Many individuals have considered losing weight at some point in their lives but have fallen short of actually attempting to do so. The reason why so many people think about it so much is that they know deep down that carrying that extra weight is not good for their health. However, simply knowing that being overweight is harmful is not enough to motivate many people to take action. Similar to wanting to quit smoking, knowledge of its detrimental effects is often not enough to get people to quit. However, having a strong reason to quit, such as a doctor’s warning that failure to quit may lead to losing a lung next year, might push them to take action.
Losing weight is similar to quitting smoking, the more compelling reasons you have to do it, the more likely you are to take action and make it happen. If you have something driving your motivation besides just knowing that it is bad for you, you are also more likely to maintain your weight loss goal once you achieve it.
First and foremost, losing weight means getting healthier. Shedding those extra pounds significantly reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, high blood pressure, diabetes, and joint stress, all of which are associated with being overweight. By reducing these risks, you increase your chances of being around to see your children grow up and enjoy your grandchildren. That alone is reason enough to lose weight.
Another compelling reason to consider losing weight is that you will feel better. As you begin to shed some of those extra pounds, you will notice an increase in your energy levels. Carrying 20 extra pounds is akin to carrying a 20-pound sack of potatoes on your shoulders all day. Excess body fat is nothing but an extra burden to carry around with you every day, and it drains your energy. Consequently, overweight individuals tend to be less active, which leads to more fat accumulation. As this cycle continues, they become even less active, leading to obesity.
As a nice side benefit, losing weight will make you look better, and who doesn’t want to look better? Every one of us has a vision of what we want to look like, and most people are not entirely satisfied with the way they look. They will always find something they don’t like about themselves and wish they could change. For people who are overweight, this can be a great motivator to lose weight. A recent study found that as early as age 5, girls who had higher body weights had lower self-esteem than girls with normal body weight.
When a person loses weight, the typical responses from others who know that person are, “You look good,” or “You’ve lost weight, haven’t you?” Think about how you would feel when you’ve lost enough weight to fit into that dress or pair of pants you wore in high school. Looking better is undoubtedly an excellent reason to lose weight, but it should not be the only one.
When you have at least a few compelling reasons to lose weight, it will be much easier to motivate yourself to get started and stick with it. After all, your health, well-being, and self-esteem are all excellent reasons to get rid of those extra pounds and keep them off for good.
SUMMARY
Losing weight is not just about what you lose, but also about what you gain. When people focus solely on losing weight, they may become fixated on the number on the scale and overlook the other benefits of a healthy lifestyle. Instead, it is important to focus on the positive changes that come with weight loss, such as increased energy, improved mood, better sleep, and reduced risk of chronic diseases. By adopting healthy habits like regular exercise and a balanced diet, people can improve their overall health and well-being, and the weight loss will follow as a natural result. [1]
