Exercise helps with weight loss - but just so far as calories are used

This study contradicts what some of us thought - that exercise builds
muscle mass which increases metabolism. It still says that exercise is
healthy and useful. But as far as weight loss goes, that a calorie is
a calorie is a calorie:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/diet....exercise.reut/
index.html

doug

"doug lerner" wrote in message
oups.com...
This study contradicts what some of us thought - that exercise builds
muscle mass which increases metabolism. It still says that exercise is
healthy and useful. But as far as weight loss goes, that a calorie is
a calorie is a calorie:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/HEALTH/diet....exercise.reut/
index.html

doug

We already knew that there was no such thing as "spot reduction". I beg to
differ though when they say that adding muscle doesn't affect how many
calories we burn. Are we to believe that 2 people each weighing 140 lbs,
one at 10% bodyfat and one at 30% bodyfat are going to burn the same number
of calories?

I believe that yes, a calorie is a calorie. And for someone who is say, 50
lbs overweight, they will be able to lose weight easily enough by just
cutting calories, because their maintenance calorie level is so much higher
at that weight. But as they come down within say 10 lbs of their ideal
weight, it becomes much more difficult to maintain a caloric deficit large
enough to reach goal weight through diet alone. That is where it becomes so
necessary to exercise. With exercise you don't have to have such a large
cut in calorie intake to yield the same loss.

My last thought is that losing weight is not the same thing as getting fit.
I feel this article puts emphasis on a moot point. Sure, you can lose
weight this way or that way, but to get fit, you'll have to exercise.

On Jan 29, 2:21 pm, "determined" wrote:
Are we to believe that 2 people each weighing 140 lbs,
one at 10% bodyfat and one at 30% bodyfat are going to burn the same number
of calories?

The two will require the exact same amount of calories to fuel their
140 lbs (basal metabolic rate). If the 10% bf one is more active, he/
she will need additional calories to accomodate for greater physical
activity than the less active one (assuming the active one is trying
to maintain weight, not lose it). You can play around and compare
he http://ibw.dietitian.com/ibw.exe

More importantly the one with 10% bodyfat is going to look a lot
better - a lot leaner - than the one with 30% body fat. One pound of
muscle takes up less space than one pound of fat. Clothes will fit
better and will very likely be in a smaller size than the 30% bf
person.


jen