Exercise Doesn’t Burn That Many Calories: Here’s the Health Benefits It Does Provide

When it comes to burning calories, the math isn’t always what it’s cracked up to be.

This is especially important when trying to lose weight, as so many people resolve to do this time of year.

Experts say there’s plenty of research that shows merely burning calories doesn’t necessarily equate to good health, and all that extra exercise may not burn as many calories as we think.

“Workouts and exercises are considered important in burning calories for weight loss purposes. However, recent studies have pinpointed the less significance of exercises in weight reduction,” Nataly Komova, a registered dietitian and fitness expert for JustCBD, told Healthline.

“Workouts are important in keeping the body fit and maintaining healthy well-being. Exercises burn small amounts of overall body calories.”

Komova noted that the human body is an organic machine that needs fuel to replace what it’s burning. What’s important is what type of fuel and what you do after a workout.

“The more you work out, the more likely you will eat after a workout session,” Komova said. “Increased eating replaces the burnt calories and delays weight reduction. The body uses compensatory behaviors to alter the calories burnt. For instance, some people may opt to rest or go for the elevator to curb energy use. These activities impact your non-gym physical activities, slowing down the weight loss process.”

“Healthy diet, supplying all the nutrition elements but limited in calories intake precisely worked out with a dietitian, planned for longer time, would bring good results when weight loss is considered,” she explained.