Before we explore the benefits of losing excess weight, I'll share my personal experience which might not be the story of the year, but can be inspiring for weight loss enthusiasts.
I had been in this exact same situation as most overweight people are, not many years ago. When I reached the ripe age of 32, my weight increased dramatically because I stopped participating in sports, particularly rugby league which I had been playing since I was 15. At 32 I had entered University, and the demanding schedules of academic life kept me too busy to even think about getting out there for sports or anything else. Completely focused on my studies, little did I notice the weight gain that was occurring slowly steadily.
I am 182cm tall and with a weight of 110kg and increasing, my frame was carrying more than it was built for.
I started to feel discomfort even when sitting on a chair for 30 minutes. My massive weight was bearing down on me. I felt heavy and puffed out when moving around. My knees started swelling when I walked long distances or went for walks that took more than 30 minutes. And I felt that my joints, especially the knees were being affected by my excessive weight. I knew I had to lose weight or else I'd soon end up in a wheelchair.
Still I didn't seriously think about losing weight. Then at 35 I developed Gout. It's a condition where the toes and feet swell painfully. Gout happens when you have excessive acid buildup in your blood. At the worst stages of this condition I couldn't walk or even stand unaided. I had to walk with crutches. But before the crutches I literally crawled on my hands and feet to go to the bathroom. It was scary as hell since I was still young and couldn't bear to see my peers enjoying their lives while I was down with Gout.
Folks kept telling me that I was a victim of sorcery and witchcraft because of the Gout. In my area it was common for people to think that way especially when someone developed a rare disorder or health condition. They advised me to seek a traditional witchdoctor who would be able to stop the spell or black magic that was affecting me. And the funny thing is I almost believed it.
It was then that I realized I had no choice but to do something about it. I considered several options and then decided to try if losing some weight would help.
After some medication reduced the swelling on my feet, I started my weight loss journey. I went for long walks, swam in the pool and did aerobics. All of these I did consistently.
A new diet plan also complimented my weight loss plan and finally now I weigh 80 kilos and am happy I started my weight loss journey. That journey is not over yet, as I have to regularly stick to my fitness routines to stay healthy.
From my experience, the hardest thing to do was taking the first step in my journey. But once I took that first step, I became confident of what I wanted to do. I kept track of my progress through my exercise routines, diet plans and stayed motivated and focused as I knew that one day I would get there.
Losing weight is one of the best things you could do to make life enjoyable by staying healthy and fit.
The Benefits of Maintaining A Healthy Weight
There are many benefits of maintaining a healthy weight. Not only does it improve the quality of life, it also boosts one’s quantity of life. Some of the main benefits of maintaining a healthy weight are:
- Discomfort Relief
- Healthier Heart
- Reduces Risk of Diabetes
- Prevent Osteoarthritis
- Prevent Gout
Discomfort Relief
When you have to carry extra pounds, your active lifestyle will also be affected. Even losing 5-10% of your weight will help in reducing various aches as well as pains that are associated with not being active. The extra pounds of your body may cause more strains on the bones, muscles, and joints, which will cause them to function harder than normal just to move around. But, if you have just the right body weight or in other words, less weight, your body will be able to work efficiently and will avoid damage, which can hinder a person to do his or her daily activities successfully.
Healthier Heart
If you are overweight, your heart might not be able to do its work effectively even if you are resting. But, if you maintain a healthy weight, the amount of blood that is going to various vital organs of the body will increase, which will also allow your heart to do its job efficiently. Maintaining a healthy weight also decreases strains on the heart and reduces one’s risk of heart attack, angina, and high blood pressure.
Reduces Risk of Diabetes
Some research and studies have shown that overweight people are at greater risk to suffer from Diabetes Type II. This is a another strain of the Diabetes condition. Typically Diabetes Type II occurs in people who are overweight amongst others.
If you have been already diagnosed with this medical condition, it is important to lose weight as this will allow you to control it in a better way. If you don’t have this condition, maintaining a healthy weight will reduce the risks of Diabetes.
Cancer Avoidance Experts said that weight loss plays a huge role to get rid of cancer. Losing weight will not just prevent cancer development, but also this can lessen the possibility of developing various types of cancer that are known nowadays. According to some studies, overweight women are more likely prone to gallbladder, breast, uterine, colon, cervical, and ovary cancer while overweight men may develop prostate, rectal, and colon cancer.
Prevent Osteoarthritis
Osteoarthritis is a condition in which patients suffer from joint paints. People who are overweight are at risk of developing this condition. However, you can avoid this by maintaining a healthy weight, thereby preventing it easily before it will start. Along with a good exercise and a healthy diet, the body joints will carry reduced weight and will prevent damage over time.
Prevent Gout
Gout is a condition that commonly affects overweight people due to excessive acid buildup in the body.
The most common signs and symptoms of Gout are; a painful and swelling toes and feet. When one foot gets better, the other foot becomes affected.
Maintaining a healthy weight can greatly reduce the chances of developing Gout. Below is a table showing the healthy weight and height ratios for men and women.
Adult Height and Weight ratios for Men and Women
Conclusion
These are only some of the numerous benefits of maintaining a healthy body weight. So, if you want to live healthier, and enjoy the quality and quantity of life, rather than getting bogged down by weight related diseases which you could have easily avoided but didn't, because of your own laziness, or some other manageable problem. Don't procrastinate, keep a positive mindset, stay motivated and focused, and start losing weight now. You'll be glad that you made the right decision.
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