Why is losing weight important for you?

I agree that by losing weight, you are able to improve your overall health. It could be lowering your cholesterol level, lowering your blood sugar level, improving your heart condition, improving your blood circulation, and many other types of benefits. So it's really clear now what the benefits of exercise can do, so I want to ask myself why do I still continue buying softdrinks everyday and junk food often? lol. I guess this also holds true to many others who knows what dangers are in store with holding on to bad eating habits but finds it difficult to make the first move towards a healthier lifestyle. So I think losing weight is a big challenge to many people, and I honestly believe that those who are able to control and manage their weight has some special qualities that made them to so, like self-discipline and good mind-set.

Ah yes, I heard of the 'reward system' as an effective way to follow a plan, including the plan to reduce weight. Thanks for the advice you have given, Suebee. I believe they are solid advice, and I think when a person feels deprived when all he eats are 'healthy foods' like vegetables, it would be harder for them to continue with this type of diets...but it would be good to rewards themselves maybe once or twice a week by eating what they really love to it. Anyway, knowing and applying what you know are two different things.

I agree it's hard to lose weight. I like my junk food as well. It's a hard habit to break and besides, it tastes good! I don't think you have to cut out junk food altogether, just cut down on the amount of junk that you eat. I try to eat better these days but sometimes I'll use junk food as a reward for something.

Pardon me for my lack of knowledge in this matter, but may I ask what BMI is? Is it a gadget that indicates if you are underweight or overweight? I also believe that if you are not overweight, it can mean you don't have unhealthy fats in your body so that can really be an indication that all is well with your health.

BMI (Body Mass Index) is a calculation that gives the indication whether an individual is within healthy limits. It is calculated by individual's body weight divided by the square of his or her height. For more on this you can visit the link: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Body_mass_index#BMI_Prime

I'm sure I have heard about BMI before but didn't know exactly what it means, so thanks for explaining more about it and for sharing the link where it explains it more. Anyway, looking at that link I find it complicated to understand so I needed to look more further into it and find more time to learn about it. I can guess this is a reliable way of gauging a person's health depending on the relationship of his height and body weight. Thanks for making this more clear allknowing.

I agree that feeling good is more important than looking good, but I think that we look our best when we feel good regardless of anything else.

In my case, I also wanted to do it for health reasons. When a person is healthy, it would be natural to feel good and I think feeling good is more priority than looking good. Some people look good but it does not necessarily mean they're healthy and they feel good about themselves. Yes, I guess shedding those pounds would really make one lighter and therefore have a healthier heart. In that case, health would really be wealth as you don't need to spend a lot of money on doctors and hospitals :)

Yes I think that's exactly correct, peavey. Both feeling good and looking good compliments each other very well...usually when we look good, we feel good and vice versa. So maybe for whatever reasons you try to lose weight, one big factor is how big is your desire for those reasons to be accomplished? If your desire to look good or feel healthier is very big, then you will lose those pounds a lot easier. And that also goes true if your desire to look good or feel healthier is weak...then we know it would be more difficult to lose those pounds. So maybe it all boils down to motivation.

That can be an entirely new topic of discussion..."how to gain weight". I know my brother now is also striving with gaining weight, and he finds it also difficult to do. I think you and my brother probably have faster metabolism than others, that's why you burn fats faster. Some people recommended protein drinks and doing weight training for that matter. Anyway, for either losing weight or gaining it, one reason could be to be in an ideal weight that you would be comfortable with...probably simply to feel good in reaching that 'comfort weight'.

umh... fat or skinny...doesn't matter, as long as I am happy with my body...

