Reasons to Lose Weight

Everyone has their reasons why they want to lose weight.  You want to feel good about yourself, have more energy, keep up with your kids, fit into those jeans from high school, or maybe show off your body at your high school reunion.   These are all motivation factors to slim up.

However, the most important reason to lose weight is your health!  Over 100 million adults in the U.S. are overweight.  Over 60 million are classified as obese.

Being overweight or obese increases your risk of the following health conditions and diseases:

  • Heart disease
  • High blood pressure
  • High cholesterol
  • Stroke
  • Type 2 diabetes
  • Arthritis
  • Asthma
  • Sleep apnea
  • Certain cancers (Endometrial, colon, prostate, and breast)

Heart Disease

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States.  Having high blood pressure (hypertension), high cholesterol, and diabetes are major risk factors for heart disease.

  • High blood pressure – Optimal blood pressure readings are less than 120/80.  Blood pressure readings between 120/80 and 139/89 indicate prehypertension.  (This means that unless you change your lifestyle, you are likely to develop hypertension in the future).  If you have blood pressure  at 140/90 and higher, that is high blood pressure (hypertension).
  • High cholesterol – There are 4 cholesterol measurements that you need to look at.  Total cholesterol, LDL (bad) cholesterol, HDL (good) cholesterol, and triglycerides.   Optimal total cholesterol should be less than 200.  LDL should be less than 100.  HDL should be higher than 60.  Triglycerides should be less than 150. 
  • Type 2 Diabetes – According to the American Diabetes Association, 2 out of 3 people with diabetes will die from heart disease and stroke.  Having diabetes also puts you at risk for kidney disease, blindness, nerve damage and skin complicatons.

All three of these conditions have something in common.  These are the 3 biggest risk factors for heart disease.  Preventing these health problems will lower your risk for heart disease.  How do you do that? 

  1. Maintain a healthy weight.
  2. Eat healthy.
  3. Regular exercise.

Losing just 5%-10% of your body weight may lower your risk.  That’s just 10-20 pounds on a 200 pound person.  You can do that!  And, once you start losing, you will start to feel and look good, and you won’t stop there. 

We all want to lose weight, but you need to be motivated.  Your health should be enough motivation.  Do you want to die at a young age?  Do you want to have health problem after health problem as you get older?  Do you want to spend thouands of dollars on medical care and medicines?   

Stop procrastinating and get started.  Get your whole family involved, including your children.  Start eating more meals at home, eat healthy meals, and get moving.  Just walk, or play games with your kids.  Just get some activity each day.

The Fat Loss 4 Idiots diet is a great way to get you started on your weight loss.  It is very easy to follow and will help you learn what types of foods you should be eating.  Read more about Fat Loss 4 Idiots.

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