After months and months of pounding the pavement, pumping iron, and saying no to happy hour, you've finally lost that stubborn gut. Congrats! We're sure you feel more confident about your appearanceand just feel better period.
Dropping weight doesn't come easy (beer and wings on a Sunday afternoon just feels so right!) but it does have some serious benefits, many which you won't see coming.Better sex and brighter skin are just the beginning...
Get rid of your fat pants for good, because once you get a hold of these bonus perks of weight loss, theres no going back.
Snoozing probably helped you lose more weight in the first place, but as a result of your weight loss youll actually get better quality sleep now. Research shows that losing 5% of your bodyweight can help you sleep better and longer throughout the night. Whats more, ridding your body of excess fat can also help alleviate sleep apnea and snoring.
When you think of hormones, your teenage years may spring to mind, but they play a role in more than just your burgeoning sex drive during puberty. Your thyroid gland makes and releases two very important hormones which regulate your metabolism and can also affect muscle strength among other things. When you rid your body of excess fat your hormones steady and as a result its easier for you to maintain or even further your weight loss, saysIsabel Smith, M.S., R.D., C.D.N., registered dietitian and founder of Isabel Smith Nutrition.
Too tired? Not anymore. Suddenly you dont have to think twice about getting in the mood, and you may find yourself consciously holding yourself back from going for round threehey, youve got to get some sleep. According to experts, weight loss has been linked to boosted testosterone levels and an increased libido, and dropping just 10lbs is enough to stimulate sex hormones. Whats more, fitting in your workout every morning also increases blood flow to the pelvic area, further boosting your drive.
Between the energy boost you get from losing weight and the uptick in stamina from hours spent at the gym, if you really wanted to go all night you could. Increased physical fitness has been associated with greater satisfaction in the bedroom, according to Smith. So not only do you want to get busy more often, but the actual act itself is more enjoyable for both you and your partner.
Committing to the gym may have pushed your body to the place it is now, but it also enhanced your mental fitness. Working out releases feel-good chemicals called endorphins. Endorphins are responsible for that high you feel post-workout. They interact with the receptors in your brain, reducing your perception of pain, and deliver a positive feeling in the body similar to that of morphine.
Your joints already take a beating from everyday wear and tearextra weight hanging around on your midsection only makes matters worse. Simply put, the less you weigh the less your skeletal frame and joints have to support, which translates into less joint pain.
You may have started your healthy routine with the sole intention of slimming down, but an added bonus of your weight-loss journey surfaces in the form of glowing skin. You can attribute your new complexion to the uptick in nutrients from all those fruits and veggies youre likely eating and also to all that sweat literally pushing the junk out of your pores, encouraging greater detoxification, per Smith. Just make sure to wash your face regularly after your cardio session to avoid unwanted acne and clogged pores.
If you checked off losing weight from your to-do list, youve already got one less thing to stress about. Really though, the things you do to lose weighteating a balanced diet, exercising consistently, and getting lots of sleepare also some of the greatest ways to alleviate stress and anxiety.
Who needs to spend $20 on delivery minimums and $10 a glass on drinks out at the bar? Not you. By cooking more and drinking less, not only are you inching closer and closer to your weight-loss goals, but you're saving money to boot. Its simple math, really. The less you eat, the less you spend on food.
With your pants size shrinking, you can also expect your social circle to grow in number. Youve already become more active by pursuing greater fitness, and in doing so you put yourself in more social situationshey, CrossFit. As a result of participating in more than just a Netflix marathon on your couch, you meet more people and your social calendar grows. Furthermore, the confidence you gain from losing weight also makes you want to be more social and gives you the push to do so.
Ever feel inspired (or guilty) by your partners incessant need to wake up at 5 a.m. to hit the gym and their refusal to grab chips or pasta when they run to the store? Well if you havent, then your partner may be the one feeling that push from you simply by bearing witness to your own transformation. If youve been successful at losing weight and continue to live a healthier lifestyle, chances are your significant other will follow suit, says Smith. If not, perhaps your parents, siblings, or close friends will feel motivated to whip their own butt into gear.
