The debate about dieting or exercising in an attempt to lose weight or maintain weight has been an issue ever since and singe weight loss tactics are one of the issue most talked about in the United States, the debate has been discussed in detail to give light to what really works best.

The most effective way to initially lose weight is to diet as in cutting down your calorie consumption. If you go to the gym every day and work out for an hour but continue to eat around 2,000 calories from unhealthy and nutrition-empty foods, you are not going anywhere. This has been proven by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) saying that Americans are consuming more food in a day and the quality of food is not even healthy.

USDA has reported last year that Americans are eating 25 percent more fresh fruit and 54 percent more fresh vegetables resulting to a rise in organic food sales. However, it does not mean that the increase in consumption equate to the fruits and vegetables prepared in a healthy way. Most of them are being made into pizzas or French fries and what people should be eating are dark green and orange vegetables such as spinach, carrots and sweet potatoes. '

Dieting is not just cutting down the calories but also what types of food one is eating. It' not about boring foods as what others think of dieting. It's about committing to healthy foods in a variety of colors and high fibers to train your mind and body to know what's good and what's bad for you.

As for exercising, diet is still needed but if you lose some weight and not exercise, you are doomed to gain that lost weight in just a matter of time.

According to a study's lead author from UCLA, Traci Mann, an associate professor of psychology, "You can initially lose five to 10 percent of your weight on any number of diets, but then the weight comes back. We found that the majority of people regained all the weight, plus more. Sustained weight loss was found only in a small minority of participants, while complete weight regain was found in the majority. Diets do not lead to sustained weight loss or health benefits for the majority of people."

It's about keeping the weight off and not losing it. Anyone can lose weight but not everyone could maintain the weight loss with healthy consistency.

Exercise and Dieting comes as a team and you have to train your mind and body to understand this in order to achieve and maintain the weight and shape you have always wanted.