A few weeks ago Isaac asked me to start contributing to our blog posts as our voice on fitness and exercise. I didn’t know where to start and so he told me “just talk about something you’re passionate about that you believe our members need to hear”.
So here is something I think about a daily. When it comes to health, most people tend to focus heavily on nutrition. And for good reason, if you’re trying to lose weight, the food you eat plays a massive role. As we’ve all heard(sometimes from MVMTS!) it’s said that “you can’t out-train a bad diet.” This is definitely true if you’re new to a weight loss journey or need to work on body composition.But when we look beyond weight loss and consider long-term health, mobility, and independence, daily/weekly exercise far outstrips your nutrition choices.
Before I go on, I’m not saying you can eat terribly and that nutrition is 0% important. We clearly know that’s not true. But fitness and physical activity offer benefits that nutrition alone can’t match, especially when it comes to long-term quality of life and physical autonomy.
As we age, the body inevitably changes. Muscle mass declines, bone density drops, and joint mobility can suffer. These aren’t just facts of life—they’re risk factors for serious complications like falls, fractures, and chronic disease. This is where consistent physical activity makes all the difference. And we’ve all heard the phrase “don’t you want to be able to play with your grandkids when you’re older?”
Exercise builds and preserves lean muscle mass, supports joint flexibility, strengthens the heart, and improves mental health. While proper nutrition can aid in maintaining some of these systems, only movement can directly train the body to function better over time.
5 Reasons Fitness Outweighs Nutrition in the Long Run
- Mobility = Independence (my personal favourite as members of MVMTS will know )
Strength and balance exercises keep your body agile, allowing you to move freely and avoid reliance on others for daily activities as you age. - Muscle Mass Prevents Injury
Weight-bearing and resistance exercises help maintain muscle and bone strength, reducing the risk of falls and fractures later in life, but also will empower you do to do things you want to do as you age: be active, go on vacations, hikes, play pickleball, etc. - Heart and Lung Health
Cardiovascular exercise improves circulation, blood pressure, and lung capacity—nutrients can support these systems, but only exercise can train them. - Mental Health Benefits
Regular movement is proven to reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression. It also improves sleep and boosts cognitive function. This is HUGE reason we are proponents of exercise, we very often hear members say “my hour at the gym is the best part of my day” or “Exercise helped me get through that hard time” - Metabolic Flexibility
Staying active increases insulin sensitivity and metabolic rate, helping you handle a wider variety of foods without negative effects, giving you more freedom with your diet long term.
What Exercise Actually Does Over Time:
Think about someone in their 70s who can still hike, garden, and get up off the floor without effort. That’s not just luck—it’s years of building and maintaining functional strength and endurance. Contrast that with someone who’s been diligent about eating healthy but neglected physical activity. They may have a great BMI, but struggle with energy, stiffness, or strength.
Fitness isn’t just about looking good or losing weight—it’s about preserving the freedom to live life on your terms.
The Bottom Line
If you’re looking to lose weight, nutrition should be your first focus—it’s more effective in that specific goal. But for long-term vitality, physical independence, and overall health, fitness is the cornerstone.
The best approach? Use nutrition to support your workouts, and make movement a non-negotiable part of your life.
In the end, it’s not about choosing one over the other—it’s about recognizing when and why each matters. And when you’re thinking 10, 20, or 30 years ahead, movement is the key to staying in the game.
-Will Hogendoorn
MVMT Strength