Hi kornkokerin, it's interesting you mentioned in number 3 about being more healthy in mind, body and soul. I believe so much in the body-mind connection. For example, when you strengthen your body, you naturally strengthen your mind as well. But now I understand that we usually miss that besides the body-mind connection, there is also the soul connection, and I also believe this to be true. I think everything we do with our body, our minds and our souls are somehow affected by it or sometimes they could be a reflection of our state of mind and soul. For example, if you're sick spiritually, the tendency in most cases is to not take care of your body. This is just one example that may show this point. Which is more important to improve first, the body, the mind or the soul? Well, I guess all three all at the same time :D

A pleasant day to you too airasheila. I think we're on the same both because I also have the goal of reaching my target weight, and my target weight is to lose about 6 to 10 pounds more. Anyway, you mentioned about not wanting to incur additional cost. Do you mean the cost that you get probably by going to the gym, buying products and exercise machines that helps you lose weight and those kinds of expenses? But anyway, it's really true that you can lose weight without having the need to spend extra money...by simply having the habit of exercising, and at the same time you lose weight more naturally :)

Yes, I think people who are prone to heart attack and heart ailments are people who are overweight. I think the blood circulation in the heart is not good when a person is overweight, and because they carry these extra pounds it also becomes difficult for their heart to handle such stress and extra baggage. Being fit and trim usually assures having a healthier heart.

Seems like very sound advice, musicloverfriend. I hope I could follow that advice easily because junk food has become a part of my system in the past few years. Maybe if I plan to drink softdrinks and eat junk foods strictly only on weekends and eat a lot of healthy food on weekdays, I would easily reach my ideal weight while not feeling deprived. At least for me, I would want to give myself at least one day to celebrate food just to enjoy eating fully for at least a day a week. I think with that plan, we can still manage to lose weight effectively if we follow it with regular exercise. Well, I feel some people can go without these types of food and not feel deprived at the same time...I feel this is more idea, though :)

Yes, there's absolutely nothing wrong with wanting to look good. When you look good, you naturally become more attractive to the opposite gender...and who doesn't like that? Feeling healthy and looking good are two of the most popular reasons for losing weight, I think.

Good luck to your coming PE test, wangzhe. I hope you are able to lose the desired weight to be able to pass it :) Anyway, you have shown an example of losing weight to be able to pass a certain test or requirement. I remember in my country, a lot of policemen used to have very big tummy but the chief of police at that time required them to have a maximum possible waistline and if their waistline surpasses those of the maximum measurement, they could not continue to work. I forgot if the requirement for them to be able to work again is 'until they reach that ideal waistline measurement which should be below the maximum measurement allowed. And I believe with some athletes, their reason for losing weight is of course to be as fit as possible to be able to win in their chosen sports...whether it be boxing, tennis, basketball or whatever physical sports they are in.

We are in the same boat, ladyhemingway because my father is also diabetic. Now I am more aware of the importance of losing weight because of your post...thanks! I realize I am now addicted to soft drinks and they are very high in calories, and I see myself about 7 pounds overweight. I guess being healthier and also avoiding those sickness that your family is prone to are good reasons for losing weight. In many cases, they can save a lot of lives.

If I understand it correctly, you mean that what is more important is that you eat healthy food because a lot of people who don't eat healthy who tries to lose weight still remains unhealthy because their body was fed by a lot of junk food. So you mean, if I want to lose weight I should do it the right way by correct diet and when I lose weight I would really be in a healthier state. Anyway, I agree with this opinion very much.

I think for many people who have gained weight, it would really be good news to be able to lose weight to be able to wear those old clothes we have that we can't wear anymore due to our bigger bellies and bodies. It would seem that we have bought a lot of new or second hand clothes in our closet...what a treat! lol. In fact, I remember now that I have a lot of pants in my closet that I can't use anymore because of my bigger belly, so I am now challenged to get thin enough to be able to use them again :D

I think you have a very good attitude about losing weight, ShadowSky. I agree that many people have the wrong reasons for losing weight and looking fit...and mostly it's because of vanity...being so concerned of what others may think or say about us. I really like your attitude of not caring much about other people's opinion as long as you feel comfortable with your own self and your own skin. Anyway, as you said it feels really good when you feel lighter and that is also what I want to feel now. Maybe losing 7 or so pounds would do the trick :)