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Oh no. Am I going to get cancelled for saying that is ok to lose weight?!?!
As with anything, you know I say what I gotta say because the topic of weight loss is often surrounded by mixed emotions and conflicting advice. So, I am going to say it: It is OK to want to lose weight. You don't have to suffer in your body with this body positivity disguised as an unhealthy lifestyle. How did that even happen? I don't know where we got synonymous with worth and weight and wrapped it up in body positivity. Everyone is worthy, everyone is a beautiful person AND that doesn't have a damn thing to do with your size. Health, on the other hand, is a different ballgame and that's science.
I think at this point, we millennials are over the Seventeen Magazine conditioning that we have to have a flat stomach and eat tic-tacs for a proper summer body. Fuck that noise. That's not even close. I look at weight and health as: being able to be as active, as healthy, as agile as I can for as long as I can. I want to move, baby! Eat food, fuel your body, move, get outside, do shit that makes your happy. So, maybe it is ok to want to drop some weight not to wear a specific size, but rather so you can FEEL better, live better, have more energy and improve your overhaul health and therefore your whole life.
It will always be a personal choice to do what feels right for you to feel strong, healthy and confident and if it is getting active, losing weight, then great. I support it. And if not, you do you, boo! We are all allowed to live a life we want, in whatever way works for us.
So, here's where I am want to get into it.While there's a growing movement towards body positivity and self-acceptance, there's also acknowledgment that maintaining a healthy weight can significantly impact overall well-being. However, wanting to lose weight is often seen as taboo or even shameful.
Contrary to this belief, there are valid reasons why desiring weight loss can be entirely acceptable, especially when approached with a focus on health and well-being. Here are the top five reasons it's okay to want to lose weight and why pursuing it for the right reasons can lead to success:
Health Improvement:
One of the most valid reasons for wanting to lose weight is to improve overall health. Carrying excess weight can increase the risk of various health conditions, including heart disease, diabetes, and joint problems. By shedding extra pounds, individuals can often lower their blood pressure, improve cholesterol levels, and reduce the likelihood of developing chronic diseases. When weight loss is motivated by a desire for better health, it becomes a positive journey towards longevity and vitality.
Maintaining a healthy weight is crucial for overall well-being as it significantly impacts various aspects of physical health. Excess weight can lead to a higher risk of developing chronic conditions such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes, and certain types of cancer. By actively working towards weight loss, individuals can often improve their health outcomes and reduce the likelihood of developing these conditions.
For example:
Cardiovascular Health: Losing weight can help lower blood pressure and reduce cholesterol levels, thus decreasing the risk of heart disease and stroke.
Diabetes Management: For individuals with type 2 diabetes or at risk of developing it, weight loss can improve insulin sensitivity and blood sugar control, potentially leading to a reduction in medication needs or even remission of the condition.
Joint Health: Carrying excess weight puts added strain on joints, leading to conditions such as osteoarthritis. Weight loss can alleviate this strain, reduce pain, and improve mobility.
By focusing on health improvement as a primary motivation for weight loss, individuals are more likely to adopt sustainable lifestyle changes that promote long-term well-being.
Increased Confidence and Self-Esteem:
While it's crucial to embrace body diversity and love oneself at any size, it's also natural to desire feeling confident and comfortable in one's own skin. For many people, achieving a healthy weight can boost confidence and self-esteem, leading to a more fulfilling life.
While it's essential to cultivate self-love and acceptance regardless of body size, many individuals find that achieving a healthy weight positively impacts their confidence and self-esteem. Feeling comfortable in one's own skin can lead to a more positive self-image and a greater sense of empowerment.
Here's how weight loss can boost confidence:
Physical Appearance: Achieving weight loss goals often results in visible changes in physical appearance, such as a slimmer silhouette or toned muscles. These changes can lead to increased self-assurance and a greater willingness to engage in social activities or pursue personal goals.
Accomplishment: Setting and achieving weight loss goals requires dedication, perseverance, and self-discipline. Successfully reaching these milestones can boost self-esteem and provide a sense of accomplishment, reinforcing one's belief in their ability to overcome challenges.
Improved Body Functionality: As individuals shed excess weight, they may find that everyday tasks become easier to accomplish, leading to a sense of mastery and competence in their abilities
Enhanced Physical Performance:
Whether it's participating in sports, enjoying outdoor activities, or simply keeping up with daily tasks, being at a healthy weight can enhance physical performance and mobility. Excess weight can strain joints and muscles, making movement more challenging and less enjoyable. By shedding pounds through a balanced diet and regular exercise, individuals can experience increased energy levels, improved endurance, and greater flexibility. Setting weight loss goals to enhance physical performance can provide motivation and tangible benefits for everyday life.
Being at a healthy weight can significantly enhance physical performance and overall quality of life. Whether it's participating in sports, pursuing recreational activities, or simply keeping up with daily tasks, improved physical fitness can lead to increased energy levels, better endurance, and greater mobility. Carrying excess weight can make physical activities feel more challenging and exhausting. By shedding pounds, individuals often experience improved cardiovascular fitness, allowing them to engage in activities for longer durations without feeling fatigued. Additionally, excess weight can restrict joint movement and flexibility, making it difficult to perform certain movements or exercises. Weight loss can alleviate this restriction, leading to improved range of motion and greater ease of movement. Furthermore, maintaining a healthy weight reduces the risk of injuries during physical activities, as excess weight can put added strain on muscles and joints. By achieving a healthy weight, individuals can minimize the risk of strains, sprains, and other injuries, allowing them to enjoy physical activities safely.
