The New York Times comes through with articles right on point.
Tara Parker-Pope
First, Tara Parker-Pope breaks the news to us: the little cuts do not add up after all. There is little point in worrying about just one less cookie, because the body will conserve energy and strive for homeostasis. However, one more cookie will definitely add pounds. In other words, it's totally not fair. Cutting out 100 calories a day will not make you lose weight, because the body adjusts its basal metabolism to spend fewer calories. Adding 100 calories a day is more likely to make a difference, however; the body is more likely to gain weight than lose it (like this is a surprise?)
Jane Brody
On a more positive note, Jane Brody reiterates several studies supporting the value of all forms of exercise at all ages - and at all weights. "Regular exercise is the only well-established fountain of youth, and it’s free." It helps your body and it helps your mind and memory. Who wouldn't want to do it? And then she laments how few people actually take advantage of it. So just one more bit of motivating news, to help counter the way the deck is stacked against us in losing weight.
1 comment:
I read both these articles, too, with similar despair and hope. The one thing is that not gaining weight at this age is an achievement. My diet heroics have not been like your past one -- one big weight loss. I am down about 30 pounds from my 40th bday nearly 9 years ago -- which is totally against trend. I don't want to hide behind just being happy to stay here because there's much that needs to be still lost, BUT once the loss has been achieved to not gain (where I think the little cuts can make a difference) is definitely going against the unhappy trend, I think.
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