What’s the first thing people do when they want to lose weight? Start a new diet and sign up for the gym membership. But what if we told you that intense workouts on the treadmill or lifting heavy every day might not be the best solution for everyone? As unbelievable as it sounds, science and real-life experiences support this claim.

Most people begin their weight loss journey after a wake-up call. It could be an alarming blood report or a scary number on the weighing scale. The immediate reaction? Burn as many calories as possible. Gymming becomes the go-to solution, after all, we have seen countless transformation stories start there.

But there is a twist. Sometimes, not working out, at least not heavily can actually help you lose weight faster, especially in the beginning. Surprised? You are not alone. A friend recently shared how her nutritionist asked her to stop gymming during her initial weight loss phase. She was shocked and was looking for clarity and so we spoke to nutritionists. Some didn't want to be quoted but nutritionist Vidhi Chawla of Diet Clinic explained why going easy on workouts can make sense for some people.

“In certain cases, especially when the weight is rigid, we don’t recommend heavy workouts. Strength training builds muscle mass, which is great but it can reflect as increased weight on the scale. That can be demotivating when someone who is looking for visible weight loss,” she says. That’s not all. “Excessively intense workouts can also push the body into a stress zone, increasing cortisol (the stress hormone). High cortisol levels lead to inflammation and can actually block fat loss. So we advise light workouts like walks, yoga, or shorter sessions to keep stress levels down and allow the body to respond better.”

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She also points out that the nervous system can become dysregulated with overtraining, pushing the body into a chronic stress state. “In that case, calming the body is crucial. Low-stimulation exercises, mindfulness, and rest can do wonders,” she adds. So if you are lifting heavy and running hard but your weight’s stuck, maybe it’s time to pause and breathe. Rest, recovery, and a calm nervous system might be the missing pieces in your fat loss puzzle.