Top 10 reasons I want to lose 100 lbs
Why the heck am I even doing this?
Research has shown that 43% of New years resolutions fail by the end of January. Wanting to do something just isn’t enough. You have to understand and fully believe in the WHY. Today I am going to explain my why.
Top Ten reasons I want to lose 100 pounds
I am tired.
I am tired of being fat. Being overweight is exhausting. Physically, I get winded walking up the stairs, any level of moderate exercise and I feel like I just ran a marathon. Slimming down has been shown to improve oxygen efficiency, and help breathing. Mentally, its exhausting constantly being in my head about my physical appearance. Something as simple as deciding what to wear for the day becomes a chore because over half of your clothes are too small. I can feel my energy tank depleted. Imagine waking up everyday and your iphone battery is at 50%. That is how my body feels.
I want to live longer
Heart problems, diabetes, cancer, and even COVID. Being overweight leaves me at risk of all of these. As the famous Charles Barkley once said “There's a reason there are no fat old people, only fat young people.” Oxford University research found that moderate obesity, which is now common, reduces life expectancy by about 3 years, and that severe obesity, which is still uncommon, can shorten a person's life by 10 years. I want to make it to Bingo age. This 10 year loss is equal to the effects of lifelong smoking. I’d like to live long enough to see the Cowboys win the super bowl and at this rate, I am going to need as many years as I can get. And as a bonus maybe some time with the grandkids and Lauren.
Physical Appearance
Perhaps the most superficial reason on this list, but valid and relatable all the same. I want to look in the mirror and like what I see. I want to be a better looking human. I want to be able to feel confident posing for photos and meeting new people again. I know body positivity is the new rage these days and it’s no longer ok to think fat people are unattractive, but I’m sorry being big is not appealing. There is a reason they casted Margot Robbie for the Barbie movie and not Melissa McCarthy. The enigmatic truth is, our society often discriminates against overweight people. It is just tough to be an overweight person.
Airplanes
Ok not just airplanes. But everything becomes slightly more uncomfortable with the extra weight. Airplanes, car rides, sitting in a movie theater or stadium, trying on clothes, going to the pool, and I could go on and on. Most things are meant to fit an averaged sized person and too often I have felt squeezed and choked by the sides or a chair or teeth of a waistband.
Mental Health
Physical health problems significantly increase our risk of developing mental health problems, and vice versa. Nearly one in three people with a long-term physical health condition (such as obesity) also has a mental health problem, most often depression or anxiety. There is a strong link between mental health and physical health, but little is known about the pathways from one to the other. I think it differs from one individual to another. I can speak for my own experience. The heavier I have gotten, the less happy I have become. I’ve often felt like an inflatable, pudgy version of who I used to be. The stress weight puts on your body can turn into stress on your mind and I have developed severe health anxiety. Every time I feel a slight chest pain, I think I am having a heart attack. Peace of mind comes with being healthy and that’s what I am after.
Sports
I miss being able to actually play more than 2 consecutive pick-up basketball games in a row. Imagine trying to guard someone or run down the field/court while wearing a 50+ pound weighted vest. Imagine how much slower and tired you would be.
Sleep
What you may not realize is that your diet can control how easily you fall asleep and how well rested you are upon waking. Often times, people are overweight due to a poor diet centered on foods that digest quickly and leave you hungry often. That means your body constantly searches for high-energy foods as quick fixes, such as fatty and sugary foods, which both have been found to negatively impact your sleep quality. I have noticed my sleep getting worse as I have gained weight. This is just yet another example of how your physical fitness level affects so many different parts of your overall well-being and happiness.
I have nothing better to do
I am at an …….interesting point in my life right now. I am 25 years old, living with my wife’s parents in Dallas and have no job. I’ll never have more free time than I do right now, so why not be productive and use this abundance of time to finally get my body in shape? One of the main excuses people use to avoid working out and taking care of themselves is being busy. I do not have that excuse.
Sweat
Anyone who knows me knows how much I sweat. Sometimes it feels like I am in a sauna when it's just 80 degrees. Outdoor weddings and Noon Kickoff football games have become 2 of my least favorite things. Fat insulates the body and raises core temperature, making you feel warmer than those who are slimmer. For the same reason, overweight individuals tend to sweat more. If I had a nickel for every time I have been asked if I took a shower….
Sometimes I bring extra clothes to events in case I completely soak through my first set. Drop the muffin top and I won't have to walk straight to the bathroom to towel off after a walk around the block.
Confidence
That feeling you get when you step onto a scale and see the number dropping and your goal being accomplished in indescribable. It’s like the world is at your fingertips and you know you can do anything if you just put your mind to it. Being fat has made me lazy. Some days it’s hard to get out of bed, its hard to walk, its hard to even fathom success because my entire existence feels like a bloated failure. Part of staying in shape is working out and working out produces large amounts of endorphins that our body needs to feel that on top of the world feeling. I am hoping this weight loss journey brings out the best in me.
