Losing weight isn’t easy and it certainly takes planning, dedication, and commitment. Often times people get overwhelmed by looking at the bigger picture or focusing on how much total weight they have to lose. The best approach to sensible weight loss is tackling it into small steps, especially if there is a large amount of weight to lose. Focus on losing just 5%-10% of your body weight at time. Weight loss is a journey and many people envision only the destination which can sometimes get discouraging. So instead of thinking of the 50 or 100 pounds to lose, work towards just losing the first 10 pounds. That goal might seem small to some, but a 10-pound weight loss actually provides significant health improvements. Here are 5 benefits of shedding just 5-10% of your body weight.
1) Reduction in Joint Pain
You don’t have to lose 50, 60, or 70 pounds of weight for your joints to benefit. Losing even a modest amount of weight will remove a significant amount of stress and pressure off of your joints. Also, excess weight causes inflammation which damages joints as well. Protect your joints by shedding the extra weight now to reduce your chances of arthritis later.
2) Improvement in Blood Pressure
Carrying around excess weight can make your heart work harder and makes blood push more forcefully against the walls of your arteries, which is what we call blood pressure. By losing even 5% of body weight we can lower that pressure and reduce the amount of work the heart has to do in order to circulate blood throughout the body.
3) Better Sleep
Because people who are overweight tend to have more fat surrounding the back of their throat, this can increase their chances of developing a condition called obstructive sleep apnea. This happens when your airway for breathing is blocked and can result in a number of health problems. Losing even a small amount of weight helps with improving breathing during sleep.
4) Reducing Inflammation
Excess fat cells in the body can produce chemicals that promotes inflammation. Inflammation can increase the risk of cardiovascular complications, stroke, diabetes, and even cancer. Losing weight, even a small amount, decreases the overall amount of inflammation in the body.
5) More Sensitivity to Insulin
Insulin is a hormone that allows glucose, or sugar, to be used by the cells in the body, which helps control blood sugar levels. The more fat there is in the body, the less sensitive it becomes to insulin, a condition known as insulin resistance. When a person becomes insulin resistant, their body requires more and more insulin for sugar to be used by their cells to function. As a result, the body will struggle to maintain normal blood sugar levels. Less sugar will be used up by the actual cells and more will just be sitting blood causing elevated blood sugars which can eventually lead to diabetes and other complications. Losing weight, especially combined with exercise, improves the body’s sensitivity to insulin so it can be used efficiently by the body.
At Restored Health we can help you with your weight loss goals. Book now (link ‘book now” to portal) to be on your way to improved health, increased energy, and a better body.
