Is It Diet or Exercise for Fat Loss? Understanding the Importance of Both

The decades long debate and confusion around this topic has finally come to a conclusion over the last handful of years, yet SO MANY are ignoring it for outdated and inaccurate information or bias.
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I can't tell you how many times I hear some variation of:
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"I need to lose weight so I need help with my exercise routine and I'll reach my goal weight."
TRUTH: You need to focus on food and movement and use exercise to shape and strengthen along the way.
"My diet is good, I just need to exercise more and I will lose more."
TRUTH: Your diet actually isn't where it needs to be no matter how good you think it is and exercising MORE while cutting calories WILL sabotage your hunger and cravings going forward.
"I've lost weight already but just need to get the exercise down and I will lose the last 15-20 lbs."
TRUTH: There are still tweaks to make with your diet that will allow you to lose that last 15-20 lbs. We can implement just enough exercise to help make sure it stays off.
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If you are trying to lose weight and are not successful then you don't have an exercise problem, you have an eating and/or stress problem. There is no other way around this, in fact the science and data is pretty clear on this.
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Exercise is best utilized for overall health when it comes to fighting disease, managing depression and anxiety, building strength, building muscle and physical performance. All important, BUT NOT GOOD FOR FAT LOSS.
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How much and what we eat, combined with movement (walking, fidgeting, folding laundry, etc.) and managing stress are BY FAR superior to your fat loss goals. In fact, without managing them you will not reach your goal plain and simple no matter how much you exercise.
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If you are frustrated and discouraged with the lack of progress on your fat loss goals and are trying to exercise your way out of it just know that you are making more work for yourself down the road.
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Good place to start?
-Aim for roughly your bodyweight in protein (yes I know, its a lot), while incorporating fibrous veggies and half your bodyweight in ounces of water.
-Aim for 10k steps per day ( your metabolism doesn't care if it is convenient)
-Make good sleep a priority
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Track and measure progress along the way, adjust accordingly.
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I get it, this can be hard to navigate, especially if you think you are doing everything right with diet.. I say this with love but if you are doing everything right and NOT seeing the result then you are in fact not doing everything right.
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Summer is coming. If you're having trouble with this consider scheduling a chat with me and we can discuss next steps in how to get you to where you want to be.