Part of the diet mindset is understanding and implementing all of the components that add up to success in the weight loss arena. Diet is 85% of the battle in terms of importance, leaving exercise at 15%. So the tendency can be to choose to skip exercise and focus solely on the diet. This is not good strategy however. While exercise isn’t the primary component in the weight loss game, study after study has proven that people who exercise are those who tend to adopt a healthy lifestyle. In other words, exercise strongly influences other choices you make, including food choices. For instance, did you know that vigorous exercise alters our hormones so that appetite is suppressed for several hours? Additionally, weight training increases muscle mass, which causes our bodies to burn more calories at rest. And higher intensity aerobic and circuit training incinerates calories, enabling us to more easily obtain that calorie deficit we are looking for. Exercisers tend to drink more water, drink less alcohol, and make better nutrition choices. Exercise also increases endorphins, which improve mood and optimism. A habit of exercise can be learned, and understanding all of it’s many benefits can be the push you need to make the habit a reality.