Trainer FAQ - What's the best exercise for weight loss?

After a few years in the fitness industry, it was clear to me that there are a few questions that people would continue to ask.  They wonder about something and hope that there is a quick and easy solution.  One of these questions goes something like this, "I need (or want) to lose a few pounds.  What exercise should I do to get there?"  A few thoughts on this age old question...

I always recommend adding exercise to a person's routine, especially if they are not doing any currently.  But usually, exercise alone is not the answer to the weight loss problem.  After all, it's really hard to out exercise a bad diet.

So, the key question is really, "Are you willing to change your eating habits?"  I know from personal experience that what (and how much) we eat has a much bigger impact on our weight that what we do for exercise.  When I left Corporate America to start a small fitness business in 2005, I was carrying about 40 extra pounds.

I knew that I needed to get healthy if I was ever going to help others do the same.  I started exercising the next day after having done none for the previous 5 years.  I also made some big changes to my eating habits.  Pretty quickly, it became clear that my food choices had had a much bigger impact on my current physical condition than my lack of exercise.

As I stuck with the new approach to food, I started to loose a few pounds.  I refined my approach as I went along and ended up losing those 40 pounds.  Best yet, I never went back to my old way of eating and the weight never came back either.

Today, I believe that eating is the most important factor in weight loss.  That said, I think you should exercise too.  Exercise is needed to maintain or improve your body's function.  While diet, or best yet diet and exercise together, are able to change the way your body looks.

The bottom line is that the body you have is the only one you're going to get.  We are in business to help people take care of their bodies.  If you're struggling with physical pain and dysfunction, we recommend you strengthen your core.  In fact, check out this piece we wrote recently ... 10 Ways a Strong Core Makes Your Life Better.

Cheers to fit and healthy bodies!