The idea that diet is more important than exercise is an old one, but it’s still relevant. That’s because many people—even those who consider themselves athletes—have a “sporty” mentality when it comes to their bodies and exercise.
They’re going to the gym, they’re doing yoga, they’re running and lifting weights… so it’s all about the sweat, right?
Well, no. Diet is actually pretty important too. In fact, according to a study published by The Journal of Nutrition Metabolism and Function in 2011, the majority of people who exercised had gained weight over time (a whopping 67%). By contrast, only 26% of exercisers gained weight while on a diet. This means that most people are choosing not to lose weight when they go to the gym—and that means you should be concerned about what you eat instead!
If you want to improve your health and fitness levels but don’t want to gain weight or do any damage to your health or body composition (i.e., muscle loss), then it’s time for a change in perspective about what counts as exercise and what counts as dieting.
Fitnestar 