We are hard wired to be lazy for survival
This is not medical advice.
This piece seemed timely as we head into New Years’ resolution time. Millions of people decide they are going to make some changes in their diet and fitness level. The health clubs see a surge in memberships this time of year that go unused.
My theory is that we are hard wired to be lazy. Being lazy conserves energy. Energy is needed for survival. We don’t want to expend too many calories if they are limited.
Animals sleep much of the day, conserving their energy for hunting food.
It’s not an excuse
The problem is that most of us don’t live in that survival situation anymore. We don’t have to work for our calories anymore. It’s too readily available.
So sometimes we sit and do nothing, and just gain bodyfat for survival situations that don’t exist.
Some proof
We see some proof of this theory in muscle physiology. Muscles will contract with the smallest and least amount of fibers needed to get the job done. When we want to get bigger or stronger, we employ all these strategies for increasing muscle fiber recruitment.
Body builders and powerlifters want to recruit as many fibers as possible. They can do this by lifting iron, or heavy dense materials. They can also improve recruitment with slower repetitions, decreasing cheating with momentum.
The New Years resolution
Is it likely to be successful? Unfortunately no. Not unless you are changing how you live. Counting calories doesn’t really work. Our calorie retention and burn rate is too complicated to measure accurately.
That can be taken in a positive light, if you realize that the quick fix or short term changes are not going to work.
Successful traits
The people I met who lost the most weight were destination walkers outside, not treadmill users.
Walkers outside tend to go farther. The treadmill motor pushes the Earth by for you. Outdoor temperatures can also affect how many calories you are “burning.”
There are hundreds of theories on weight loss. Some more recent ones include meat only diets. These do make sense in that you are training your body to burn fat instead of sugar.
Some will say lift weights, as muscle burns calories. Some people are genetically predisposed to gaining fat with the stress of weight lifting. If you are intent on trying a particular path, stick to it for 3 months and see what happens. Judge results by the fit of your clothing, and not the weight on the scale. Refrain from measuring weight every day. It will just disappoint and frustrate most people. Put down the electronics, and just go do something.
Bye the way, if you are overweight, you are a survivor.
