MIAMI, Aug. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- In the recent Time Magazine article titled Why Exercise Won't Make You Thin, writer John Cloud tells us that these days, the more than 45 million Americans who belong to a health club may be wasting their time. He says that "exercise, in other words, isn't necessarily helping us lose weight. It may even be making it harder."
After reading this article, Marta Montenegro is on a mission to tell Americans that these stories are sending the wrong message to readers, giving people an excuse to avoid the gym, which could continue contributing to the obesity crisis in America. What about the proven health benefits of exercise? What about the psychological effects of exercise? Marta Montenegro is an exercise physiologist, a strength and conditioning coach, a college professor, a certified fitness trainer and the Editor-in-Chief of SOBeFiT Magazine, and these are her thoughts fully backed by the latest research:
1. TIME MAGAZINE: People think they can actually eat more if they exercise and therefore won't lose weight, or might actually gain weight (hunger increases when you exert more energy therefore you will want to eat more).
MONTENEGRO: People who exercise tend to be more conscious and knowledgeable of what they eat, and tend to eat healthier because they are more likely to have access to nutritionists, personal trainers and other forms of professional counseling most often found in a gym setting.
2. TIME MAGAZINE: Could pushing people to exercise more actually be contributing to our obesity problem? In some respects, yes. Because exercise depletes not just the body's muscles but the brain's self-control "muscle" as well.
MONTENEGRO: Beyond just weight loss, exercise has been proven to help PREVENT many diseases, including coronary artery disease, osteoporosis, cancer and others. Not to mention, people who exercise regularly live longer.
3. TIME MAGAZINE: Calories burned by exercising make very little impact on the total amount of calories people consume, and therefore, exercising doesn't make that big of a difference for weight loss.
MONTENEGRO: Yes, exercise by itself doesn't allow you to lose weight, but diet is as important as exercise and you have to find a healthy balance between the two. To lose weight, you need to create a caloric deficit which is easier to sustain through both exercise and diet combined. Let's say that you need to lose one pound which is 3,500 calories, well you need to create a deficit of 500 calories daily which can be done through cutting back on your diet and doing some exercise. Studies have shown that people who combine exercise with diet are more likely to keep the weight off. Just exercising or dieting alone won't provide the same long term health benefits.
4. TIME MAGAZINE: After we exercise, we often crave sugary calories like those in muffins or in "sports" drinks like Gatorade.
MONTENEGRO: I understand the idea that exercise can increase your appetite or you can compensate the calories you burn by eating more after a workout. However, depending on the intensity of your workout, the most immediate hormone response is a decrease in or lack of appetite. As an exercise physiologist, when people crave sugar, we usually recommend they exercise to counteract the craving (and of course make sure that they aren't hypoglycemic). Exercise releases "feel good" hormones that naturally act to control sugar cravings. Also, if someone has sugar cravings, it could be a sign of poor hydration. If you stay properly hydrated throughout the day with water, you will be sure to keep sugar cravings at bay.
Lastly, Montenegro comments, "if you want to be fit and toned, there's no way to do it with diet alone. So my best advice is to eat right and exercise. Your body will thank you."
~SOBeFiT Magazine~
SOBeFiT Magazine, the first title from MPG Publishing, is funded by ABA Capital Group - an investment holding firm founded in 1990 with interests in the United States, Panama, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Barbados, British Virgin Islands and Venezuela. The bimonthly magazine, unveiled in November/December 2008, is committed to providing news and advice on fitness, nutrition, health and sports, with the guidance of a passionate, strong and committed editor-in-chief who supports and believes in the achievements of excellence through small steps. Founder/Publisher/Editor-In-Chief Marta Montenegro has assembled the most qualified team of advisors, contributors and industry-leading visionaries at the top of their game who, along with SOBeFiT Magazine's remarkable editorial team, provide expertise and creativity to empower readers with practical and relevant material. The magazine has won 12 awards at the Florida Magazine Association Charlie Awards, including five first place Charlie Awards in the categories of "Best Service Feature," "Best Department," "Best Illustration," "Best In-Depth Reporting," and "Best Feature Design," and a Silver Award for "Best New Magazine." SOBeFiT also won a 2008 FAME Award for "Best Launch Party." SOBeFiT magazine is strategically distributed among high-profile gyms, hospitals, doctor's offices, malls, restaurants, high-end grocery stores, airports and colleges reaching a BPA-audited circulation of more than 50,000 copies. Including event distribution and newsstand sales, the magazine is read by over 157,000 people nationwide. To learn more about the contents of SOBeFiT, visit www.sobefitmagazine.com or call (305) 375-9595.
Contact:
Allison Robins
SOBeFiT Magazine
Phone: (305) 375-9595, ext. 227
E-mail: arobins@sobefitmagazine.com
Visit: www.sobefitmagazine.com