Forget the vitamin C packets, nothing strengthens your immune system better than leading a healthy lifestyle. Getting your eight hours every night, fueling your body with fresh produce andlean protein, and working up a sweat will pump your immunity up far better than sipping on an orange, fizzy drink could.
For once you might actually remember your sisters birthday! Weight-loss benefits go far beyond the physical. Losing weight and being more active boosts brainpower quite a bit. Research has shown that your memory gets sharper when total bodyweight has been reduced. So not only will you be happier all the timeremember, endorphins!youll also remember that thing you really needed to do today, tomorrow, and the next.
The ultimate perk of peeling off the pounds is that behind closed doors youre going to look pretty damn good. However, since we all cantor shouldntwalk around in our birthday suits all the time, its a good thing your wardrobe will reap the benefits of your weight loss, too. Losing weight often gives people the confidence to not only experiment more with style, but want to show off their weight loss with outfits that display the physique they worked so hard to get.
Did you really just say no to those Doritos? It might feel weird at first, but as a result of improving your dietary choices and flexing your willpower consistently, youll find that you dont even crave the junk any more (at least not as often).
Unless youre on a meal delivery plan, youre going to have to cook for yourself if you want to slim down. Ordering in and eating out just wont get you there, and you know that. Getting into the habit of buying groceries every week, planning and preparing healthy meals, and experimenting with different flavor and food combinations youre bound to up your kitchen skills. (Though it might take a while to reach Top Chef status.)
In the kitchen, in the bedroom, and in everyday life. One of the beautiful side effects of weight loss is that youll undoubtedly experience a boost in self-confidence. The funny thing about confidence is that it pushes you to do more and try more.
When you put a microscope to your diet, you really become more in tune to what youre eating over time. This mindfulness works not only to help you to lose the weight, but even after youve lost it you continue to pay more attention to the flavors and textures of your meals. Think to those times you spend mindlessly eating on the couchdoes the food actually taste that good? Do you even remember? When you take the time to plan and prepare fresh, home-cooked meals you're more aware and appreciative of the food on your plateyou literally savor the flavor.
If you kick those stubborn 10lbs, youre not the only one who will be rejoicing. Carrying around excess bodyweight can put you at greater risk for a number of health issues from diabetes to high blood pressure. As you would imagine, slimming down has the adverse effect, making your annual check-ups with your doc a lot less painful.
One can probably assume that the healthier you are, the less medicine you need. It actually works that way (in some cases). Not only does exercise and clean eating strengthen your immune system and support overall body functioning, but actually losing weight decreases your risk for health problems and may also get you to a place where you wont need to rely on certain prescription meds anymore. Of course, give your doc a call before you start self-prescribing (or un-presecribing).
Losing weight and getting fit takes planning. When you form a routine around preparing healthy meals and fitting in daily workouts, it tends to flow over into other areas of your life.
Dont laugh: a side effect of losing weightand doing what it takes to get thereis respecting your body more. It isnt easy for anyone to lose weight. It takes discipline and persistence. Once youve gone through it yourself, you come out the other end with a whole new outlook and respect for others trying to do the same. You also have a new appreciation for what your body endures day in and day out.
Even the fittest get winded walking up and down stairs to the subway. If you live in a big city, you know the struggle all too well. If youre lucky enough to avoid crowded subway trains, standing for an hour on the train or sitting in traffic forever isnt fun either, but youre body will feel better having to endure it when youve shed a few extra pounds. After youve kicked the weight, youll suddenly realize your trek to and from work is a tad more bearable.
For some, carrying excess weight can exacerbate allergy symptoms. Added weight can strain your respiratory system, so any trouble you experience breathing due to allergies will only aggravate your symptoms further. Lose the weight and you might actually be able to breath a bit more clearly when allergy season hits, says Smith.
Really. If you had to choose between a couch potato who chows down on chips and soda or an active, mindful eater, who would you guess might outlive the other? From the healthier lifestyle habits associated with weight loss to the actual physical benefits of carrying less weight, you put yourself in a position to live a healthier, longer life.
Read more:
25 Surprising Benefits of Weight Loss - Men's Fitness
