What Are They Smoking At Time Magazine?
Debbie from the 8:30am Concord class (You Rock Ladies!) asked if I had seen the TIME magazine story (August 17th) “The Myth About Exercise”. I had not, but after looking into it I discovered I had one more great reason not to read it. 🙂
I was going to write about it, but then discovered that fellow fitness professional Tom Venuto has written a rebuttal and asked that it be passed on, and since he did a wonderful job (as usual) I am happy to do so. I am posting a brief excerpt below. To read what Tom had to write in its entirety, please click here.
Love to hear your comments below!
The truth about exercise, appetite and weight loss
John Cloud, a writer for Time magazine, says that he gets hungry after exercise, so he often eats more on the days he works out than on the days he doesn’t. Therefore, he proposes that exercise won’t make you thin and might actually prevent you from losing weight.
You don’t say? You mean that you don’t lose weight if you put the calories you just burned right back in by stuffing your face with muffins and doughnuts! Who’d have thunk? He’s a real rocket scientist, that John Cloud.
It’s tough not to pick on a “fitness journalist” who thinks that exercise turns fat into muscle. But sarcasm aside for a moment, exercise can increase hunger in some cases. Hunger is a normal regulatory response of the body to maintain energy balance and weight homeostasis anytime you’re in a calorie deficit and losing body mass, whether that is achieved through exercise or dietary restriction. That doesn’t mean exercise is ineffective for weight loss, it means you need DIETARY RESTRAINT to lose weight! Dietary restraint means that if you want to lose weight, sometimes you have to feel hungry and NOT EAT! (even while stressed, emotional, tempted, etc.) This takes work, and part of that work is to practice the self-discipline to not eat every time you feel the urge and to pursue the self-education to understand the realities of the energy balance equation.
You’ll have to provide the self-discipline, but let me see if I can help with the education part (pay attention, Time magazine!) click to continue reading…
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I had a great question this morning from Mary, who asked about Meal Replacement Drinks and the difference between Ultimate Muscle Protein and Prograde “Lean” and if both were suitable as meal replacements. Very good question!
Ultimate Muscle Protein is not specifically designed to be a “meal replacement” while the Prograde Lean was created for that purpose.
What’s the difference? The UMP does not have the carbohydrate, fiber and vitamin profile that the Prograde does; in other words it is not “complete” nutrition. It is not intended to be. It is a “supplemental” protein source.
So which do I use more?
Personally I use the UMP more. Why?
The #1 reason is because it just plain tastes great. The vanilla is my favorite and it is just really, really good.
The #2 reason would be because I like it’s versatility. I can drink it plain when I am getting my carbs elsewhere. I can make protein pancakes with it. I can add fruit and yogurt to it and make my own Meal Replacement smoothie, etc.
Which would I recommend for you?
Depends. (how’s that for non-committal) 🙂
Prograde Lean is perfect for those times when you just can’t take the extra minute to mix a “custom” smoothie. It’s more complete nutrition profile is a great choice when you need quick, complete nutrition without the hassle.
When you want to mix your own custom smoothies and pre/post-workout nutrition, plus have a little more versatility, UMP is the product for you.
Have a great weekend, and don’t stop MAKING IT HAPPEN!
Dean