Anyone who has more than 10 pounds to lose knows how daunting of a task it is to step on the scale day after day to see if any improvements have been made in her weight loss efforts. Deep down, you know you need to drop the excess weight, but looking at the big picture is incredibly overwhelming. Suddenly losing that extra 5, 10, 50 or even 100 pounds seems an impossible feat. However, by changing your focus, you can change your mindset. Focus instead on the health benefits of shedding that excess baggage. Stop making weight loss all about your pants size and make it about healthy, longer living. As you begin to shed the excess weight, you also begin to shed unwanted health risks like high blood pressure and heart disease.
The Facts
Healthy weight loss occurs through a modest calorie restricted-diet, combined with a proper exercise regimen. To increase the speed of weight loss, more drastic measures would need to be taken but be aware of the health risks attributed to quick weight loss.
Ultimately, three factors are primarily responsible for rapid weight loss: calorie restriction, appetite suppressants and raising metabolism (fat burners).
Benefits
By losing just 10 percent of your weight, you make dramatic improvements to your health and attitude. All you have to do is start using up those stores of fat through calorie reduction and increased activities and workout sessions.
Sure, losing weight takes time, dedication and effort but think of all the health benefits you will gain.
For starters, simply by shedding 10 percent of your weight, you will gain:
• increased energy levels
• lowered cholesterol levels
• reduced blood pressure
• reduced aches, pains and inflammation
• improved mobility
• improved breathing
• the ability to sleep better and wake feeling more rested
• the prevention of angina or chest pain caused by decreased oxygen to the heart
• a decreased risk of sudden death from heart disease or stroke
• the prevention of type 2 diabetes
• improved blood sugar levels
• the alleviation of having to use some medications
• an increased self-esteem and confidence
Risk Factors
While quick weight loss does provide numerous benefits, losing weight too quickly can prove to be detrimental to your health. In order to get the excess weight to melt off, severe restrictions must be made to your diet. For rapid weight loss, people usually turn to crash diets. Unfortunately these diets wreak havoc upon your body.
While losing weight in a healthy manner provides you with a multitude of health benefits, crash dieting to achieve weight loss can be very dangerous for your body. There are numerous short-term and long-term side effects that accompany unhealthy weight loss such as:
• mental health problems
• nutritional deficiency
• vital organ damage (including heart, kidneys, liver and brain)
• osteoporosis
Time Frame
The amount of time it takes to shed those excess pounds depends wholly on the amount needing to be eliminated and your commitment to the program of your choice. Some programs will enable a person to lose 30 pounds in one month whereas others utilize a more paced method. Healthy weight loss occurs at a pace of 2 to 3 pounds per week but most quick weight loss fixes promote 5 pounds or more jumping ship each week.
Expert Insight
Not all weight loss leads to decreased health risks nor does it always lead to health benefits. When weight is lost through a healthy eating regimen and proper physical activity you will decrease health risks and improve your mental health; but, when weight loss occurs through long-term or frequent crash diets, numerous physical and mental side effects may occur like the ones mentioned above. Just remember to lose the weight through properly reduced calories and increased physical activity, as opposed to the severe caloric and nutritional restrictions of crash dieting.
By continuing to drop the excess weight til you are within your healthy weight range, you will significantly improve your health and your confidence. Plus, think of all the money you will potentially save on unnecessary medications, doctor visits and surgeries; now use it on something special for you. Shedding excess weight the right way leaves you healthier and happier.
