14 DAY TRIAL // A team of researchers currently working with the Stanford University School of Medicine now say that those who wish to embrace a healthier lifestyle need change both their diets and their exercise habits at the same time.
As the specialists explain, most people work on the assumption that tackling both these goals simultaneously might turn out to be a bit of a headache.
Because of this, they believe that it would perhaps be best to start with one of them and then gradually built up the courage to also deal with the other.
In fact, it appears that several weight-loss programs recommend that people begin by paying closer attention to what they eat, and only later try to carry out regular exercise routines.
EurekAlert says that, according to these Stanford University researchers, this practice of focusing on diet first and foremost makes it difficult for most people to ever establish an exercise routine and stick to it.
Study lead author Abby King, PhD, believes that it is best for an individual to try to change both their diet and their exercise habits at the same time.
However, if this is not possible, the researcher recommends that establishing an exercise routine should be the first goal to deal with.
“With dietary habits, you have no choice; you have to eat. You don't have to find extra time to eat because it's already in your schedule. So the focus is more on substituting the right kinds of food to eat,” the researcher says.
“It may be particularly useful to start both at the same time. If you need to start with one, consider starting with physical activity first,” Abby King further adds.
These conclusions were reached after the researchers had spent an entire year monitoring the progress made by 200 volunteers who all wanted to lose weight and get back in shape.
The participants to this study were split into four groups.
The first group tackled dietary and exercise changes at the same time, the second group began by changing their dietary habits and only introduced exercise after a few months, the third group took up exercise before changing their diets, and the fourth group was only introduced to several stress-management techniques.
A detailed account of this research and its findings was published in the journal Annals of Behavioral Medicine this April 21.