Let’s be right: losing weight is hard. And sometimes it can feel like you are not seeing any results, no matter how hard you try. But even if you do not see the fruits of your efforts in the mirror (yet!), Subtle changes begin to happen in your body – even if you only lose five kilos.
That’s right: you do not have to lose a dramatic number of kilos for your body to start transforming. Here are 13 things that happen to your body when you start losing weight. And if you lose more than five pounds, you will reap the health benefits and see even more noticeable differences. Check out the 15 underrated weight loss tips that actually work to keep your speed going!
To lose weight, you take in fewer calories than you spend. But where does your body get the extra energy it needs? Your fat cells. “When your body begins to draw energy from your fat cells to compensate for the energy from the food you do not eat, your fat cells will shrink,” says Dr. Mike Roussell, PhD, co-founder of Neuro coffee. And if you need more incentives to keep the weight off, Rousell says it can quickly re-inflate your fat cells to quickly regain weight. “They get bigger than they were before you lost weight,” he says.
Losing a few pounds can improve your body’s ability to lower your blood sugar. “Eating less and exerting more will lead to increased insulin sensitivity, allowing your body to better control and stabilize blood sugar levels,” says Roussell. Keeping your blood sugar levels balanced can help you avoid hunger pangs.
And it’s not just your imagination. “When you reduce your calories to lose weight, your body will release higher amounts of a hormone called ghrelin. Ghrelin tells your brain that you are hungry and can eat,” says Rousell. No wonder you are always hungry when trying to lose weight!
While inflammation is part of the body’s natural defense system, carrying extra weight can lead to extra weight, leading to chronic health conditions such as heart disease, diabetes and cancer. But in a study published in Business research, researchers found that losing an average of six pounds reduced inflammation by slowing down the production of proinflammatory proteins. It also improved the function of the immune system.
You know that your metabolism is the engine that drives calorie burning. And when you start losing weight, your metabolism will decrease, as your body needs fewer calories per day to keep your body going. But these changes may be relative. “A 200-pound person who loses five pounds will have less metabolic impact than a 115-pound person who loses five pounds,” Roussell explains. “The degree of difficulty where you lower calories and increase exercise will also affect. Slower, more gradual changes will have less negative impact. [on your metabolism]. “
It makes sense: the more you weigh, the more force you exert on your legs and joints as you move. And with time, that additional strain can lead to joint damage and osteoarthritis. Losing five kilos of excess weight can mean 20 fewer kilos of pressure on your precious joints.
According to a study published in Cell metabolism, to lose a few kilos was enough to reduce not only liver fat but also belly fat. It is the “bad” fat that sticks to your organs and can trigger the release of molecules linked to a variety of health conditions. Reducing the amount of intra-abdominal fat can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes.
Dieting increases HDL cholesterol – what suits you – and lowers triglycerides, which reduces the risk of heart disease. In a study published in Journal of the American Heart Association, overweight and obese women who lost weight over a two-year period lost their total cholesterol levels, regardless of the number of pounds lost.
RELATED: The 7-day diet that digests your belly fat fast.
Your body that is. When you start exercising as part of your weight loss plan, your body needs to work hard to keep up with the new activity. But once you understand that, your body requires less effort (and calories) to maintain the same level of activity, Roussell says. “Your muscles are starting to become more efficient, which means you will burn fewer calories the more you run, even if you run the same distance,” he says.
Who could not use a little more quality sleep? A study from University of Pennsylvania found that even a small amount of weight loss can improve sleep. This means that you also get more energy and a better mood!
But it depends on how you change your diet. “If you cut carbohydrates significantly, part of the weight you lose will be water weight because your body stores carbohydrates in your muscles along with water. When these carbohydrates are consumed and not replaced (because you eat a lower-carbohydrate diet) you will lose the water that was also stored there, says Roussell, but if you adjust your diet moderately and do not limit calories or carbohydrates sharply, you are more likely to lose body fat, he adds.
When you carry extra weight, your heart has to work harder to pump blood, which can mean higher blood pressure. Lowering the scale can lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure in people who are overweight or obese and had type 2 diabetes, according to a study published in Diabetes care.
Losing five pounds can make you feel happier, even if it’s just a kick-off to your weight loss journey. One review by published research showed that people experienced positive mental health benefits, such as higher levels of self-esteem, when they lost a few pounds and sometimes when they did not lose weight at all. So even if you do not see drastic results on the scale yet, lifestyle changes such as eating better and moving more can have countless positive effects on your health.
