Lose 10% of Your Body Weight for Improved Health and Wellness
This article is by Eleanor McGinnis, a freelance writer for Advance Me Inc., America’s leading provider of the merchant cash advance – an alternative to traditional, collateral based bank loans, for small-medium sized businesses.
For anyone who is overweight or obese, there are some excellent reasons to lose 10 percent of your body weight.
While 10 percent may seem negligible, especially if you don’t have much to lose, even losing this seemingly small amount can impact your health in important ways.
The reality is, most people who are trying to lose weight set goals for themselves that are too drastic, and being unrealistic can mean that you’re setting yourself up for failure.
For great results, a 10 percent goal is realistic and very achievable for almost anyone. Also, when you easily meet or exceed it, you’ll only be that much more positive and encouraged to continue.
The most compelling reasons to lose weight can be different for each person. Some will be focused on improved health while others will be focused on improved appearance, or other reasons.
Some of the most important health related reasons are:
Decreased risk of heart disease, stroke and diabetes –
Heart disease is the most lethal killer in the United States according to the Centers for Disease Control. Being overweight – especially into the range known as obesity – is a primary risk factor for developing heart disease. Stroke and diabetes enter the list at third and fifth place respectively, and they both also name obesity as a leading risk factor for falling victim to them.
Decreased risk of high blood pressure (hypertension) –
Known as the “silent killer” due to it’s lack of obvious symptoms, hypertension also lists obesity as a primary risk factor. Suffering from hypertension also increases the risk of developing the conditions listed under number one, so avoiding it is especially important.
Increased energy and ease of movement –
Removing extra weight provides almost instant improvement in these areas. For individuals who have been overweight for quite some time, it can be particularly noticeable and enjoyable.
Improved mental health and quality of life –
Reported data indicates that those who lose weight and keep it off enjoy better, more positive moods, reduced symptoms of depression, more self-confidence and an overall better quality of life.
Of course, implementing new weight loss strategies can be difficult, and getting started is often half the battle so here are some tips to help you out –
First off, think portion control.
Losing weight, and managing weight loss, means that you can’t always eat as much as you want of any given food, but, portion control is a learned skill, so once you’ve mastered it, you can include most all of your favorite foods in your diet. There’s no need to give up things that are often considered “no-no” foods, if you utilize the principles of portion control.
Don’t approach weight loss as a sprint, but as a marathon.
Keep in mind that you’re learning about yourself. Things such as how many calories you can consume and still lose, and how active you need to be in the beginning. Developing new, healthy habits and lifelong skills will help you not only with losing weight, but also with maintenance.
Make it one of your primary goals to understand the difference between stomach hunger versus mouth hunger, or, hunger eating versus non-hunger eating. This is an important skill to develop as it will help you to do battle with issues such as cravings and emotional eating.
Try to focus on each new day and appreciate it for what it is – a new beginning.
Don’t beat yourself up if you stumble along the path, and don’t give up if you falter. Begin each day with resolve, believe in yourself, and you will reach your goals!
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Thanks Karla for posting this article about weight loss. Just the motivation and information I needed. So often we forget to take each day as new beginning.
To healthy lifestyle,
alpna