How exercise works are the million-dollar question. There are many different theories out there on this subject, and a great deal of research has been done over the years. A lot of people feel exercise can help them lose weight, build muscle, improve brain function, etc.
The theory behind it all is that you burn more calories when you exercise, therefore you will lose weight. Therefore if you do a lot of exercises, and you do it regularly, your body will be used to having more calories to burn, and you will get in better shape. It may seem like a good theory, and it is, but it doesn't work in reality.
When people look at how exercise works, they usually think about how much exercise they need to do in order to lose weight. They may also think about how much time they would need to spend exercising in order to get in better shape. But there is another factor to consider. All of these theories about why exercise works may actually be incorrect.
First of all, it doesn't work by reducing your calorie intake. That seems pretty obvious, right? The theory is that you can't lose muscle unless you reduce your calorie intake, which in and of itself is not going to cause muscle loss. However, in fact, your body will always burn fat, even if you have a lot of muscle tissue. It just requires more energy to operate the muscles, and so when you exercise, you are burning calories even when you don't have muscle tissue!
How does this work you ask? Your body will always try to burn as much fat as possible because it knows that is the best fuel for muscle building. So, if you focus your exercise on making the biggest muscles you have, while you are burning the most fat, you will actually see some weight loss. This is because your metabolism has already worked extra hard to burn up calories and you will now be able to use those calories as muscle tissue instead of storing them away as fat.
But this is only part of the answer to the question of how exercise affects weight loss. You also need to know that you shouldn't be focusing your efforts on any one exercise. For instance, if you wanted to lose a pound of fat each week, then you should do aerobic exercise and strength training three times per week. If you wanted to build a bit more muscle mass, then you should be doing strength training and cardio training twice per week. The point here is that you shouldn't be trying to do too much at once.
So, the next time someone asks you how exercise works, be ready to have an answer. Exercise doesn't burn fat or build muscle. It improves your health and keeps you fit, but it doesn't build muscles. Aerobic exercise is good for burning calories, strengthening your muscles, and getting rid of toxins that build up in your body; strength training gets your bones and muscles stronger; and cardio exercises, like running, keep your heart pumping and helps you to burn more calories throughout the day.
So now that you know how exercise works, you can answer the final question: How does exercise help me? By eating right, by watching what you eat, and by making sure you get enough rest at night. If you do all of these things and you combine them with some regular exercise, you will be able to accomplish your fitness goals. And just remember, exercise is only one part of the equation when it comes to staying healthy.
