With the pandemic (hopefully) fading from view, the gym industry is back with a vengeance. And I’ve got to admit they’ve got a tempting new sales pitch for those of us interested in weight loss.
They’re luring us in with the promise of finally burning off those pandemic pounds with vigorous gym workouts.
But don’t fall for it, my friend. Because research shows how all that exercise could actually backfire on you.
You can pony up big bucks. Take special classes. Consult one of their trainers. And if you’re a well-seasoned gym-goer, even show up during “senior hours” when they offer special workouts just for you.
But then, when you get back home and step on the scale, you realize the hard way what just happened. You were suckered.
Exercise isn’t typically the quick route to weight loss that the gyms want you to think it is. In fact, research reveals you could actually GAIN weight instead of losing it.
But I’ve got something you won’t find in any gym. And that’s a surefire way to drop the extra pounds and feel fantastic.
What exercise REALLY does to your waistline
The gym industry knows better than anyone else what’s happened over the past two years. Nearly everyone has gained some weight since those scary days of March 2020 when the world first shut down because of COVID.
That’s bad news for most of us. But the gyms are making lemonade out of those lemons. Because let’s face it, that’s now a great marketing opportunity for them.
We’re seeing the “lose the pandemic pounds” ads everywhere. They’re usually a mix of ‘you’ve really let yourself go’ guilt combined with a big dash of ‘you can FINALLY lose the weight’ motivation.
Now, don’t get me wrong. Of course, exercise is good for you. We absolutely should all strive to move more every day.
But launching whole-hog into heavy exercise with a goal of weight loss will often end in disappointment, as one study shows all too well.
The data analysis of folks in five nations – including the United States – finds that as activity levels increase, so do waistlines.
In fact, according to the researchers, people who meet the goal of 150 minutes a week of moderate-level activity actually GAIN MORE WEIGHT on average than those who don’t.
A better way to lose weight
There’s no real mystery here. When you move a lot more than you routinely do, you get hungry. And when you get hungry, you eat.
As a result, any plan focusing on exercise instead of food for weight loss is almost always doomed to end in disappointment and failure.
This doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t get some exercise each day. As I said earlier, staying active has all kinds of health benefits. And if you enjoy the gym, by all means, do it there. Just don’t overdo it.
But you can’t count on exercise for weight loss, whether it’s pandemic pounds or any other accumulated weight you’re trying to work off. That requires focusing on your diet.
I know “diet” is a loaded word, but don’t worry. You don’t have to starve yourself, count calories, or give up everything you love. You just have to get back to basics and eat fresh and natural foods.
Start with quitting as many processed foods as you possibly can. Avoid added sugars and eat meals based on the Mediterranean or ketogenic diets.
When you do, you won’t only drop some pounds but will also improve your health in dozens of other ways. And weight loss is likely a lot easier than you imagine.
In fact, you can do it without going hungry… and without even thinking you’re on a “diet” in any traditional sense. I’ve got what you need to get started right here.
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