You and your mouth

I have a big secret to share with you: you are what you eat.  Literally, what you put in your mouth -- every.single.bite -- is the equivalent to what you weigh.  

Here's the thing: weight loss is all about energy expenditure.  If you expend more than your intake, you will be in a negative energy expenditure status (read: energy deficit, burning stored energy). 

If your intake exceeds your energy expenditure, then your body takes that opportunity to store that extra energy for later, just in case there is a shortage later. 

Weight loss and gain is as simple and as complicated as that.  Sure, the more active you are, the more calories you will burn; however, it takes a huge amount of exercise to burn sufficient calories to lose weight.  

Let’s just let that sit for a minute.

Now.  Some of you may have read that last bit and heard 'Go ahead and stop exercising, because it doesn't do any good anyway.'  That is NOT what I said.  In fact, the more active you are, the more your body burns calories, the stronger your cardiovascular system will be, the stronger your bones will be, and the better your stress levels will be.  You'll sleep better.  You'll probably be happier and be more social, as well. 

And, very importantly, the more active you are, the more your body will be metabolically active even when stationary or inactive.  So it is definitely a good thing to keep moving, keep strength training, keep yourself active.  

Take away: exercise and regular movement is about more than just weight loss or maintenance. Exercise is a very important contributor to your overall-all well-being.

So find a way to move more. Find a way to be consistent and thoughtful about what you eat. Put those two habits together and you will find yourself feeling lighter, more energetic, and maybe just maybe, the scale number might budge as well.