Have you ever exercised and not lost weight? Maybe, even gained weight? If so, it’s no surprise according to a recent study.
An article in the New York Times, “Exercising but Gaining Weight,” published November 12, 2014, was an eye-opener for many. It explains that exercise does not necessarily lead to weight loss. It could lead to weight gain.
It begins, “Exercise has innumerable health benefits, but losing weight may not be among them. A provocative new study shows that a substantial number of people who take up an exercise regimen wind up heavier afterward than they were at the start, with the weight gain due mostly to extra fat, not muscle.”
In the study, 81 overweight women were put on an exercise regimen, and in the end 70% gained weight. The outcome jarred conventional wisdom.
It’s an interesting read.
“Exercising but Gaining Weight,” by Gretchen Reynolds.
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I can vouch for that! Many years ago my 10 year reunion was coming up and I needed to lose weight. Joined an exercise class and sure enough I gained weight! At that point I realized I needed to pray about the need to be a normal size and I lost the extra weight and have never had a problem with weight since! Prayer is the answer!!! (=
Recently I was sent an e-mail that I thought was sent from a friend. She said, “It really works!” It was a pill “endorsed by famous people. The ad claimed that the pill takes off belly fat and had a scientific explanation of why it did so. At first thought I was impressed and wished I could try it, but since I am a Christian Scientist I don’t take pills. Then I reasoned I am spiritual, not material so “belly fat” is a moot point. Later that day my friend said the ad was a scam and she never really sent it!
1 Timothy 4:7,8 has an answer for us.
“… exercise thyself rather unto godliness. For bodily exercise profiteth little.”
In our daily affairs, we can try to exercise more of godlike qualities-
patience, kindness, honesty, humility, forgiveness, gratitude, unselfishness etc.
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There is an unfortunate implication that exercise causes a gain of fat. That is not correct. The referenced study clearly states that the participants already ate too much. With the change to exercising, they chose to eat even more. This was foolish behaviour, not exercise.