If you want to get serious about losing weight, get serious about what you eat…then take care of the exercise piece.

I have said on this website before that in terms of weight loss, diet is more important than exercise.  A recent study confirms my claim.  Before I share results of the study, I want to clarify what the “Rule of 70 “(my term) means.  After considering both my personal experience and consulting many sources on the subject (including my good friend and personal trainer Karrie Ryan and sports physical therapist Alan Tyson), I feel quite confident in my assertion that weight loss (and to some degree maintenance) is 70% what we eat and about 30% what we do.

What I am not saying is that exercise is only minimally important.  I believe it is hugely important, actually.  But that has as much to do with what it offers outside of the scale.  If you want to be healthy, you need to exercise.  If you want to be strong as you age, you have to exercise.  If you want to be happier, try exercise (for the natural endorphin affect-I swear by it).  However, if weight loss is your primary goal, look first to what you are eating and then to exercise. [Read more…]