Two Key Reasons to Lose the Weight
By Donna Stark
Got a few pounds you want to lose … or maybe even more than a few? Are you starting to feel the occasional burst of pain as you climb the stairs to your bedroom or during your daily workout? Do you worry that you may end up with the same kind of severe arthritis that you see your parents suffering from? If so, losing weight should definitely be one of your top goals because, in addition to lessening your current pain levels, it will also significantly improve your overall health as well!
Worries to Worry About
It seems we start to worry about specific things when we reach a certain point in the aging process, don’t we? Our health may keep us up at nights, our diets may not be as good as they once were. And although these are great things to think about, it’s also important to be concerned enough over your weight to take action now! So if you have some pounds you want to lose, the timing couldn’t be any better and you certainly don’t want to put it off any longer. Here’s why.
Excess Weight and Your Future Health
Excess weight impacts our health in two key ways: it is pivotal in the development of osteoarthritis and it causes an inflammatory response in the body. Carrying around extra weight on the body frame is the number one cause of joint pain. It puts excess pressure and stress on the hips and knees which can lead to osteoarthritis later in life. And because fat is an active tissue, it also creates and releases pro-inflammatory chemicals into the body. Basically, it increases the body’s immune response and causes it to respond with excessive inflammation. This may lead to a number of chronic diseases such as heart disease, cancer, and diabetes.
Lose the Weight
If you struggle with understanding what needs to be done in order to start your weight loss process, seek help! Talk to a fitness trainer at the gym and ask your doctor about modifying your diet. It’s important to keep a healthy balance, and if you have serious weight to lose, that balance is especially important with your diet and fitness routine.
So don’t be disheartened if the process moves at a slower pace than you would like. Even the smallest amounts of weight loss can make a huge difference with how your body responds. In fact, just a small percent reduction in your weight can put you on the right path to reducing inflammation and pain throughout your body! You will have increased energy, less sick days, and improved overall physical and mental wellness.
You may even have less stress and better sleep because the state of your health won’t be keeping you up anymore.
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Vancouver, Wash.