Little Weight Loss Goes A Long Way

From driving up your blood pressure and cholesterol, to increasing your risk of heart disease, diabetes, cancer, and more, there's no question that being overweight is more than just a cosmetic problem - it's a serious threat to your health.

At the same time, if you're like most folks, even the thought of embarking on a 20-, 40-, or even 100-pound weight-loss plan can seem like a mountain that's impossible to climb.

If this is the way you're feeling right now, take heart. Today, the most progressive weight-loss experts agree you don't have to climb the whole mountain, or even go halfway up, to improve your health. Indeed, taking even a few small steps toward your weight-loss goals can go a long way in reducing your health risks, even if you never reach the ideal number on your bathroom scale.

Even Small Steps Have Big Benefits
--------------------------
At the same time, Sondike tells WebMD that losing weight in an unhealthy manner, for example, by starving yourself or using diet aids like ephedra, can work against your overall health, sometimes leaving you in worse shape than before you attempted the weight loss.

"Depending on what you take or what you do, you could end up with higher blood pressure and a worse cardiovascular profile than when you weighed more," says Sondike.

Along these same lines, University of Utah nutrition expert Shawn Talbott, PhD, cautions that attempting too stringent a weight-loss plan can also backfire, and take its toll on your health.

"Both extreme calorie restriction and placing yourself under a great deal of mental stress about losing weight has been shown to increase cortisol levels, the hormone that is associated with high stress," says Talbott, the author of The Cortisol Connection.

When this happens, he says, it causes your appetite to soar, not only encouraging you to eat more, but also increasing the likelihood that whatever weight you do gain will be stored as abdominal fat.

"This can then increase your risk of heart disease and other significant health problems," says Talbott.

In the end, he says, it's the act of living more healthfully, and not just dieting, that matters most, even if you never reach your weight goals.

Anhalt agrees. "A little weight loss achieved in a healthy way is far more beneficial than a large weight loss that happens in an unhealthy way." If you lose even one pound through healthy living, he says, "You do an incredible service to your body and your health."

Better to Be 'Fat and Fit'
--------------------------
If you simply take some healthful steps in the direction of your weight-loss goals, you are likely to reap some healthy rewards, even if you never drop a single pound.

As remarkable as that sounds, in studies published in March 2003 in the Annals of Internal Medicine, CDC researchers found that those folks who simply tried to lose weight lived longer.

The finding does not surprise dietitian Samantha Heller, MS, RD, who believes effort does count.

"Very often, simply making the effort to lose weight, such as adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet, reducing your intake of sweets, junk foods, and saturated fats (found in foods like meat, cheese, and butter), and becoming more physically active can improve your overall health and reduce your risk of heart disease and diabetes, too," says Heller, a nutritionist at New York University Medical Center.

So, Heller tells WebMD, even if you never actually lose any weight, doing these things alone is bound to help you feel better and ultimately, impact your health in a positive way.

And many doctors now believe that even if you are unable to lose any weight at all, keeping yourself from gaining pounds as the years go by will also help you gain some important health benefits.

"If you can focus your efforts on achieving a more healthy lifestyle, if you increase your level of physical activity just a little bit, and maybe incorporate some healthful changes into your daily diet you will not only be successful at preventing weight gain, in the process you will be doing something positive for your health," says Sondike.

"In the end," says Anhalt," it's not about the pounds, it's all about the lifestyle changes, and about understanding that, in the long run, fat and fit is ultimately better than thin and unfit."

If you make the changes that lead to a healthier lifestyle, experts say you will definitely be healthier, and ironically, you'll probably weigh a lot less as well.

Source: WebMD

You have permission to publish this article electronically or in print, free of charge, as long as the bylines are included. A courtesy copy of your publication would be appreciated.

About The Author
------------
Michael Lewis has been collecting articles and information on Weight Loss and HGH (Human Growth Hormone) and related health benefits. He has created and edits numerous web sites about this subject. Michael is a staff writer for http://www.ageforce.com and several other websites. If you would like to contact Michael you can e-mail him at http://www.ageforce.com or if you would like to know more about Weight Loss, HGH (Human Growth Hormone) and related health topics please visit us at http://www.ageforce.com.

recurring maid service Wilmette ..
In The News:

New phishing platform QRR targets Microsoft 365 users across 1,000 domains in 90 countries. Learn how to spot fake login pages and protect your accounts.
OpenTable now uses AI to track your dining habits and share insights with restaurants. Learn what data they collect and how to protect your privacy.
Google's discontinued Nest thermostats still secretly upload home data to company servers despite losing smart features, raising serious privacy concerns.
New Android malware NGate steals NFC payment codes in real-time, allowing criminals to withdraw cash from ATMs without your card. Learn protection tips.
DoorDash confirms data breach exposing customer names, emails, addresses after social engineering attack. Learn how to protect yourself from scams.
Concerned about Google's AI scanning your Gmail? Learn how to disable Gemini features that access your emails, Drive files and Chat messages for privacy.
Google warns Android users about dangerous fake VPN apps hiding malware that steals passwords, banking details and personal data from phones and tablets.
Apple's digital passport feature lets iPhone users breeze through TSA checkpoints this holiday season using Digital ID technology at 250+ airports.
A new phishing scam targets family photos with fake "Cloud Storage Full" alerts. Criminals steal credit card information through fake sites. Learn protection tips.
South Korean scientists create ultra-thin fabric muscles that turn clothes into robotic assistants, lifting 33 pounds while weighing under half an ounce.
Archer Aviation has acquired Hawthorne Airport for $126M to launch an LA air taxi network ahead of the 2028 Olympics, featuring AI-powered eVTOL operations and next-gen aviation tech.
Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.
Fake AI apps disguised as "ChatGPT" and "DALLĀ·E" are flooding app stores with dangerous malware that steals data and monitors users without detection.
Fake buyers demand specific vehicle reports from unknown sites to steal credit card information from car sellers, but warning signs can help identify these scams before paying.
Android users can now manage apps across multiple devices more easily with Google Play Store's updated remote uninstall button in the latest update.
NASA's Perseverance rover discovers shiny metallic rock on Mars that could be a meteorite from an ancient asteroid, containing high levels of iron and nickel.
Holiday scams spike during Black Friday and Cyber Monday as criminals exploit your leaked personal data. Learn how to protect yourself from fake stores and phishing.
Commerce Department proposes TP-Link router ban over Chinese security risks. Learn how this potential prohibition could affect your home network and devices.
Hyundai AutoEver America suffered a data breach affecting 2,000 current and former employees, exposing names, Social Security numbers and driver's license information.
Washington court rules automated license plate reader images are public records, even when stored by vendors like Flock Safety, setting precedent for transparency.
Fake airline texts claiming flight cancellations are targeting travelers with convincing scams. Learn how cybercriminals steal personal data and credit card info.
Discover how iOS 26's new Adaptive Power feature automatically extends iPhone battery life by learning your usage patterns and adjusting performance intelligently.
New TikTok malware campaign tricks users into running PowerShell commands that download Aura Stealer, which steals credentials and authentication tokens.
Gaia Family offers fixed upfront pricing for IVF cycles with unlimited embryo transfers and financial protection, partnering with over 100 U.S. fertility clinics.
The Jetsons Act aims to position Pennsylvania as a leader in advanced air mobility by establishing regulations for hybrid ground-air vehicles.

Lose Fat and Retain Muscle By Getting In Touch With Hunger

"Unless that apple tastes like the best apple you've ever... Read More

Breakfast -How Not To Start The Day Part II

The Order of Energy UtilizationBack to our table of stored... Read More

Maintaining Your Weight Loss Momentum Away On Vacation

Going away for your holidays will also bring with it... Read More

Weighing-In On Low Carb Diets

With all of the conflicting studies and fuzzy interpretation of... Read More

Do You Want To Lose Weight Without Going Crazy?

Here's what to do if you want to wear that... Read More

Natural Weight Loss: Add to Your Diet and Add Years to Your Life

As I was saying in my past articles, others have... Read More

Fourteen Reasons Why Dieting Is Bad For Your Health

1. The lower the calories eaten per day, the harder... Read More

Gastric Bypass Surgery - What Are The Risks?

Although all of the risks involved in gastric bypass surgery... Read More

A Personal Trainers...Holidaze

Rules of day to day no longer apply as you... Read More

Weight Loss and Dieting Secret #1 ? IN and OUT

Any dietary plan on the market has some portion of... Read More

How Safe Is the Atkins Diet?

The Atkins Diet Seems To Never Go AwayFad diets come... Read More

The Right Way to Eat for Better Health and Weight Loss

Did you know that how and when you eat is... Read More

Six Steps to Weight Loss Success

What does it take to lose weight?When it comes to... Read More

Saint Valentine Never Had it So Good

There are several theories on the origins of Valentine's Day.... Read More

Why Breakfast is Good for You

Ok... If you are reading this is because you do... Read More

Are Fruits Making You FAT?

I want to make this perfectly clear, fruits are healthy... Read More

The Best Weight Loss Programs and Plans - Find Out About Them Online

Are you considering a low carb diet? If so you... Read More

Weights Before Cardio: Stop Working Against Yourself

Just because you're working hard, doesn't mean that you're working... Read More

Why Are There Different Diet Types?

Diet is a dreadful word for most of us because... Read More

Take Control of Your Metabolism:Quick Tips for Increased Muscle Tone, Faster Fat Burning, and Energy

So many people are talking about how slow their metabolism... Read More

How To Avoid Gaining the Holiday 7

As the holidays approach, a frequent question from my clients... Read More

It?s Not Just About Dieting

You may not like what I'm about to say, but... Read More

When a Parent has WLS: What to Tell Our Chubby Children

We know that children are becoming obese at an alarming... Read More

Holidaze

It's the travel time, meaning hours spent sedentary. It prepares... Read More

Conspiracy Foods, The Inside Story about the Mass Produced Foods that are Making Society Sick

Food manufacturers can easily manipulate a whole population by the... Read More

last minute cleaning help Highland Park ..