Formosa Fitness

A while back, Time Magazine published one of the worst articles I've ever read in a mainstream publication: Why Exercise Won't Make you Thin. Time is in every doctor and dentist's office in America ironically so we'll have to deal with this nonsense for years to come. Way to go, guys.

Basically the author talks about how he exercises all the time and doesn't lose weight. Reading the article, I had a lot of geewhiz-I-wonder-why moments. Look at these quotes:

...perfectly salted, golden-brown French fries after a hard trip to the gym.

....It turns out one group of friends was stopping at Starbucks for muffins afterward....

....After we exercise, we often crave sugary calories like those in muffins or in "sports" drinks like Gatorade. A standard 20-oz. bottle of Gatorade contains 130 calories....

...self-control is like a muscle: it weakens each day after you use it. If you force yourself to jog for an hour, your self-regulatory capacity is proportionately enfeebled. Rather than lunching on a salad, you'll be more likely to opt for pizza. ...Because exercise depletes not just the body's muscles but the brain's self-control "muscle" as well, many of us will feel greater entitlement to eat a bag of chips during that lazy time after we get back from the gym.

Good grief. Where to begin?

The author obviously lacks any sense of will power whatsoever. He's like a 2-year old that needs his hand slapped out of the cookie jar every other minute. If he sees something, then he just has to have it. That's obviously a recipe for disaster if you're trying to lose weight.

Especially note the "self-control is like a muscle: it weakens each day after you use it" part. I have no idea where he got this idea and it certainly does NOT apply to weight lifting and muscle development. How someone's will weakens after you use it beyond me.

Second, let's kill once and for all the idea that someone "earned" a trip to Starbucks or a large pizza because they went to the gym. That seems to be the main sickness the author suffers from. And I've actually heard this from people, unfortunately. No one who is trying to lose weight earns more junk food by going to the gym. I hope that's obvious. We're desperately trying to lose what we thought we already "earned," remember?

Let's make this clear: if you're burning 200-300 calories at the gym and then eating/drinking 500 calories of junk food after working out, then you're setting yourself up for failure. (Note to other trainers: yes, I know that total calorie intake and expenditure over the day may still balance this out, but I'm making a general statement.)

As a trainer, it's my job to help busy people sort through information so they can make healthy choices. And frankly irresponsible articles like this one just angers me. Normal people that are struggling with their weight will read this and get 100% wrong information. It could set back their health for years. 

Exercise and having the courage to control what you eat are absolutely crucial if you want to lose weight. Don't let Time Magazine tell you otherwise.