By recognizing these reasons as valid motivations for wanting to lose weight, individuals can approach their journey with a positive mindset and a focus on self-improvement, ultimately leading to improved overall well-being and a higher quality of life.
Things to consider:
Endurance and Stamina: Carrying excess weight can make physical activities feel more challenging and exhausting. By shedding pounds, individuals often experience improved cardiovascular fitness, allowing them to engage in activities for longer durations without feeling fatigued.
Flexibility and Mobility: Excess weight can restrict joint movement and flexibility, making it difficult to perform certain movements or exercises. Weight loss can alleviate this restriction, leading to improved range of motion and greater ease of movement.
Injury Prevention: Maintaining a healthy weight reduces the risk of injuries during physical activities, as excess weight can put added strain on muscles and joints. By achieving a healthy weight, individuals can minimize the risk of strains, sprains, and other injuries, allowing them to enjoy physical activities safely. Becasue be real, I we trying to break a hip in our old age?!?!?
By focusing on enhanced physical performance as a motivation for weight loss, individuals can experience tangible benefits that positively impact their quality of life and overall well-being.
Improved Mental Health:
Mental health and physical health are closely intertwined, and weight loss can have a positive impact on both. While it's essential to prioritize mental well-being regardless of weight, many people find that achieving a healthy weight can alleviate symptoms of anxiety, depression, and stress. Exercise releases endorphins, which are natural mood lifters, while nutritious foods provide essential nutrients that support brain function. When weight loss is pursued for mental health reasons, individuals often experience improved mood, sharper cognitive abilities, and better stress management skills.
Improved mental health is another significant benefit of pursuing weight loss for healthy reasons. While physical health often takes the spotlight in discussions about weight loss, the impact on mental well-being should not be overlooked. Research has consistently shown that excess weight and obesity are associated with an increased risk of mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety, and low self-esteem.
When individuals carry excess weight, they may experience negative emotions such as frustration, shame, or guilt related to their body image. This can lead to a cycle of emotional eating, where food is used as a coping mechanism to deal with stress or negative feelings, further exacerbating the problem.
By actively working towards weight loss through a combination of healthy eating, regular exercise, and stress management techniques, individuals can experience significant improvements in their mental health. Exercise, in particular, has been shown to have powerful antidepressant effects, as it stimulates the release of endorphins, neurotransmitters that promote feelings of happiness and well-being. Engaging in physical activity also helps reduce stress, improve sleep quality, and boost self-esteem, all of which contribute to better mental health.
In addition to exercise, adopting a balanced diet rich in nutrients can also positively impact mental well-being. Certain foods, such as those high in omega-3 fatty acids, antioxidants, and B vitamins, have been shown to support brain health and improve mood. By nourishing the body with wholesome foods, individuals can fuel their brains and support optimal cognitive function, leading to improved overall mood and emotional well-being.
Furthermore, the act of setting and achieving weight loss goals can provide a sense of purpose and accomplishment, which in turn boosts self-esteem and confidence. As individuals make progress towards their weight loss goals, they gain a sense of control over their lives and their health, leading to greater feelings of empowerment and self-efficacy.
Overall, pursuing weight loss for the sake of improved mental health can lead to a virtuous cycle where positive changes in physical health translate into enhanced emotional well-being, and vice versa. By prioritizing self-care, adopting healthy habits, and seeking support when needed, individuals can achieve lasting improvements in both their physical and mental health, leading to a happier, more fulfilling life.
Long-Term Lifestyle Changes:
Finally, one of the most significant benefits of pursuing weight loss for healthy reasons is the potential for long-term lifestyle changes. Crash diets and quick-fix solutions may yield temporary results, but they often lead to unsustainable habits and eventual weight regain. By focusing on gradual, sustainable changes such as adopting a balanced diet, increasing physical activity, and practicing mindful eating, individuals can establish lifelong habits that support overall health and well-being. When weight loss is approached as a long-term lifestyle transformation rather than a short-term goal, success becomes not only achievable but also sustainable.
In conclusion, wanting to lose weight is entirely acceptable when driven by a desire for improved health, confidence, physical performance, mental well-being, and long-term lifestyle changes. By focusing on these reasons and approaching weight loss with a mindset of self-care and self-improvement, individuals can embark on a journey towards a healthier, happier life. It's essential to celebrate progress, embrace setbacks as learning opportunities, and prioritize overall well-being above arbitrary numbers on a scale. Ultimately, true success lies in finding balance, listening to one's body, and making choices that nourish both the body and the soul.
So, if anything I am saying in this pose is landing for you, then lets connect. I am not out here posting ass pics and talking to you about counting calories. I want to set you up to feel as good as you can for your whole damn life and have you do it in a way that works for you.
You can learn more about my 90 day SHRED program: workouts to help you build muscle, shred fat and have you build confidence inside and out using the Sweat Remix signature #ZenRageHeal process. Join me for 90 days with specialized live workouts, weekly programming and all the community support you need to start taking action on not just your fitness goals, but being the best, most badass you possible.
You can join NOW until March 20 and get $20 off a month using the code SHRED at checkout. You can learn more HERE or shoot me an email and We can hop on a call.
Whatever you want to do to feel good in your life is up to you and if I have something that can help, then it would be my honor!
xo,
Angela
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