Dr. Greenbean

I sit here in awe of American obesity.  I went to Target yesterday and watched 4 chubby teenage girls try on bathing suits…enough is enough! I write this soap box blog in light of the TIME magazine last week…the cover had the article title in big bold letters “THE EXERCISE MYTH”..

I read the article and about blew my top. The argument in the article is that exercise makes us hungrier so most will eat more on days they exercise…hence negating weight loss.  There are bunches of studies in the article which are fascinating but exercises benefit to the body is never really mentioned.

Doesn’t everyone know that in order to lose weight you have to eat less and move more! It is pure physics people! So if I burn 300 calories at the gym and then get a protein smoothie at the snack bar that is 400 calories is my workout not worth it? Well, technically yes…prob won’t lose much weight on that plan BUT the benefits to your body are still worth the workout. Your muscle mass will go up (which burns more calories than fat mass), your cardio system is stronger, your lungs are stronger, you got a nice serotonin boost, you will sleep better at night, you will feel better about yourself, and your energy will be better.  WHAT WAS THAT ARTICLE TRYING TO DO TO US fat AMERICANS?

Another thing the article said was that people who go to the gym for an hour per day tend to then be lazy or sit at a desk the rest of the day. I guess not working out at all would help those who work at a desk all day???? Wrongo.  Any amount of movement is good….really good.

As I stared at those chubby teenage girls, I grew angry with America…why do we encourage fatness. Our food is pathetic, our attitude stinks, our diabetes and heart disease kill, our depression meds make billions, but yet exercise is just a myth.    Please, please encourage exercise and good eating habits in your kids, your partners, your coworkers,  your family, and most importantly YOURSELF! Together we can make America healthier and trimmer!