If you have not gained at least a little weight during the long march through the COVID pandemic you are quite unusual. Most of us have gained at least a few pounds that we would like to get rid of. We like to think, and are led to believe that losing weight is a complicated thing while in reality, it is really quite simple. The thermodynamics of diet and exercise is a fundamental equation, energy in = energy out. Any imbalance on either side of the equation leads to imbalances in our weight. Eat more and don’t bun it off and you will gain weight. Eat less and be more active and you will lose weight. The trick is to find ways to enjoyably bring this equation back into balance. In studies, diet interventions that do not include physical activity do not work. They can work in short-term studies but always fail in the long run. By the same token studies that only addressed exercise but not diet also fail over time to produce the desired result.
There are many ways to lose weight, but to keep the pounds off, you need these two keys: physical activity AND healthy eating habits. For physical activity, aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate to vigorous activity on most days to control your weight. This could include walking, aerobic dancing, and even household chores. For healthy eating, your plan should emphasize fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Include more lean meats and be low in saturated fats and added sugars. Eat right and get some exercise, precisely what people don’t want to hear.
When You Lose Weight Where Does it Go?
This is actually a really fascinating question and if you ask different people you will get wild answers. As Sun Zi said in his classic “The Art of War” you must know your enemy, in the battle with extra COVID pounds, it helps to know where all that fat comes from and where it goes when you lose it. Read on for some great resources to learn more about the thermodynamics of weight loss and get on track for your post-pandemic physique.
Read on for an excellent presentation on the mathematics of weight loss by physicist Ruben Meerman and an NIH podcast on the two keys to losing weight and keeping it off by Griffin Rogers of the National Institutes of Health.
Watch this fascinating Ted talk on, “The Mathematics of Weight Loss“
Healthy Moments Episode: July 5, 2021
There are many ways to lose weight, but to keep the pounds off, you need these two keys: physical activity AND healthy eating habits.
Healthy Moments Podcast From NIH
Two Keys to Losing Weight and Keeping it Off
Join us for a talk by Dr. Griffin Rodgers, bringing you Healthy Moments from the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Rogers is the director of the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases.
For more information, follow us @NIDDKgov External link. This is Dr. Griffin Rodgers with the NIH.
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