By now, you may have heard the formula for weight loss. You need to burn more calories through physical activity than you consume through food and drink. Specifically, you need to burn 3,500 more calories than you eat in order to lose one pound. But is it best to reach that 3,500 calorie deficit by exercising more or eating less?
Both calorie reduction and increased physical activity offer specific health benefits. A healthy, well-balanced diet can help you lose weight and reduce your risk of asthma, cancer, heart disease, and diabetes. Exercising, on the other hand, can help you drop pounds while building lean muscle mass and stronger bones. Regular exercise has also been shown to improve flexibility, boost your mood and relieve stress.
So which is better?
Trying to cut 500 calories a day from your diet in order to lose one pound a week may be difficult for people who aren’t physically active. On the other hand, finding the time to exercise enough to burn 500 calories a day through exercise can also be challenging. Experts usually recommend a combination of diet and exercise to create a weight loss plan that allows you to lose weight while still enjoying a well-balanced life, which is a plan you’re more likely to stick with long-term.