This post is your permission slip to stop feeling guilty about exercise.
Life is too short to force yourself to do “exercise” that you hate in the hopes that it will make tomorrow’s scale number a little bit lower.
We have been fed a whole lot of myths and misconceptions about exercise and it’s role in weight loss.
All those magazine covers proclaiming “Walk off 10 pounds this month!” or “The exercise that burns your belly fat!”… incorrect and just designed to prey on our collective weight shame to sell more magazines.
Now, don’t get me wrong – I love physical activity and want you to include it in your life because it WILL make your health and days better.
But we need to reclaim it – pull it out of the icky, guilt ridden trenches of diet culture where the only good exercise is the one that burns the most calories (even if you hate it and it makes your legs so sore you can’t sit on the toilet the next day)….
And bring it into our lives in a way that feels good and is supported by science.
Here’s what exercise doesn’t do (some of these may surprise you):
🚫 Exercise is not an effective weight loss tool on it’s own
🚫 Adding extra time at the gym can’t make up for the extra cookies you ate last night
🚫 Special exercises can’t target where adipose tissue is on your body
Ok – that’s a bummer right? I really wish managing your weight was as simple as adding an extra workout in the week. But it’s not.
Before you close this post in a pit of despair, here’s the good news:
✅ Exercise has TONS of evidence for helping almost every other part of your body (just not the scale)
✅ When you are physically active, your mood is better which means your eating will usually stabilize
✅ You can reach your weight loss goals even if you can’t exercise or just don’t want to
✅ Regular exercise is helpful for maintaining weight loss
This week’s episode on the Thriving As A Physician podcast is all about exercise and how to use it so your days feel better, you feel less stressed and ultimately make it easier to reach your goals.
I’m sharing my personal insights in my own weight loss journey in the hopes that they are helpful for you. Listen to the full episode below.
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