When it comes to fitness, there is a common misconception when it comes to diet and exercise. Many people believe that if you maintain an exercise routine, the amount of food you consume won’t matter, and to some degree this is correct.
People that do not have a set goal such as weight loss or toning muscles in mind do not need to restrict what they eat very much. However, people that want to build muscle mass stand by the idea that their routine should be 80% diet and 20% exercise.
If you want to lose a few pounds then focusing on diet is definitely the way forward. Safely restricting your calories and switching the unhealthy foods for fruit and veg that are packed full of antioxidants, vitamins, and minerals, will help you get rid of the weight whereas maintaining an exercise routine will make sure it stays off.
For those with a goal of losing weight and only focusing on exercise will manage to shed 2-3% of their body fat. However, creating a 500 calorie deficit diet each day would allow you to still consume a safe amount of food for general energy and will burn an average of 1 pound a week.
On the other hand, if you are looking to decrease your risk of developing heart disease, you need to focus your attention on exercise. This is because exercise not only keeps you fit, it helps to reduce stress, cholesterol and increases your flow of blood, and collating these three solutions together will aid your heart better than any diet alone would.
Exercise will also provide you with both immediate and long-term benefits to mental health as it promotes the release of mood-boosting endorphins.
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