Is it better to diet or to exercise? The correct answer, of course, is "all of the above." Now, recent research shows that, given the option of doing only one of the above, the better answer is "exercise please". The Scientific American reports on a study of of 34 adults in their 50s and 60s, who were divided into two groups. One group, dieted, the other worked out. Both groups were determined to lose weight. And they did. At the end of one year, Sciam reports, the average weight loss was 17 pounds. The big diff? Only the exercisers preserved muscle mass, strength and endurance.
Read more in the Scientific American.
Health, fitness and lifestyle tips for people over 50 who still like to play hard
Wednesday, October 15, 2025
I’m 51. Upon turning 50 I went from hiking and doing sporadic weightlifting at home to a 5-day-a-week gym regimen with friends. I weighed 250 pounds at the time. Just exercising, I dropped 10 pounds of and picked up a bunch of muscle mass the first year. We do mostly free weights in endurance sets; chest/bicep days, leg days, shoulder-and-back days. No diet change that year. Then my physical in this spring (after turning 51) had a surprise – high cholesterol and starting-but-reversible blockage. Did a stress test, was ok, but cholesterol not good and I have bad family history. Talked with doctor, and instead of starting on statin drugs I went on a 1500-calorie-a-day low-fat diet (where I count the fat grams, keep sat+trans way low). Added 250mg/day of Niacin after 3 month checkup, on doctor’s recommendation, to help cut cholesterol more. I’ve dropped 35 more pounds in less than 6 months, and my bad cholesterol has dropped significantly – doctor says no need for drugs anytime soon. Lost some muscle mass with the fat, but have kept the strength up, and as I train endurance anyway that’s ok.
The moral – diet and exercise both. Watch the fat – count grams and eat monos and polys and skip the sats and trans. You’ll stay strong and you’ll live longer.
Diets Fat
WeightLoss Diet Programs Plans Food Preparation, cooking pra
Indeed, the world is obsessed with exercising! Eat traditional organic foods and go for a walk every now and then – and you will live long and healthy life.