Slim chance

I've been frustrated lately with my health regimen. I've recently increased my weekly hours at the gym, and yet it seems I'm only managing to hang on to what I've already got. This question is often on the minds of we who exercise a lot with the desire to attain a sylphlike, ethereal slenderness yet can't seem to predict the results: is it possible to exercise more and still gain (or not lose) weight? If so, why bother at all?

There is a common misconception that the increased poundage that often accompanies increased exercise is "muscle gain" but this is only rarely true, even if the exerciser devotes most of his or her time to popular anaerobic workouts like pilates, yoga and weight lifting, which are usually not sufficient to significantly alter body composition on their own, and have less slimming merit than higher impact cardio workouts (running, spinning, step class) as they burn far fewer calories.

However, increasing cardio activity can deceive as well: the added effort can contribute to the mindset that we have earned a dessert which far outweighs calorically what we have burned off (bringing us back to square one and beyond), or, on a physiological level, to enhance the ability of the body to hang on to water or even to hoard those same pounds that we would like to shed.

This illuminating article briefly illustrates this. In short, most yoginis (and probably most runners or spinners) won't likely look like Gwynnie unless they also follow her diet. (While it does not mention GP, it does emphasize the need to revisit your caloric intake if you wish to have results from your exercise routine beyond just feeling fitter.)

Just for kicks, from the Goop web site, here is Gwyneth's "detox diet." 800 calories a day, anyone?