Health Benefits of Your Weight Loss?

WillowWindow
WillowWindow Posts: 100 Member
I love to see people's weight loss pictures and success stories, but honestly most people focus on the "looks" part of it. Not saying that isn't a great motivator, but It would be much more motivating for me if people included what health benefits they got after they lost weight. I have been on MFP for just over 3 months and lost 20 lbs so far and have noticed, along with moderate exercise, that my blood pressure is down and that I have stopped compulsive eating along with the overwhelming cravings. That's huge for me. Anyone have something health-related to share?
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Replies

  • aliciaaw
    aliciaaw Posts: 180 Member
    I have lose 15 pounds, and like you have stop compulsive eating. I feel better enjoy working out.
    I have also notice I love myself again!

    Thanks for sharing your story
  • khall86790
    khall86790 Posts: 1,100 Member
    I've stopped emotional eating and also it's improved my overall fitness so I don't get out of breath a lot like I used to.
    I've improved my diet so much and I eat a lot more natural foods and fruit & veg, which has been great for my skin.
    It's also helped me to cut down on smoking and for the first time in 7 years, actually think about and start working towards quitting.
  • tryskinni
    tryskinni Posts: 50 Member
    I've lost about 15lbs and stopped snoring!!!!
  • I was recently diagnosed as a type 2 diabetic. My doctor tells me that as long as I can get the weight off and exercise it will keep it in control. Meaning I don't have to use any medications.
  • mtnstar
    mtnstar Posts: 125 Member
    My knee and shoulder pain is completely gone after starting an exercise program and dropping about 25 lbs.
  • ron2e
    ron2e Posts: 606
    My decision to lose weight was started when I began to get breathless if I walked any distance. I also walked slower than I have ever done and took frequent breaks. I no longer have these problems, 45 lbs down I can walk at my normal (fast pace) without stopping till I reach my destination, and don't get breathless. Also I was waking up three and four times a night and was often tired during the day (perhaps sleep apnoea?), now if I wake up once it's a lot, and that usually around 5am. I recently got a sleep monitoring app on my phone and that confirms over the last month I've averaged 7 hours sleep a night at 86% efficiency. I am hoping that eventually my high blood pressure, which was caused by being overweight, will lessen or at least no longer require meds.
  • chavaaguirre
    chavaaguirre Posts: 40 Member
    Ive lost 25+ and its funny but there is a big improvement in bed!!!! if you know what I mean ;)
  • Tiff050709
    Tiff050709 Posts: 497 Member
    My knees don't hurt anymore. I don't eat when I am upset or bored. I don't feel addicted to sweets and can easily pass. Food doesn't control me anymore :)
  • nexangelus
    nexangelus Posts: 2,080 Member
    Mine is not all about losing weight or fat, but recovering from eating disorders. The health benefits of doing what I am doing are no more ED symptoms, a flexible approach to food and fitness (whereas before it was rigid and compulsive and obsessive). As someone said earlier, because my hormones are all back to normal, the libido and all that are back to normal too rawr! I have less aches and pains being lighter though and generally can do more. I feel happier. I suppose that is a health benefit?!
  • ladyark
    ladyark Posts: 1,101 Member
    Great post!! Yes Alot of people are in it for Vanity. I think that is a plus and dont get me wrong i love wearing some much smaller clothes right now but as far as Health benefits....

    1. i am off BP meds
    2. I can pain my toenails without getting out of breath from a big belly in the way
    3. I have tons more energy
    4. My skin looks better
    5. Im not sluggish and lethargic
    6. I have a MUCH better mental attitude

