Boy, I wish I had a dime for every time I heard this question. I'd probably be close to retirement. Unfortunately, the answer to this question is a loud and resounding "No".
Diet and nutrition are a critical part of any wellness program, regardless of how much you may be working out. Your diet not only fuels your workouts, but it also repairs your sore muscles and helps you recover quickly so that you can workout again tomorrow, and the next day, and the next.....But most importantly, your diet nurishes your body and provides micro and macronutrients that are absolutely vital to health and well-being. Bad fuel=bad performance. You wouldn't put sand in the gas tank of your BMW would you?
Additionally, your diet is a key component to weight loss, even if you're working out at a high intensity level. It's a simple mathematic equation: calories in vs. calories out. Let me give you a common example.
*You are a 40 year old female weighing 150 lbs. Weight loss goal is 10 lbs. Your approximated daily caloric burn without exercise is 1,600 calories. You work out at a high intensity level for 1 hour, burning approximately 600-700 calories. Before your workout, you have a Lunabar for 180 cal. After the workout you down a protein shake at the gym that has protein powder, skim milk, fruit concentrate, and peanut butter. Approximate calories=600. You then continue to eat your normal diet of 1,600 calories a day. That brings your total calorie consumption to 2,380. Total caloric burn = 2,300 (1,600 baseline plus 700 extra burned during exercise). The net result? You just consumed 30 extra calories DESPITE your hard-earned calorie burning workout.
It's easy to see how we can all make honest mistakes with caloric consumption. The hard truth, however, is that calories DO matter. If you consume more than you burn, you won't reach your weight loss goals. End of discussion, no exceptions.
The take home lesson is simply this:
Yes, workout is very important for both your physical and mental health, but your diet is just as important when you're looking at the bigger picture of fitness.
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Good job!
ReplyDeleteI work out all the time. But for awhile I did not know that if you work out you have to watch what you eat. I wish someone would have told me a long time ago that it does not matter how much you work out, that you still need to watch you put in your mouth! :)
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