Authentic Pilates and Weight Loss

Is Pilates a Weight Loss Program?

An Authentic Pilates execercise program will lead to weight loss if accompanied by a healthy nutritional program designed for weight loss.  Let’s simplify this statement.

How To Lose Weight

Very simple: You need to burn more calories than you consume.  A six month long study published in The Journal of Clinical Endocrinology and Metabolism(Redman,et.al, Effects of Calorie Restriction…,1/2007), confirmed that weight loss is based on the number of calories consumed. Your caloric intake needs to be less than your calories used during the day.  Exercising will increase the number of calories used which will lead to weight loss.

Calories Burned: Pilates Exercise vs. Other Exercise

A 145 lbs. person doing Pilates exercises for 1 hour (Excluding apparatus – Self Magazine):
-Beginner level mat 241 calories
-Intermediate level mat  338 calories
-Advanced level mat 421 calories

Other Exercises for 1 hour (Mayo Clinic study 8/19/08)
-Walking (2 mph) 160 cal,  (3.5mph) 243 cal.
-Bicycling(stationary) 448cal.
-Aerobic Dancing 416 cal.
-Running(8mph)  864 cal.
-Jogging(5mph)  512 cal.
-Swimming  384 cal.

Authentic Pilates and Exercise: The Answer

Someone doing an aerobic exercise such as jogging will burn 512 cal., but they will still have to watch their caloric intake as a 1/6 pie slice of Quiche Lorraine is 524 cal., and 2 slices of Cheese Pizza is 580 cal.  The same nutritional guidelines will need to be followed when doing Authentic Pilates.

Authentic Pilates exercises will burn more calories when performed at the advanced levels, however if your sole purpose of exercising is to burn more calories, additional aerobic exercises such as walking or jogging will further increase your calories burned.  Keep in mind those exercises will not have the same effect on your body such as:

1. Authentic Pilates will change the shape of your body –clothes fit differently
2. Authentic Pilates will tighten your waistline
3. Authentic Pilates will build lean muscle and improve posture
4. Authentic Pilates is a full body workout and will tone your body
5. Authentic Pilates will CHANGE your body  and restore it’s youth
6. Authentic Pilates + Sound  Nutrition = Weight Loss

Optimal Authentic Pilates Weght Loss Program

1. Decide your goals  or motives for doing Authentic Pilates and discuss them with your instructor.
2. Decide your weight loss goals.
3. Keep a daily food/exercise log to make sure you stay on track and that your caloric intake is appropriate for weight loss.
4. Authentic Pilates  + another aerobic activity will help those pounds melt away.

Be Positive!   

             “Patience and Persistence are vital qualities in the ultimate successful accomplishment of any worthwhile endeavor” Joseph H. Pilates

Eating right is the first step to feeling great the rest of the day.

Eat breakfast when you first get up. Your body has been fasting all night and needs nutrients to to get your system and metabolism going.

Drink a glass of water, then make breakfast which should include some protein, and carbohydrate adding up to about 300 calories. Depending on your caloric goals, try eating 5 or 6 mini meals throughout the day. By eating every three to four hours, you keep your metabolism and insulin levels on an even keel. You won’t experience the afternoon sugar highs and “crashes”. Now you’re ready for Pilates to keep your body primed and ready for work and play!