise is that it makes it possible to eat healthy.
I absolutely positively cannot eat a healthy diet unless I am daily exercising.
I get hungry from exercise. And the exercise makes the whole foods taste sooooo good.
When I drop exercise, my diet goes to junk food and I gain weight.
So exercise may not be the direct reason I'm thin, but it nevertheless is most essential if I am to be a healthy weight.
Take away?
My take away:
Either do a lot of exercise, or a small amount and do it for enjoyment, or for reasons other than exercise (e.g., housework, taking care of kids or a garden or a car).
Very little exercise causes weight gain, but so does a moderate amount that is done for the sake of exercise alone.
In short, just be more active doing things you enjoy, or for reasons other than exercise per se.
Walking works as well as anything. Low and slow cardio, 40 minutes or more will burn fat just like killing yourself in the gym. Might also combat the idea that you get to eat more as a treat for burning those calories.
Interesting findings, thanks for the video. I have never associated exercise with weight loss, i use it to my body stronger, especially the heart muscle. For my entire life exercise never led to weight loss, that only happened through proper nutrition and diet and i have you to thank for that.
Does imagined exercise burn calories?
We shouldn't think of exercise an activity that reduces calories. We should think of calories as the means to fuel our exercise. No more or no less, just exactly what we need to exercise to our limits and recover
I do resistance and/or cardio training 5-6 days a week. It has been a game changer for me as I approach 70. Many friends my age say they just can't stay motivated for any consistent period of time. Sadly, most are dealing with one or more chronic diseases.
Diet is the key. Exercise can just increase the rate of fat loss.
Emphasizing the inherent junky-ness of humans, yo. Exercise ain't the cure. Diet cures, without exercise! I know this from personal experience, and from those I've seen do the same. Typical grains, especially white flour, and sugar make you dope-hungry!
Not mentioned by Dr. Greger: Excercise has also been shown to decrease the amount of energy you used throughout the day. This is you NEAT (non-exercise activity thermogenesis). You might do more sitting, more sleeping, less fidgiting, less work and slow down in general.
Exercise for health and performance, not to lose weight.
Something that really helped me was every time I did a satisfying workout and felt like a 'treat' I would say to myself: "Now change the word 'treat' to 'sabotage' and see if you still feel like undoing the hard work you just put in."
Keep moving and realise that your pie hole is bigger than your a hole.
The "secret" to exercise for weight loss is to track your intake with an app AND aim for a specific average number.
We can get great weight loss with diet alone but it will likely cause muscle loss with the process.
That's why strength training is so important on a cut, to prevent muscle loss and maybe even gain some muscle with body recomposition.
Another point on the board for the 10,000 steps/day theory
1:12 oj, tortilla chips, and cookies = a meal?? 🤣🤣
Weight isn't the only reason to exercise….
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300 min/week. Is that moderate (3 mph walk) or more vigorous?
I'm using a rebounder for fun and it's harder to stop than to start because it makes so much fun. Easy way to get me moving.
I jog to the kitchen from the couch several times an evening and have attached resistance bands to the remote so I'm good.
You've cited Wansink, the single most fraudulent (former) professor of food science.
So, what are the numbers?
As I understand, it takes 300 minutes per week to begin to lose weight = 5 hours.
And, the amount that is sedentary is 7100 steps per day = 1 hour, 10 minutes of walking.
In a week, (5 days) that's 6 hours.
I’m in a wheelchair so the extent of my exercising is limited to say the least. Also I’m a DM dependent on insulin so eating is important to me.
Walking the dog has done wonders for me! I play tennis once or twice. Weight BMI just a little high but I feel great.
I think it depends on the exercise. Aerobic exercise makes me hungrier than weight training does. And swimming makes famished.
Whether exercise helps with weight loss or not, it's extremely important to help maintain muscle mass, prevent falls, helps build immunity, build brain volume and function and many other benefits.
This is a great argument for truly walkable communities where daily needs – groceries, drug stores, socializing, etc – can easily be met by walking rather than needing a car for everything. Activity as part of everyday life, not a set-aside time for exercise.
Being overweight has always been a problem for me after my 30s, and recently I came across Ahodea's book. It's like a personal trainer and nutritionist rolled into one and no more crash diets or yoyo weight gain for me