Weight Loss in Women: The Complete Story

Weight loss is something which has been heard a million times before, because of people who want to lose weight or are fed up of trying to lose weight. Weight loss is a phenomenon which has affected our times, and right from a 10 year old to graceful grandmothers, all want to lose a little bit of weight. Which brings us to the question:

Why do we want to lose weight?

• Some people want to lose weight because their normal clothes don't fit anymore and the discomfort of discarding an entire wardrobe pushes them to lose weight.
• Many others want to lose weight because they feel, they will receive more love, adulation and popularity and respect amongst their friends, family and associates.
• Many (particularly women) feel the whole society expects them to look a certain way.
• Some want to lose weight because their family, friends nag them about their weight.
• Some want to lose weight because they have been given an ultimatum by their doctors.
• Very few people want to lose weight because they genuinely want to make their body healthy and fit.

The surprising change in trend is that children as young as 5 years of age are conscious about their body and as old as 80 years are conscious about the need to knock a few kilos. The reason is different in both cases - the child is becoming aware of her body and wants to be more like others so that others don't tease her and the senior people are worried that weight might be the reason she might end up with knee replacement.

The biggest misconception about weight loss is that a diet program of weight loss will knock the weight for good whereas the reality is that the only thing which will knock off weight and keep it off is a change in attitudes and behaviors towards eating and activity. Changing habits for good is a very tough call to make.

Now we come to the population who is the symbol of weight loss - the female form. Ever surfed the net for weight loss images? Sure enough, in the 9 out of 10 images you will see a picture of a svelte happy women who is radiating. And, if you surf for images of fit bodies it is the other way round; you will be filled with images of men with muscles. A women's body with all its curves is in any case a very attractive form and when one wants to dream of the magic of healthy weight loss, what better look than a curvy women with an athletic look.

This is the image all women (and perhaps men too) are  bombarded with day and night and it is no wonder that all women feel a little guilty for not taking care of themselves enough. This brings us to the big issue.

How is weight loss different for women?

In order to answer that question we must understand many aspects about women: their physiology, their emotions, the changes their bodies experience with time. There are several challenges to a women's weight loss effort and some of them are:

• Women genetically carry more fat cells to begin with than their male counterparts , a women on her target weight would have 25% body fat while a man would have 15% body fat.
• A women's fat cell is controlled by female hormones (particularly estrogen), which deliberately make it difficult for her to let go of fat (since biologically a women of the reproductive phase could get pregnant anytime, so the body tries to prepare at all times to keep the fuel for motherhood well stacked).
• Women have low muscle ratio, and muscle is the fat burning tissue, so it is much harder for women to knock off weight just through exercises.
• A women who is exercising as much as a man will not burn off similar number of calories and also her metabolism will not stay as high as a man post exercise.
• Women will have her 28 day cycle and in the first 14 days her body grabs fat from food and tries to store it preferentially and in the last 7 days her body will hold more water before she begins to start menstruating. Besides that she will also feel a craving for carbohydrates which could be anything from a crisp toast, french fries, cookies, chocolates and fried foods.

Why lose weight?

Here are some of the many benefits you could have with a primary goal to get fit not slim:

1. One of the most immediate benefits is that you can have fun! Yes fun. There are many different possibilities for exercise to propel you on your path to fitness. There are hundreds if not thousands of ways to get active, burn calories, have fun and get in shape!
2. When you exercise, a healthy diet plan will not only allow you to eat more food than when you choose to diet without exercise, it will require you do so to avoid slowing down your metabolism. More food is good right?
3. If you are 35+, your hormones may have begun to dance in unpredictable ways. You may find it to be challenging enough just to maintain weight much less lose weight.
4. If hormonal changes aren't enough, your metabolism begins to slow down by age 40 if not sooner. Exercising to burn 100 calories a day could mean the difference between no weight gain and a gain of 5 kg in one year.
5. Adding a little more muscle is good! Yes, muscle weighs three times more than an equal amount of fat. But muscle burns more calories than fat tissue and gives you the added benefit of toning and shaping your body. New studies have revealed that women who lose a significant amount of weight without exercising have more cellulite than those who have not added muscle or have not lost any weight at all!
6. With low calorie diets it is difficult to obtain all the nutrients you need. However, given that you can eat somewhat more when you exercise, it is easier to obtain the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fiber you need to stay healthy. Food sources of these nutrients are far more beneficial than most supplements.
7. Women who are slim are at much higher risk of getting osteoporosis. Having a little extra weight gives you the advantage of greater protection for your bones.

Seven solid reasons to get fit not slim. Go now and pick your exercise program, have fun, get fit, feel better and look better! Just remember to appreciate who you are each day on your path to fitness because you are already beautiful.