Don't Just Lose Weight to 'Look Good'

Most individuals use the imagery of sex appeal, and good looks as an initial motivator to jump start their weight loss routine. But, health and longevity should be the true consistent motivators. The quest and desire of achieving low body fat should be rooted in more that just the physical rewards. Let's look at some facts....



 -The human body consists of different lean tissues such as muscle, bone, and organs that are metabolically active and adipose tissues such as fat that are less active.
As per medical studies, the healthiest percentage of body fat for males is five percent, whereas for females it is twelve percent. However statistics indicate that on average males have 15 to 18 percent body fat and women have 22 to 25 percent.
Low body fat does not determine whether a person is overweight or underweight. A professional bodybuilder may be overweight according to his height, but his body has very little fat and most the extra weight is in lean muscles.
On the other hand, other professional athletes such as marathon runners are normally underweight and have very little percentage of body fat. In both the cases, the body fat is more or less the same, but one is overweight and the other is underweight, which proves that body fat does not determine the obesity or leanness of an individual.
Although hereditary factors do affect the composition of body fat in an individual, it is often a combination of hereditary factors and lifestyle. After the age of sixteen body fat composition changes are mostly due to changes in fat cell size and not due to the number of fat cells.


Multiple benefits from having low body fat
The most prominent health benefit derived from a low body fat percentage is probably the reduced risk of heart problems that may arise due to clogged arteries or veins. Some individuals may enjoy good health even after having a high body fat percentage, but when it comes to the general population, statistics clearly reveal that most of the people suffering from heart problems have a higher percentage of body fat.

Studies have shown that people with more fat around their abdomen are more likely to suffer from Type 2 Diabetes than those with lesser body fat around the waist.
Low body fat also reduces the risk of various types of cancers such as uterine cancer, cancer of the gallbladder, cervical cancer, ovarian cancer, and colon cancer in females. In males, chances of colon cancer, prostate cancer, and cancer of the rectum are reduced.
Although this theory has been applicable in many cases, it is still being debated, as the real causes of cancer have not yet been conclusively deduced.


Get a better nights sleep with low body fat?
Low body fat is associated with a reduced risk of Sleep Apnea, which can cause shortness of breath and even lead to heart attacks in some cases. It also reduces the risk of developing Osteoarthritis, which is common among the elderly and affects the joints in knees, hips and lower back.
If you are already suffering from Gout, a disease affecting the joints caused due to high levels of uric acid in the blood, reducing your percentage of body fat can help in reducing the pain and suffering.
The occurrence of gallbladder diseases and gallstones is also rare among people with low body fat. Considering the benefits of low body fat, its time to get started with the exercise regimes that you can maintain for life.

Stick to Your Weight Loss Plan

Just accept it. Losing weight takes time. And, one of the biggest reasons diets fail is because it becomes difficult to stick to a weight loss plan for long enough to see it succeed.
But, if you follow these tips, you’ll find it easier to stick with your weight loss plan for the long run.


5 Tips to Help You Stay on Your Weight Loss Plan
Be Prepared
We often overeat or eat the wrong things when we have to eat “on the fly”, because we often find it difficult to find good choices, or we get overwhelmed by the temptation of our favorite bad choices.
Preparing for meals ahead of time by deciding what you’ll eat and having the right foods on hand can keep you on track with your weight loss plan.

Eat at Home
Meals prepared in restaurants contain about 30% more calories than the same meal prepared at home. So, if you can eat most of your meals at home, you’ll be ahead of the game.
When you do eat out, decide in advance what you’ll order and don’t be swayed by other items on the menu. And, remember portion control when eating out. Most restaurants serve you the equivalent of two to three real portions.


Schedule Exercise
Exercise is a key component of weight loss. And, let’s face it; exercise probably isn’t your favorite thing or you wouldn’t be overweight in the first place.
So, schedule your exercise sessions just like you would any other appointment with the doctor or a business associate. This makes it much easier to stick with exercise on a busy schedule. And, by all means find an exercise that’s fun, since you’re much more likely to keep doing it if you like it.

Throw Out The Bad Stuff
Is ice cream your weakness? Then make sure there’s no ice cream in the house so that you can’t be tempted. One of the most important aspects of sticking to a weight loss plan is setting yourself up for success – not for failure.

Write Down What You Eat
Studies have shown that people who record what they eat tend to eat fewer calories in a day, regardless of the weight loss plan they choose. The act of writing down what you eat makes sure that you’re really aware of what you’re putting in your mouth. You’ll learn to avoid eating things because you have to admit you ate it - at least to your weight loss journal.
Remember that weight loss is a long term project for most people. Even after you’ve lost the weight, remembering these tips will help you keep the weight off. After all, a weight loss plan isn’t so much a diet as a way of living.