Do You Really Need to Shed Those Pounds?

We are bombarded by so many images from the media — images that may or may not reflect reality. While many people do care about the way they look, unrealistic standards set by the media may warp our view of what is normal and what is not. Many people may wrongly believe they need to lose weight in order to keep up with the Joneses. Do you really need to shed those pounds? To find out, read on.

Several different factors should be considered when determining whether or not you should lose weight. Do you trust your own judgment? Does the reflection in the mirror tell you that your body could benefit from a drop in pounds? You may also want to consider asking family, friends, or a very objective third-party to take a good look at you and give you their opinion. Take into consideration the amount of time you’ll be able to put into your weight loss efforts, as you’ll want to make sure that activities such as diet and exercise are beneficial additions to your life and not an excessive burden.

Consider accounting for such factors as your race, height, and physical abilities or disabilities. For example, Caucasian and Asian women tend to have higher instances of osteoporosis. To counter-act this susceptibility, these women should consider adding a great deal of lower-body resistance exercise to their daily exercise routine. Weight loss will be especially important, as greater weight may increase the strain on bones and joints of women with thinning bones. Those with a family history of heart disease should take care in adding more cardiovascular and other heart-strengthening exercises to their daily routine.

Don’t forget to talk to your primary care physician – who will be able to tell you whether or not you are at a healthy weight or, what your healthy weight should be. You’ll need to consider a medical professional’s opinion regarding normal body weight so that you can formulate actions needed to achieve your particular goal. Care should be taken to avoid losing so much weight that your health is put in danger.

You can also consult standard height and weight tables, or calculate your own BMI. Tools are available on the internet that can help walk you through the steps, as well as to help you interpret the results. Other indicators may point to the need to start a weight loss program. These indicators can include physical symptoms such as shortness of breath, joint problems, or a waist size of 35 inches or more in women or 40 inches or more in men,

A large number of options are available for those who want to lose weight. You can develop your own fitness and nutrition plan, have a professional develop your weight loss plan, join a local program or center, or participate in an online weight loss program. This abundance of resources will make your weight loss journey easier and more enjoyable.