10 Reasons To Lose Weight For Health
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Why You Should Lose Weight For Health Reasons (And Not Just To Look Good)
What if I told you that weight loss is your body healing itself from the inside out. How does that make you feel? Does that make weight loss seem a little more important?
Many people want to lose weight because they want to look better. They want to feel good in their skin, look healthy and fit into their jeans. If you’ve ever needed to lose weight, you know how this feels — the need and desire to feel better about yourself no matter what mirror you look into and no matter which article of clothing you put on. We meet so many people on a daily and weekly basis at our fitness retreat and in our nutrition coaching that are trying to reach weight loss goals. I totally get it! I’ve been there myself and who doesn’t want to like how they look? I think we all do. It factors into our attitude and outlook each and every day.
Looking better makes us feel great mentally but that’s not what I want to focus on in this blog post. I don’t know about you but I feel like there are a million posts out there that include tips to lose weight, how to get a flat belly in 10 days, the best weight loss plan and so on and so on. There is so much information out there and while some of it is useful, the importance of losing weight goes well beyond a temporary fix for your next vacation. I wanted to focus on some of the really important issues that surround weight loss — and they have nothing to do with how you look. These are what I would identify as some of the core factors in terms of weight loss. They affect your health, your ability move, your daily attitude and ultimately, the length of your life. Weight loss isn’t just about a cute bod in a great pair of shorts, it’s about living your best, healthiest life.
10 Health Related Benefits of Weight Loss
To reduce your risk of disease. I’m sure you know this one already but carrying extra weight on you can be detrimental to your health and increases your risk for disease. Cardiovascular disease, diabetes and certain cancer risks rise when you’re overweight. Scary!
For your joint health. This is something we talk about at the retreat almost every single day. Did you know that being overweight is the number one reason for joint problems? Did you also know that one extra pound of body fat feels like approximately four pounds on your joints. So if you were even 10 pounds overweight, it would feel like you’re carrying around an extra 40 pounds on your joints. Your spine can also be affected by obesity because the the compression and a bending force that might cause back pain. The good thing is that if you carry to much weight on your body, you can benefit from the weight loss almost immediately. You’ll move more freely and your joints will thank you for it.
Because you want to maintain your muscle mass. Obesity can lead to impaired muscle function and in some cases damage to the muscle tissue itself.
To sustain your bone density. Being obese can lead to weak bones. Some research has shown that there is a correlation between reduced bone density relative to body weight and an increased risk of fractures.
So your hormones can function regularly. Getting to a healthy weight will help regulate hormone systems. Extra body fat disrupts a whole host of hormonal functions. Because of this, you may not sleep well, have brain fog, be irritable or feel lethargic. Weight loss can help you feel, think and live better right away.
Breathing is easier at a healthy body weight. Additional body weight and a higher body fat composition may decrease lung volumes. In addition, extra pounds might place added pressure on your lungs which could restrict breathing. This can affect you in your daily schedule as while you’re working out.
Your digestive system will function better. Being overweight can cause digestive issues like acid reflux, heartburn and GERD. In addition, cirrhosis and delayed stomach emptying can also be causes of having too much weight on your body.
Because tasting your food is a good thing. Eating poorly, which leads to weight gain, can actually alter your brain chemistry. Obesity means altered taste perceptions leading to eating greater quantities and eating more of the wrong foods. By losing weight you end up craving less high-sugar, high-fat food. You might even enjoy an extra veggie or two.
So your immune system will work properly again. Say that agin 10 times in a row! Your immune system is everything. Losing body fat can mean a healthier, more responsive, more robust immune system. And that means fewer colds, fewer infections, and a healthier daily life.
So you'll survive surgery and childbirth. For those who want to have children, here’s one more! Every surgery patient wants a safe and speedy recovery. Every mother wants a safe birth and a thriving, bouncing baby. Having a healthy range of body fat makes those happy outcomes much more likely.
BONUS: So your blood pressure will go down. This goes along with #1 and the risk of disease. High blood pressure can lead to other cardiovascular problems. I wanted to separate it out though because it’s such a common issue that many people don’t associate it with actual disease. High blood pressure can lead to blood clots and stroke. Having extra weight on your body places unnecessary stress on your veins and arteries. It can also lead to damage to your blood vessels, your heart, kidneys and other organs.
Think about your body and how it functions kind of like a computer or cell phone. When you ask a device to do too many things at once, it usually runs slower. Your body is the same way. Having to deal with many health problems at once is really tough. Losing weight can alleviate many of those problems, allowing your body the ability to complete the necessary repair and recovery that you need for optimal health.
LOSE WEIGHT TO HEAL your body
Have I convinced you that losing weight is important for heath yet? Extra fat on your body is inflammation, added pressure and a barrier that inhibits your body from being as healthy as it should and could be. Losing even just a few pounds can begin to improve your health. Bottom line — weight loss is good for your health and for the longevity of your life.
I feel like I just touched the tip of the iceberg when it comes to health and weight loss. It can be overwhelming though, so my aim was to provide some of the most important and relatable weight loss health benefits. Whether you choose to lose weight for looks or not, the benefits of improved health are an added benefit. There are so many ways to losing weight. Part of weight loss success is finding a program or a coach that works for you and your lifestyle. Our weight loss retreats are a great way to reset body and mind and jumpstart your healthy habits.
Our Fitness & Nutrition Services
You may not have the time to spend with us and we understand that. We’ve offered several other options below for you to reference as well.
Nutrition + Health Coaching (online or in person): Nutrition Coaching
Online Personal Training: Learn More or Sign Up
Whole30 (this is not our program but one that we recommend): Whole30
Balanced Eating Journal - Whether you’re doing your own program or one of ours, this balanced eating journal is perfect to help you set goals and actions steps to reaching your desired weight loss. It also helps you track other important factors like: daily energy and mood, supplements, workouts, water intake + daily goal (and more!).
Simple to download and get to work on your weight loss goals right away!
Learn More: Balanced Eating Journal
I hope this blog post gave you some good information on why losing weight is beneficial for your health. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to type them in the comment section below. We’ll be happy to respond.
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