Here at Contemporary Health Center, our mission is to help you look and feel your best. While we offer a variety of products and services to help achieve that mission, much of your general health and wellness depends on you. From diet and exercise to products and doctor visits, some of the most important contributing factors to your well-being depend on your decision to live a healthy lifestyle.
It’s no secret that 21st-Century culture isn’t as health-conscious as in years past. One of the biggest indicators of our societal health is the rapid rise we’ve seen in obesity rates. Being overweight or obese not only carries physical health issues, but it can take a significant emotional toll as well. Getting to and maintaining a healthy body weight can impact your life in so many ways. Below are a few benefits of making your body weight a health priority.
Relieve Discomfort
Extra weight on your joints, muscles and bones can not only lead to damage but can impact your overall comfort level as well. These parts of your body can hurt or ache from carrying around extra weight and because of that, the likelihood of keeping an active lifestyle drops.
This is a cycle that can be hard to break – you’re overweight from not moving around enough, but you can’t move around enough because you’re overweight. The good news is this: you can do something about it! Remember that little exercise is better than no exercise. An active lifestyle doesn’t mean running marathons, it means starting where you are and making small changes to your routine that will grow into lifestyle change.
Try walking a few extra steps a day. If you have access to a pool, take a 20 minute swim a couple times a week. As you begin to implement more physical activity, your body will show it! Not only will you feel less strain on your joints and muscles, you’ll be able to do more!
Lower Your Risk for Disease
There are countless studies linking the condition of being overweight or obese to a higher risk for Type II Diabetes. The good news is, even if you’ve already been diagnosed, losing weight may help you control your diabetes. If you’ve not been diagnosed, moving toward a healthy body weight may help you avoid developing diabetes all together.
But diabetes isn’t the only condition linked to obesity. Heart disease, certain types of cancer and even osteoarthritis can be influenced or triggered by a higher body weight. Now, that’s not to say that losing weight will totally prevent any of these conditions, but maintaining a healthy weight will enable your body to better fight the triggers and onset of controllable diseases.
In addition to regular visits to your health professional, a weight journal is a great way to keep track of the impact your weight loss is having on your life. Write down your starting weight and also a good goal weight. Make a plan to get there by implementing a smart diet, an exercise regiment and most of all a positive attitude. Add notes to your journal every day. Write about the effects of switching to certain foods, trying new exercise plans or even about changes you’re feeling in your body and in your ability to get around.
Finding Happy
An equally documented but less talked-about factor of obesity is the emotional toll. People who suffer from obesity develop anxiety, depression, and even social fears. Sometimes, it’s a daily battle just to get out of bed. And while it’s easy to judge a person for their looks or for their condition, it’s important to remember that we’re talking about people – real people with real feelings, thoughts and ideas.
Although it’s simply not fair to make snap decisions about someone based upon their conditions or struggles, it happens all the time. If you’re suffering an emotional toll because of obesity – you’re not alone.
Your physical health affects your emotional health. As you begin to think a plan to move toward a healthy weight, it can seem like an overwhelming task. Just as we said above, however, even small changes can have big effects. Choose a positive attitude whenever possible and think long-term in your goals. If you don’t see the effects of your work right away – it’s okay! Remember that progress is more important than perfection.
To bring this back around, a sensible diet, performing regular exercise and advice from your health professional are great ways to move toward a healthier you. But the transformation begins with a single thought – you CAN do this. Start where you are, use what you have and do all you can!
