What I Learned About Fitness by Becoming an Exercise Researcher in 2022

 What I Learned About Fitness by Becoming an Exercise Researcher

As an exercise researcher, I’ve learned a lot about fitness over the years, such as the importance of nutrition and sleep in maintaining healthy bodies and minds and how to deal with an overactive thyroid gland. As it turns out, these lessons aren’t just good for the body; they’re also good for the mind—and specifically, my own mental health.

Being Fat Doesn’t Kill You

In my line of work, I often hear people say things like being fat is so unhealthy or I need to lose weight to be healthy. And while it’s true that being overweight can lead to health problems, it’s also true that being overweight doesn’t automatically mean you’re going to die. In fact, research has shown that being overweight may actually help you live longer. One study found that in a population of more than 300,000 people with heart disease, those who were classified as obese had a lower risk for death than those who were classified as normal weight. What does this tell us? It tells us not everyone who is overweight is in danger—in fact many are probably healthier than their thin counterparts. We don’t know exactly why this happens but there are theories out there.

The Myth of Overweight People Eating Their Way Into Diabetes

Despite what you may have heard, not all overweight people are eating their way into diabetes. In fact, many people with diabetes are overweight because they have the disease, not the other way around. In order to address the root cause of type 2 diabetes (which is insulin resistance), it's important to know that insulin resistance can be caused by genetic predisposition, excess weight and age-related health issues. 

Luckily for people who exercise regularly, doing so will reduce the risk of developing insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes significantly. 

Exercise-induced weight loss can improve body composition and reduce fat mass even in overweight individuals.

Physical Activity

Regular physical activity is important for good health, and it's especially important if you want to lose weight or maintain a healthy weight. But how much exercise do you need to do? And what kind of exercise is best? As an exercise researcher, I've learned that there's no one-size-fits-all answer to these questions. Instead, it's important to find an activity that you enjoy and that fits into your lifestyle. For example, while running is great because it can burn lots of calories in a short period of time, not everyone enjoys this type of exercise. For some people, walking may be more enjoyable because they can walk slowly and take in their surroundings while they're moving. Walking also provides many health benefits like improved cardiovascular fitness, reduced risk for obesity and diabetes, stronger bones, reduced risk for certain cancers and lower blood pressure - which means the more time spent walking instead of sitting down during the day the better!

Health at Every Size (HAES)

When I started my research on exercise, I had a very different view of fitness than I do now. I used to think that being fit meant being thin and having a lot of muscle. However, my view changed when I learned about the Health at Every Size (HAES) movement. This movement is based on the idea that every body is capable of being healthy, no matter its size or shape. This was a radical idea for me, but it made a lot of sense. The HAES philosophy stresses that a person should focus on eating in order to be healthy rather than trying to achieve any particular weight goal. According to this theory, people don't need to diet in order to become healthier. In fact, many studies have shown that diets actually make people less happy with their bodies and more prone to eating disorders like bulimia nervosa or binge-eating disorder. HAES also stresses the importance of physical activity as part of achieving wellness rather than using exercise as means for weight loss alone.

Weight Bias

I never really thought about how my own biases might be affecting my fitness journey—that is, until I became an exercise researcher. Now, I know that weight bias is a real thing that can impact people's health and well-being. Here's what I've learned about this issue 1) Weight bias is rampant in society. 

2) It influences everyone from the gym to the doctor's office to Hollywood. 

3) It limits access to needed care and support. 

4) And it disproportionately affects fat people. For example, when we're told that we need to lose weight for our health, we are also implicitly told that being fat has negative consequences. But the problem with this narrative is that research shows there are many other factors related to someone's overall health than their size alone. In fact, those who experience higher levels of stigma due to their body size are less likely to engage in healthy behaviors like physical activity and eating nutritious foods. As a result, they may have increased rates of obesity and chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes. They may also have more stress or symptoms of depression. So even if you think you're making a helpful suggestion by telling someone they should lose weight, you could actually end up doing more harm than good!

How to stay motivated

1. It can be tough to stay motivated when it comes to fitness. 

2. After all, there are so many other things vying for our attention and time. 

3. But becoming an exercise researcher taught me a few things about how to stay motivated when it comes to my own fitness. 

4. First, it's important to set realistic goals. If you're not sure where to start, try setting a goal that's attainable in the short-term. For example, if your ultimate goal is to run a marathon, then your first goal might be to complete one mile without stopping. Once you've accomplished this task, increase your distance incrementally until you're ready for your marathon! The same approach works with weight loss: Setting small achievable goals will help keep you on track. And second, it's important to know what motivates you personally. Why do you want to work out? What types of activities do you enjoy? Knowing this will help provide guidance as to what type of activities or routines may work best for keeping up with your fitness goals.