Exercise does play an important role in weight loss, but exercise alone, without limiting calories from food, is not enough to promote a size- able weight loss. Research has shown that it is virtually impossible to lose weight taking the exercise-only route. Unfortunately, people are generally unaware of that fact, particularly men. When guys like Chris first attempt to shed excess pounds, they often place too much empha- sis on exercise and overlook or underestimate the value of cutting back on their calories.
Women typically approach weight loss more like Mar- ianne: they don’t rely on exercise as their main strategy for slimming down but focus more on what and how much they’re eating, an approach that is definitely to their advantage (see chapter 8). However,
Women typically approach weight loss more like Mar- ianne: they don’t rely on exercise as their main strategy for slimming down but focus more on what and how much they’re eating, an approach that is definitely to their advantage (see chapter 8). However,
women like Marianne often have unrealistic expectations about their weight loss. All too often they become impatient with the rate at which the pounds are coming off, especially if they compare themselves with men, who are physically equipped to lose weight more quickly. So instead of trying to exercise more, women have a tendency to look for other diet-related approaches to cut calories even faster, and that isn’t a healthy or practical strategy. Unfortunately, that unrealistic approach can set women up for disappointment and lead them to abandon their commitment to losing weight.The best way for women and men to lose weight is for them to nar- row the gender gap and combine their strategies. As the example of Chris and Marianne illustrates, women and men have different atti- tudes and beliefs about the role physical activity plays in weight loss. In this chapter we explore those differences to help everyone come up with a winning weight-loss strategy.
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