Now whenever I have seen an article or post on the benefits of losing weight they are presented in the usual list format. Each point is not given too much detail.

Over the coming weeks I will be posting on some of the tangible and intangible benefits of losing weight. These will be based mostly on what I have witnessed and experienced during my own transformation.

Benefit # 1

Improved Self Confidence

As an overweight guy I was always embarrassed about the way I looked. Sure I’d make light of it and crack a few jokes about my gut, ” I have washboard abs, there’s just a load of laundry on them right now” or “I don’t have a six pack I have a keg“ Everyone would get a good laugh and I would use it as an excuse to eat whatever I wanted, which almost felt like It was expected of me.

I would also do the little things that all self concise overweight people do. Wear baggy clothes, constantly pull at my shirt so that it didn’t cling to my gut for all to see, avoid eye contact with people and I even made fun of other overweight people in an attempt to take the attention way from myself.

Now that I’m no longer overweight I have changed all that behavior. Most noticeably lately has been the eye contact. It’s an amazing thing to look right into another person’s eyes and not worry about weather or not they think you’re fat.

I know that I work hard, watch my diet, exercise regularly and have taken control of my health. I have already proved to myself that I’m worthy and deserve a better body, a better lifestyle and a better image of how I should act.

Weight loss and self confidence go hand in hand. As your weight goes down your confidence goes up. You being to realize that you are capable of more than anyone has given you credit for.

You may start out wanting to lose weight in order to prove something to someone else. But in the end all that matters is that you prove to yourself that you can do it. No ones opinion of you is as important as your own.  

You know the routine. You’ve been busy all day either attending school, working or taking care of the kids. The last thing on your mind is going through a workout.  All you want to do is relax and unwind. If you’re overweight the effects of a busy day can wear you down even more than your thinner counterparts. 

So how do you make exercise a daily priority?

I have tried to make it a part of my daily routine as so many experts have recommended. For the most part it does help, but I’ve found that it just became one of my many tasks that I didn’t want to do.  Currently I workout 4 days a week 30-60 minutes per session. I have been able to stick to it because I have made exercise a part of my unwinding and relaxing time. Now I look at it as time just for me to do what I want to do and not what I have to do.

The secret is to make it fun and competitive.

Find a physical activity that you enjoy doing like walking, running, biking or even lifting weights and set a realistic goal for that session. It could be anything from the amount of calories you burn to how fast you can complete a set distance.

For example my exercise of choice is running. I have 2 routes a 5 kilometer one and a 10 kilometer one. On each run I set a goal time to beat. (23 or 50 minutes). It’s an awesome feeling to beat or even reach that goal. It keeps me motivated and I look forward to beating that new time on my next workout session.

Cutting out the excuses

There are so many excuses that can trip you up. “I’m too tired, the gym is too far away, my favorite TV show is on or it’s raining outside” are some of my favorites. All of these can stop your momentum, but can be easily overcome. Here are some simple ways to counter those excuses:

1.) Change into your workout clothes right after dinner.

2.) Set a time to meet with a workout buddy. You’re less likely to skip it if you have someone else waiting on you.

3.) Use your Tivo, PVR or VCR and record your favorite TV shows and watch them on your rest days.

4.) Who says you need a gym to workout. Put on a workout video, run the stairs or do some body weight exercises. 

5.) Work out in the morning as a great start to your day.

My favorite excuse is I’m too tired to workout. There is no better cure for low energy than a good 20-30 minute walk/jog. Motion creates energy and increases the oxygen flow to your brain, essentially waking it up.

Regular exercise can improve your overall health, add years to your life, improve your  self-confidence and make you look and feel better. So good luck and get moving.