Every January, millions of people make New Year’s resolutions to lose weight, eat healthier, or both. To achieve these goals, many people begin strenuous exercise programs that demand too much exercise too soon, leading to fitness burnout or injury. Overtraining can actually prevent you from losing weight. As a health neuroscientist, I have been studying the brain and cognitive mechanisms underlying dietary behaviors and the role exercise plays in helping people improve their diets for over 10 years. Energy and Exercise The truth is that you simply cannot exercise away a poor diet and expect to lose weight (if that is your goal). Humans are very good at conserving energy and will account for any calories burned through exercise by consuming more calories later in the day or by being less physically active throughout the rest of the day. That being said, you can—and should—use exercise to help you lose weight and maintain your weight loss, but not to …