    to name a few....so health benefits FAR outweight the looks part of it.
  • lacroyx
    lacroyx Posts: 5,754 Member
    I went from being a type II diabetic, high blood pressure, cholesterol, bad back with aches and pains. I was taking 6 different medications to control it all. Now I reversed everything and no longer needs medications for anything.
  • kirabob
    kirabob Posts: 481 Member
    Hmm. I figured out that 'pushing through' my arthritic knee pain doing tons of cardio was unnecessary, and found movement that I love and can sustain forever in heavy lifting. I have more energy, in bed and out. :smile: I was on the borderline for type 2 diabetes, and now have completely normal blood sugar levels. The most important benefit has been learning that food is neither reward nor punishment, but a part of my life that helps me do all the things I love, and that I can enjoy without guilt.
  • fiberartist219
    fiberartist219 Posts: 1,865 Member
    I don't know so much about weight loss, but I do know that having muscle on me has helped even out some of my energy highs and lows, and it has made me feel less dizzy.

    I've been a much lower weight before, so that's why I don't believe it necessarily had to do with weighing less, and had more to do with being active and having muscle.
  • PandaCustard
    PandaCustard Posts: 204 Member
    I don't crave junk food nearly as much. Don't get me wrong, I'll have some chips here or some ice cream there, but 1) the portions are much smaller (half a cup of ice cream will do me now, compared to the large bowl I used to dig into), 2) most of the time, I actually find myself craving fruits and vegetables. I went to the store the other day to pick up my lunch for work and found myself REALLY wanting spinach and a mango. It's a weird feeling, but I'll take it.
  • MIGHTYMOUSE187
    MIGHTYMOUSE187 Posts: 60 Member
    Have not lost what I want to yet but blood pressure and just to be overall healthier. Also with exercise I just want to be stronger than before my surgery.
  • RM10003
    RM10003 Posts: 316 Member
    I've dropped my total cholesterol to 152 from 194 in November, and LDL to 88 from 119. (Not that I'm so proud of myself I've totally memorized all the numbers or anything....)
  • MIGHTYMOUSE187
    MIGHTYMOUSE187 Posts: 60 Member
    That's awesome!!
  • eevincheezburger
    eevincheezburger Posts: 163 Member
    I sleep SO much better.
    I used to have a lot of digestive intolerances and would feel nauseated. Don't have that any more with the good foods I eat!
  • AshleighTB
    AshleighTB Posts: 18 Member
    I had gained a lot of weight from eating terribly with zero exercise. I started to snore... loudly. Now that I run 3-4 times a week I don't snore anymore!
  • tanashai
    tanashai Posts: 207 Member
    -no more eczema. This is huge for me because I used to get terrible rashes on my hands and ever since I started, it's stopped even with all of the irritants in the air. Way less acne too
    -better sleep on less time. I used to need eight hours minimum and I'd be sluggish. Now I can sleep for six hours and feel way better
    -better concentration and better writing (I'm a writer for a living)
    -way decreased PMS symptoms
    -better libido ;)
  • I have only lost 7 lbs as of today but let me tell you! LOL. I already fell so much better. My weight gain happened with my first child. I actually lost a little weight with my second due to severe vomiting throughout most of the pregnancy. I was borderline gestational diabetes with the first and should have been with the second. They kept ignoring the high readings I was getting. Low and behold, my second baby was 10 lbs. That scared me! I have been trying to lose weight for four years now. I have tried about every diet on the internet. Since my second daughter was born 2.5 years ago, my symptoms progressively worsened, (i.e. debilitating fatigue, no libido, cyst-like acne, dizziness when standing, hypotension, progressive weight gain, memory loss, depression, numbness/tingling in hands and feet, blurry vision, dry skin and eyes, dandruff, rash on arms..... I could go on forever). I had a sleep study done last November which showed I wake up every nine minutes with no known reason. Finally, after a year of begging my physician to check for insulin resistance, he did just to shut me up. It confirmed that I do have problems with my glucose control. I bought a Nutribullet and drink green smoothies for breakfast and high protein lunch and dinners. I have gained back energy (more than enough to keep my house spotless again and to maintain my five gardens), my acne is cleared up, the rash (which I had for four years and no medications could clear up and dermatologists could not explain) is completely gone, the dizziness and blurry vision is gone as long as I maintain my diet, and my skin all around has more moisture to it. The biggest relief is that I am finally losing weight, almost like the weight is falling off of me! I am sure as I lose more and the insulin resistance gets better, more and more symptoms will completely disappear.
  • dough21
    dough21 Posts: 216 Member
    Have been healthy since starting my lifestyle change back in January of 2012 (18 months). I have not even had the common cold. I attribute that to a healthy diet and exercise program.
  • JulieKayJ
    JulieKayJ Posts: 21 Member
    I have knee replacements, and my weight loss so far has taken a lot of pressure from my knees. I can also do some of my weight lifting exercises with better form because my stomach isn't so much in the way. I hope that with my next Dr. appointment, I can decrease some of my BP meds. Best of all, working out first thing in the morning has helped with my mood and stress level!! It also helps me to not eat poorly during the day so I don't ruin what I accomplished in the morning. :bigsmile:
  • ktsmom430
    ktsmom430 Posts: 1,100 Member
    The single most noticeable benefit from not carrying around so much excess weight is, being able to move (walk) with no pain in my knees. I did not even begin to exercise until I had lost 100 pounds. I feel pysically better than I have in years, and that is mostly due to the weight loss and moving around more. At my age, the vanity part of being able to shop for, and wear normal sized clothes is nice, but the health benefits are astounding.
  • That is a brilliant story I an a little similar, have only lost 8lbs so far but menopausal symptons better, rashes more or less disappeared, more energy etc etc!! Keep it up-I intend to. Walk a lot now, do zumba once a week and bought a Reebok Step so doing Step Aerobics following it on You Tube on my ipad!! Cheers!!
  • I don't get out of breath taking my laundry basket from the first floor to my third floor bedroom, and in general, I can walk those stairs a lot easier. I'm also slowly starting to get a more positive attitude, though that is taking a little more work; not going to lie, so that is mental health related. The biggest achievement is that I don't get as hungry during the day anymore and can skip snacks and be fine with it.
  • Archer_ev
    Archer_ev Posts: 2 Member
    I am a 58 year old man. I am 6' 5" tall and at my heaviest was 260 lbs. Everyone said, "Oh, you are tall and carry it well." But I knew it wasn't good to be that heavy. I started losing weight before I discovered MFP, but it has been a tremendous help since then. I am now 239 and counting. As I got older and my metabolism slowed down, the pounds began to creep onto me.

