Exercise (alone) Doesn't Work

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I have received feedback and emails from all over the world (even as far as India) about my Exercise: actual results don't match expected results post from a few weeks back. Many readers asked for scientific evidence and rationale backing up some of the statements I made in that post. No problem.

In my previous post, I stated exercise without dietary modification is basically ineffective for weight loss and fat loss. If you feel this is simply an unsubstantiated "opinion" on my part (despite working with dozens of clients and supervising over 17,000 private workouts over the last 8 years), check out the 2 links below where Dr. John Berardi discusses two separate studies which support my statements and perspectives:

http://www.precisionnutrition.com/members/showthread.php?t=14001

http://www.precisionnutrition.com/members/showthread.php?t=14536

Look, obviously, I think exercise is terrific and offers outstanding benefits (after all, I own a personal training business). It increases muscular strength and helps to maintain lean muscle tissue (which helps prevent excess fat gain). It improves conditioning and work capacity (or "cardio" fitness), and allows one to stay functional and enjoy a higher quality of life as they age. It is also well documented exercise reduces the risk of numerous chronic diseases (heart disease, diabetes, certain types of cancers and stroke) and associated risk factors for those conditions. It also reduces symptoms of depression and anxiety. The beauty of exercise is it does all this good stuff, in the majority of cases, INDEPENDENT OF WEIGHT LOSS.

What it does not do, by itself, is "transform" one's body and cause significant weight loss, and I don't care how good the training program is or how often it is being performed. When it comes to weight loss and fat loss, exercise is a supplement to proper diet and nutrition and not the other way around. Exercise can be a weight loss "booster", and the synergy between a diet appropriate in calories, a strength training program, and a cardiovascular conditioning program can be very effective in optimizing weight loss and fat loss. However, by itself, I think the best that can be said for exercise is that can help people to MAINTAIN THEIR CURRENT WEIGHT AND/OR PREVENT EXCESSIVE WEIGHT GAIN.

My point with the post a few weeks back, by an large, is that if people changed their mindset towards exercise and took a more "fitness enhancement" oriented approach, as opposed to a weight loss oriented approach, they would be a lot happier and their exercise program adherence would be much better. The results they would get from their exercise program would match their expectations.