exercise won't make you thin

This morning I came downstairs to find this article spread out over the kitchen table -- the image of a girl lying over a donut front and center.  My dad put it there and knows I work out (I actually came down with my gym bag), watch what I eat, and my entire life he has made comments (and felt entitled to comment) on how I conduct myself when in comes to food and exercise and my weight.  That's not what this is about -- I know he's an idiot.  What I don't know is how this article got published.

This article just adds fuel to the proverbial fire.  Everyone thinks they know how to lose weight.  I found that most of my weight loss techniques in the past came from long held beliefs and were flawed and CC has given me a fount of knowledge that most people struggling with their weight may not have -- and thus continue to struggle. 

I think a lot about this article is wrong.  Perhaps not ALL the content, but the WAY it is presented, the title, and the underlying notion that exercise is bad.

I watch what I eat to be "thin"  (that word choice in and of it self I believe is wrong) and I exercise to be strong and healthy...and to one day be strong enough to take a good hard swing at my father. 

So, what do you all think, oh opinionated lounge folk? :)

here's a counter article from the LA Times as well.

i think the other 6 threads about this article were plenty for me haha

I am sorry that your dad does not appreciate what an awesome person that he helped bring into the world. Maybe he is like a lot of people that don't know how to properly express their love and concern.  I hope it is not too late to salvage your relationship when he finally comes to his senses. (I love the pic of you with the Skinny Cow, I love those things )

Original Post by watergirl:

i think the other 6 threads about this article were plenty for me haha

Aghhhhh! I'm sorry.  I searched, but obviously not enough.  Weight loss I assume? 

Ignore my stupidity.. I'm always behind the times  ::runs off to find other thread::

Original Post by watergirl:

i think the other 6 threads about this article were plenty for me haha

 Then why open the post?  Perhaps the OP didn't see the other threads.  I myself only saw one other thread about this article and nothing about the counter article which is the one I agree with.

Original Post by caverlady:

Original Post by watergirl:

i think the other 6 threads about this article were plenty for me haha

 Then why open the post?  Perhaps the OP didn't see the other threads.  I myself only saw one other thread about this article and nothing about the counter article which is the one I agree with.

She's right though, this has been beaten to death in the other post..

I didn't see it because I didn't use the search function right.. :\ 

I'll go post the article there :)  It really only caught my eye this morning as it was left out for display by my father. 

there were 2 in weight loss and two in the lounge. one had the supporting study link. i think it was the newest one in the lounge. just saying. no biggie.

thanks, i've never seen the counter article before, so that was new to me.

That article is complete BS. 

 1) Exercise actually decreases my appetite and I eat less on days that I workout.

2) Exercise makes me much more conscious about the quality and amount of food that I eat and I naturally crave healthier foods, especially fresh fruit and veggies when I exercise.

3) I'm going to induldge whether I exercise or not (usually for me, that is restaurant food since I completely lack a sweet tooth).  I don't exercise simply so that I can eat more.  That is just silly.

4) I exercise to FEEL good, it has nothing to do with the way I look.  It is just a secondary benefit from my efforts. 

GEEZ, they need to step away from the superficial reasons to exercise and focus on the facts.  Exercise is one of the single most effective ways to promote health throughout your lifetime.  Life is NOT about what size you wear or your weight, no matter how much the media and the marketing machine try to brainwash that idea into your head. 

Original Post by fstars727:

GEEZ, they need to step away from the superficial reasons to exercise and focus on the facts.  Exercise is one of the single most effective ways to promote health throughout your lifetime.  Life is NOT about what size you wear or your weight, no matter how much the media and the marketing machine try to brainwash that idea into your head. 

Someone needs to remind my father this.  and that he should thank his lucky stars he hasn't forced me into disordered eating as he currently pays my health insurance premiums. 

hmmph. grr.

That article makes me want to punch the author. 

Great, another article to fuel those people who turn their noses up at diet and exercise, the ones that say "it's impossible and I'm better than you because I'm not even going to bother".

I think whoever wrote that article needs to check out CC and all the people who have great willpower and motivation and are losing weight all the time.

Original Post by betzc:

That article makes me want to punch the author. 

I've made a point to txt message my dad every time i go to the gym because he thinks this article is the end all of TRUTH. 

this article also makes me want to punch my dad (with all those new shiny muscles i've been building!) -- for being so ignorant.  RAR!

Hmmm. This article actually baffles me! When I exercise, I am definitely more aware of what I am putting into my mouth. I would feel HORRIBLE if I just worked my butt off to burn 400 calories, then wolfed down a doughnut in 3 seconds. I wouldn't dream of doing it! I have a hard enough time eating a 130 cal fiber bar an hour after working out, and I just do that because I know I HAVE to replenish.

However, this isn't my first rodeo when it comes to loosing weight. I was once 190 pounds and got down to 135 mostly by dieting, not exercising. So I can see somewhat of a valid truth to a part of this article.

But this time, I am at 136-138ish and want to lose about 10 pounds, I want to lose it by incorporating more exercise into my routine along with a healthy diet. I want to feel better about myself physically. I want to have less stress and more energy. I want to feel that I have accomplished something good, which is what I feel after the gym. 

So, while part of this article makes sense to me and the rest of it sounds like a load of bull, I am still going to use exercise to enhance my diet and propel me toward my weight loss goal, and I don't think there's anything wrong with that.

It's just a really stupid article.  Of-course you can't eat whatever you want just because you exercise.  If exercise makes you more hungry, try eating some vegetables instead of a bag of Funions.  So what if exercise makes you want a donut?  It's not like it's going to hop into your mouth by itself as soon as you finish your jog.  Geez.

Also, this made me nerd rage:

"After all, doesn't exercise turn fat to muscle, and doesn't muscle process excess calories more efficiently than fat does?"

Yeah, fat turns into muscle.  That's some good science, buddy.  I'm currently using magic to turn my fat into nerve tissue so I can cure Lou Gehrig's Disease.

Original Post by allison7305:

Hmmm. This article actually baffles me! When I exercise, I am definitely more aware of what I am putting into my mouth. I would feel HORRIBLE if I just worked my butt off to burn 400 calories, then wolfed down a doughnut in 3 seconds. I wouldn't dream of doing it! I have a hard enough time eating a 130 cal fiber bar an hour after working out, and I just do that because I know I HAVE to replenish.

 Exactly!  Last night after a full hour spin class one of my classmates heart rate monitor said that she had just burned 1020 calories.  I guarantee that the last thing any of us would said was wow... lets go to Dunkin Doniuts and chow.

And Bex!!  Don't waste your time being angry with your Dad.  I don't know why he wouldn't choose to support you instead of make digs at you, but sometimes parents are just not that in tune with what their kids really need and it is at that time when your own smarts will help you.    Take Care

Original Post by killerqueen215:

Also, this made me nerd rage:

"After all, doesn't exercise turn fat to muscle, and doesn't muscle process excess calories more efficiently than fat does?"

Yeah, fat turns into muscle.  That's some good science, buddy.  I'm currently using magic to turn my fat into nerve tissue so I can cure Lou Gehrig's Disease.

I know! I get soooo annoyed when people say "I exercise so my fat will turn into muscle"!! They are two completely different tissues, with two completely different actions. An adipocyte will NEVER turn into a myocyte, no matter how much you exercise! It is physically impossible!

I think this is enough proof to discredit the article!!

Favorite false statement ever made on CC:

"Well, technically, muscle and fat are the same..."

The article is actually right, you don't need to exercise to be thin however you do need to to maintain muscle mass and to strengthen skeletal structure, organs and mind.