    I have Type 2 diabetes. It is inherited and I will always have it but I have seen improvements since losing weight. I am insulin resistant and I take insulin but since losing weight, I have cut the amount of insulin I need significantly. My blood glucose levels have really leveled out with the weight loss. I am also a 12 year cancer survivor and am clear of cancer but get checked every six months. I am sure that the weight loss and healthier diet have benefits for that as well. I set up six different "meals" in my app and I eat something every few hours during the day, staying as close to my daily caloric goal as possible. I am averaging about a pound lost each week.

    Hang in there folks. It is definitely worth the effort!
  • PrivateVenue
    PrivateVenue Posts: 41 Member
    Ive lost 25+ and its funny but there is a big improvement in bed!!!! if you know what I mean ;)

    I was going to say something about that, too!

    I've felt better, been more confident, I'm not as anxious or scared to go out by myself anymore, and yeah, taking a roll in ze hay is much more enjoyable now!
  • kim2walker
    kim2walker Posts: 52 Member
    10 weeks in 16 pounds down. Benefits so far; not breathless walking up stairs less tired. Hoping for improvement in cholestrol and blood pressure figures , really hoping snoring will cease or improve. Unfortunately not stopped craving certain foods yet, and maybe never will. I might have to accept that butter and me are a "no go".
  • zyxst
    zyxst Posts: 9,149 Member
    Only benefit so far is that I can walk for longer without being tired. AFAIK, cholesterol/BP/other blood work related stuff is the same which means borderline high on all the charts. My eczema, vision, monthly cycle, and joints are worse.
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