Here in the United States, the epidemic of obesity continues to be a widespread concern, as being overweight and even obese is prevalent among adults and children alike. In fact, only an estimated one third of the adult American population is at what is considered to be a healthy weight. Another one third of said population is medically classed as overweight, and another third is obese. For these people, weight loss is likely necessary to get back to living a healthy life.
After all, obesity comes with quite the wide array of health problems. It can put pressure on your joints over time, causing pain and problems there. It can lead to heart disease, high blood pressure, and even increases your risk for certain types of cancer. Obesity is so detrimental to your health that it has even been discovered that untreated and unchanged obesity is second behind smoking alone when it comes to preventable causes of death here in the United States.
And weight loss does not just happen overnight – and your weight loss journey, at the end of the day, should not merely be about appearance. Healthy weight loss requires both dietary adjustments and the inclusion of exercise into your weekly or even daily routine. To transform your life in the way that weight loss often allows requires grit and determination, and it is not always a fun journey to be on. But for nearly fifty five percent of American adults, a weight loss to some degree is the goal and is often a stepping stone towards living a healthier and longer life.
But because weight loss can be so challenging, it is not always a great idea to begin a weight loss journey on your own and with no support system. In fact, data backs this up, showing that up to seventy percent of all people feel that they need support and guidance while on a weight loss journey. And up to fifty percent of all people who try to lose weight on their own say that they fail because they feel they are not determined and focused enough without the help of another person there to guide them along and provide them with what they need.
If you have just begun your weight loss journey, it is well within your best interests to contact a nutritionist or other such person who is skilled and experienced in formulating weight loss programs for people of all different starting weights and weight backgrounds. A personal health coach can bring you the support that you need, helping you to formulate everything from a meal plan to a workout schedule. Having a diet plan set out for you will be hugely helpful when creating a weight loss plan, as it will keep from overeating and help to thoroughly educate you on what foods are good for as opposed to what foods will contribute to weight gain instead of weight loss.
Of course, exercise is an important part of any plan to get healthier and exercise and healthy eating must go hand in hand. Strengthening you body will improve its physical health to a considerable extent, and it’s important that you work to make your body healthy from the inside out. Of course, not everyone will be able to commit to high intensity work out routines. Fortunately, there are many work out plans that are relatively low stress, things like yoga and even pilates. Even just up on your feet and moving around each and every day will be helpful in improving your overall health and should not be discounted for how good it will be for you. Of course, pursuing higher intensity workouts is always an option, but it is ideal for you to have the guidance of a skilled professional if you choose to do so, as this will prevent you from becoming hurt or otherwise discouraged when you first begin the process.
Weight loss can be a difficult thing, there is certainly no doubt about this. But losing the weight that was putting you in an unhealthy place will do wonders for your life, both your overall physical health as well as your mental outlook and feelings.