You probably know that dieting and exercise are the keys to losing weight. However, finding an effective plan you’ll stick to is tricky on your own. Losing weight at a healthy and fast rate is best done when in the hands of a professional.
At Garrow Wellness Center, located in Sea Girt, New Jersey, we believe that each individual is unique and that each weight loss strategy should be custom-tailored to that individual using natural, proven methods. Here are 10 benefits of losing weight.
1. Boost your energy
The stresses of everyday life can wear you out. If you’re carrying extra weight, it takes more exertion to move your body.
2. Reduce your cancer risk
Some cancer risk factors, such as family history, are out of your control, but maintaining a healthy weight can reduce the likelihood of developing cancer. Excess body weight is linked to approximately 11% of cancers in women and 5% in men. Obesity increases your risk of cancers like breast cancer, liver cancer, and pancreatic cancer.
3. Enhance heart health
Your heart has a powerful job. When you lose weight, you reduce the pressure placed on your arteries when your heart pumps blood. As a result, this also lowers your blood pressure, cholesterol, and your risk for heart disease.
4. Raise your confidence
Are you not happy with the body you see in the mirror? If you answered yes, you might be suffering from low confidence.
A 2014 review analyzed 36 studies and determined that weight loss improves self-confidence. Other benefits noted include improved body image, self-worth, and overall well-being.
5. Stabilize blood sugar and diabetes
Do you have type 2 diabetes? Losing weight is one of the best ways to improve insulin sensitivity.
Adipose tissue is found at higher levels when you have excess fat. Adipose tissue is directly linked to inflammation which can inhibit your body’s natural insulin from managing blood sugar levels. Losing even as little as 5% of your body weight can help keep your insulin levels at healthy levels.
6. Get better sleep
Moderate to vigorous exercise can help you get better sleep by allowing you to fall asleep faster. Exercise encourages you to fall into a deeper sleep, allowing you to feel more rested throughout the day. Overweight people are also more likely to experience sleep apnea, a disorder that causes irregular breathing when you sleep. Obese patients with sleep apnea have found that losing just 10-15% of their weight has improved their sleep quality.
7. Reduce pain
Excess weight puts additional pressure on your joints. People who are overweight have an increased risk of developing arthritis and may experience daily pain from everyday tasks.
Losing just 10 pounds can take 40 pounds of pressure off your knees. When you slim down, you also make moving around easier, faster, and more enjoyable.
8. Improved mood
Not only do obese people experience physical health problems, but mental health issues, too. 43% of obese people are diagnosed with depression. But you don’t have to be obese to experience depression or to be in a poor mood.
When you exercise, your body releases endorphins which elicit feel-good feelings and a positive outlook on life. Even losing a small amount of weight can drastically improve your mood.
9. Improve your libido
Do you seem to never feel in the mood? Many people who are overweight or obese experience low sex drive. This may be due to high cholesterol levels which can inhibit blood flow to the genitals.
Not only does a low libido affect you, but your partner, too. Losing weight can improve your self-image to make you feel more attractive, but it also raises your sex drive. A 2012 study found a link between weight loss and enhanced libido in women.
10. Lower your risk of stroke
Stroke kills 140,000 Americans every year. Even if a stroke isn’t fatal, it can cause lifelong disability.
Excess weight is linked to high blood pressure, which places your arteries under constant stress and makes your blood harder to clot. People with a BMI over 30 are 2-3 times more likely to suffer a stroke than those with a normal BMI.
Don’t let excess weight rob you of your happiness. Start on a weight loss program today. Call 732-965-3133 to schedule your consultation or book online.