Why Running Was Never the only Answer to Weight Loss
For most of my adult life, I was convinced that if I could just become a runner, I’d finally be skinny. Every year, I’d psych myself up, buy the flashy new shoes, grab a sleek pair of Lulu running shorts, and hit the pavement with big dreams of being that effortlessly lean woman sprinting down the street. Here’s how it actually went down: I’d make it halfway down the block before feeling like someone had tied a 200-pound anchor to my butt. Within a few weeks of what felt like a torturous mix of boredom and frustration, defeat would creep in. I’d quit. And then the cycle would repeat itself year after year. Sound familiar?
Why Exercise Isn’t the Magic Fix
Maybe you’ve believed this too—that if you just worked out harder, longer, or more often, your body would finally look the way you want.
Here’s the truth: exercise is not the number one driver of weight loss.
Don’t get me wrong, I’m a huge fan of exercise for overall health. Movement is medicine for your heart, your brain, your mood, your bones, your longevity—you name it. But when it comes to actually changing your body composition, the math is clear:
- 80% of what your body looks like comes down to what you eat.
Why That’s Actually Good News
You don’t need to live at the gym to see results. Up to 80% of weight loss comes from nutrition alone.
That means even if workouts feel impossible right now—whether from lack of time, energy, or desire—you can still move the needle by focusing on food first. Exercise is powerful for health and metabolism, but it’s the bonus 20%.
Start with nutrition, and you’ll be amazed at how quickly your body responds. The rest can come later.
And if you’re ready to go beyond diet and really tackle hormonal weight gain, that’s where the Women’s Peptide Weight Loss Program comes in. It combines the right nutrition with cutting-edge peptides, hormone support, and expert coaching—giving you every tool you need to finally see lasting results.
Find Karen Martel on Apply Podcast
Karen Martel is a Certified Hormone Specialist and Transformational Nutrition Coach dedicated to empowering women through their health journeys.
As the host of the popular podcast The Hormone Solution, Karen tackles the complexities of hormonal health, weight loss resistance, and the challenges that come with perimenopause and menopause.
Her mission is to disrupt outdated narratives surrounding women's health, providing reliable information and practical solutions that help women reclaim their vitality.
Tune in to discover how to embrace life's stages while enhancing overall well-being.
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