What matters most? Exercise or Nutrition?

Let’s play a game called: “Guess how I lost 20 pounds.”

Was it:

A) Running 10K every morning while sipping celery juice?

B) Doing burpees in my living room while Nickel (my dog) judged me?

C) Eating in a way that actually made sense for real life?

Spoiler alert: It was C. Always C. (Also, celery juice…really? Gross. Yep, I said what I said.)

Hey, my friend!

If you’re here wondering how to lose 20 pounds, or screaming into the void, “HOW do I just lose 20 pounds already?? Someone please tell me!!”

Grab your lukewarm coffee (we both know it’s been reheated twice) and settle in.

Because I’ve got something juicy (and real-life doable) to share with you.

There’s a sneaky little lie we’ve been fed…

And it’s this: Exercise is the answer to weight loss.

Now before you toss your sneakers at me, hear me out—I LOVE exercise and I always have. I walk my dog an hour every day, I work out 5–6 times a week, and I’m not gonna cancel plank holds. But if I’m being real (which, hi, always), when I was doing all that and not paying attention to my food?

Nothing. Happened.

Not a single pound budged.

Why? Because you can’t outrun a cinnamon bun. (Trust me, I’ve tried. I own the cafe.)

How To Lose 20 Pounds Without Exercising | Nat & Marks

🍪 One cookie = 360 calories. One workout = wiped out by that cookie.

Yep. That’s the cold, hard math no one wants to do.

You might burn 300–500 calories at the gym, but a quick coffee shop treat can blow that right out of the water. (Looking at you, peanut butter cookie that’s sneakily 480 calories.)

Now let me be clear: I’m not here to take away your cookies (that’s not the sustainable, lasting result stuff I teach). But what I am saying is that your nutrition is what moves the needle.

So if you’re thinking about making changes, this is where to start

👉 Start with your food.

Not because you need to suffer through another boring salad or count every almond. No. Nope. Never.

But because when you focus on simple, sustainable changes to how you eat, you start to feel better fast. And when you feel better, you move more. You sleep better. You actually want to show up for yourself.

Exercise is amazing—for stress, sleep, and general bad-assery. But when it comes to how to lose 20 pounds?

Nutrition reigns supreme. 👑

Here’s the truth: You eat more than you exercise.

Let’s break it down, shall we?

If you work out 5 times a week, that’s 20 workouts a month (and I’m being generous here)
If you eat 3 meals a day (not counting snacks or that bite of your kid’s sandwich), that’s 84 meals a month.

EIGHTY-FOUR chances to make progress vs. 20. That’s four times the opportunity to create real change – with your fork.

So yeah, exercise is great and it’s one of the skills I teach in ‘The Freedom 6 Framework’ —but if you’re banking on it alone to help you lose weight? You’re probably gonna end up frustrated (and back in those stretchy jeans…again).

So… what should you do?

Start small. Think simple. Keep it doable.

Eat when you’re hungry.
Stop when you’re full.
Make your meals just a little bit better each time.

And if you’re sitting there thinking, “Cool, but how do I actually make that happen when I’ve got teenage drama to deal with, a to-do list longer than my arm, and a body that’s been stuck for 10+ years?” – I got you.

👉 Watch the full video here: EXERCISE VS NUTRITION: Which Actually Helps You Lose Weight?
I’m breaking it ALL down with the sass and strategy you’ve come to love.

👉 And grab my FREE AUDIO and learn the 3 behaviours that will change your mind and body FAST: Outsmart Mid-Life Weight Gain in 12 Minutes: I Want That Free Audio

Because the best time to start living a healthier life? Right now. (Yes, even if you still have to make dinner, fold laundry, and figure out your teen’s math homework.)

You don’t need to overhaul your life, my friend.

You just need to stop doing what doesn’t work (helloooooo, nutty cardio sessions with zero results) and start with what does.

💬 I want to hear from you: What’s your biggest challenge when it comes to food vs. exercise? Drop a comment under the video and let’s chat like it’s girl time at the cafe.

You’ve got this.

And I’ll be here, cheering you on – maybe with a homemade cinnamon bun in hand. (balanced living, baby. 😉)

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Want more fun, real-life, judgment-free wellness tips?
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