How many times have you read success stories of people who lost massive weight? The media is flooded with “before and after” photos and incredible weight loss stories. Can you really trust these things? What’s true and what’s fiction? Many of the dieters featured in magazines have shed hundreds of pounds through dieting and exercise. However, this doesn’t mean their lives are perfect now. What you see on paper is only half the story.
The Truth behind Weight Loss Success Stories
The New York Times has recently published an article telling the story behind The Biggest Loser. Its author concluded that all former contestants regained the weight they’ve lost during the show. Another article, which was featured in Vox, claimed that exercise is good for health, but has little impact on weight loss. Both magazines came up with evidence to support their claims, but they haven’t told the whole truth.
The people featured in these magazines lost a lot of weight because they worked out hard and followed strict diets. As soon as they returned to their old habits, they gained the weight back. However, this doesn’t mean that diet and exercise are useless. The only way to get lasting results is to stick to your plan long-term. Although it’s possible to lose weight fast – just like those dieters did, this isn’t necessarily the best solution.
How to Keep the Pounds Off after Dieting
Once you reach the desired weight, keep working out and eating clean. If you stop now, you’ll gain the pounds back. This is where most dieters go wrong. Working out for the sake of losing weight is not sustainable long-term.
For example, treadmill running burns more calories than heavy lifting. However, training with weights raises your metabolic rate for up to 48 hours after finishing your workout. It also helps build muscle, which further increases calorie burn. Treadmill running, on the other hand, only burns calories during your workout. Thus, what you need to do is to make exercise a habit and focus on strength exercises that increase metabolism.
