Adding Exercise

Cutting calories is only half of the equation. Research shows dieters have better success when they work out too.
Think you can lose weight by dieting alone? You can, but you’ll take it off faster if you get moving too. Research published in the journal Obesity found that people shed more pounds when they combine calorie restriction with exercise.
In the yearlong study of postmenopausal obese women — a group that has an especially tough time losing weight — those who worked out and cut calories dropped 11 percent of their body weight.
By contrast, those in the diet-only group lost 8.5 percent of their weight, while the exercise-only women cast off just 2.5 percent of their starting weight.
And don’t forget: Adding exercise to the mix will also ensure that you drop fat instead of your hard-earned muscles.