Why Pilates Won't Help You Lose Weight

Before you go and defend Pilates, please know that I love many things about it. It definitely helps tighten your core and improve flexibility. But, usually those are secondary goals. You can't show off a tight core with a thick layer of adipose tissue over it!

So, what will help you lose weight?

1. Eat right.

2. Strength train to increase your muscle mass so you burn more calories all day long.

3. Do your cardiovascular exercise with intervals once or twice a week, so you burn more calories for a time after your workout. (I'll post more details about that later.)

4. Cardiovascular exercise done in a steady state fashion, should only be done to burn extra calories if you've covered 1, 2 & 3 (or for some reason can't do #3).

5. Pilates, yoga, more daily activity like walking , etc all have great benefits - but they're more mental than weight-loss oriented. Yes, Pilates, Yoga and walking build some muscle when you start the program, but only progressive resistance will continue it. Unless you're gaining weight as you're doing the exercises, you aren't increasing your resistance each workout. That would be counterproductive! ;-)

So go ahead and do your Pilates. Just make sure you know why you're doing it, and that you aren't missing out on higher priorities! (And be sure to balance out all those flexed positions with extra extension and retractions work!)

Committed to your health,
Maren