Diet Myth #7: YOU HAVE TO WORK OUT A LOT TO LOSE WEIGHT

DIET MYTH #7: YOU HAVE TO EXERCISE A LOT TO LOSE WEIGHT One of the most popular mistaken beliefs when it comes to losing weight and keeping it off is that burning calories is vital. That’s mistaken because your diet is more important than exercise when it comes to weight loss. I’m not saying that exercise isn’t effective—it definitely plays a role—but you cannot eat a junk food diet and exercise your way into smaller pants. Your body composition is not determined by the amount of calories you eat; it is determined by hormones. Exercise should be viewed as a way to influence hormones, not as a method for burning calories. It only takes ninety seconds of standing to activate the muscular and cellular systems that process blood sugar, triglycerides, and cholesterol, all in response to just carrying your own body weight. These systems are also responsible for putting fuel in your cells and can reduce your risk of diabetes. Your body responds to rigorous exercise as it does to any other stressor: by increasing cortisol levels in your body. Cortisol is a hormone that increases blood sugar, suppresses the immune system, and even decreases bone formation. When cortisol levels remain raised for extended periods of time, the well-known result is weight gain and muscle loss. This is not to say that movement and exercise are forbidden on the Bulletproof diet. Moving around is great for your nervous system, brain, and detox systems. I work out three times a week, but for those who enjoy a small amount of rigorous exercise once a week and still get very good results, I recommend the Bulletproof body workout. Working out is not necessary for weight loss on the Bulletproof diet. It’s the food you eat that will help you lose weight, build muscle, and stay in the best shape of your life.