Why Your Weight Matters

It’s true, your weight matters. It’s not just an issue of vanity – of looking good to others. It’s a matter of life and death or at the very least, good health versus poor health. It’s your choice. But I would bet that you probably don’t enjoy going to the doctor or taking medications. That’s why it just makes sense to take action to slim down.

How serious is obesity? It’s estimated that obesity causes 9,000 pre-mature deaths every year in the UK and 110,000 each year in the US. Obesity also reduces your life expectancy by 9 years – almost a decade! But look, it gets worse:

Obesity is the major cause of type 2 diabetes. In addition to diabetes, obesity is also linked to increased risk of high cholesterol, high blood pressure, gastroesophageal reflux disease, certain types of cancer, in addition to psychological and emotional problems, as well as quality of life changes. Having seen facts like this, doesn’t it make sense to get into shape?

The problem is, most people are focused on the immediate gratification that food provides. It provides pleasure and comfort for stressed out people. But what good is this temporary fix and comfort when you’re creating a bleak future for yourself?

This is why your weight matters. The key to slimming down is changing your lifestyle. You must embark upon a program of eating less, eating healthier and exercising more. It’s not easy and you won’t see instant results. You have to be patient and develop discipline. But after 21 days of taking positive action, you’ll develop new habits that’ll give you a nicer, slimmer shape. And to do this requires you to get your mindset right.

It’s also important to note that genetics do play a role in your weight as well. You may never look like the models on magazine covers, that’s probably an unrealistic weight goal for most people who are not in that line of work. What matters is that you feel better about your appearance but most importantly you improve your health. Your waistline telegraphs the condition of your health and this is why your weight matters. What follows are action steps you can take starting today to get yourself on the road to health.

• Cut back on calories by eating smaller portions and avoiding problem foods such as fried foods and most sweets.
• Get more exercise — you can do it in just three 10-minute-a-day bursts.
• You will be tempted to quit – but never give up. Always get back on your program so a healthy lifestyle becomes an ingrained habit.
• Eat more fresh fruits and vegetables.
• Do not engage in any radical diets or starvation plans they’ll likely cause you to end up binge eating. Pace yourself, start small and slow and build up.
• You may want to check with your doctor for advice on a weight loss program.