Yes, when your weight goes down from a too-high number to a more "healthy" one, it can signify a decrease in diabetes and heat disease (among others) risks. But when it comes to weight loss, the numbers often wind up mattering much more than anything else. This is a problem because (A) it occasionally leads to obsessively weighing yourself and only getting validation when the scale goes down, and (B) your weight can be misleading, since it will often go up as your muscle mass increases.
Photo: Flickr / puuikibeach
Yes, when your weight goes down from a too-high number to a more "healthy" one, it can signify a decrease in diabetes and heat disease (among others) risks. But when it comes to weight loss, the numbers often wind up mattering much more than anything else. This is a problem because (A) it occasionally leads to obsessively weighing yourself and only getting validation when the scale goes down, and (B) your weight can be misleading, since it will often go up as your muscle mass increases.
Photo: Flickr / puuikibeach
When half the people in your life are doing the "New Year weight loss" thing, it can sometimes feel like you're racing one another. It's usually not something that will happen intentionally (though I've certainly met people who have formal weight loss competitions with their friends and/or family members as "motivation"), but it can happen over time as you each track your progress and report to one another. And even if you're doing exceptionally well health-wise compared to the past, you still might feel unimpressed with yourself because the other person is doing "better," and that's not really fair to either of you.
As I said, if you go to the gym every day of January, you will get burned out. If you do make a resolution pertaining to exercise, try to incorporate it into your schedule gradually rather than use up all your drive in the first couple weeks (believe me, it will suck after the novelty and excitement wear off).
Photo: Flickr / mcas_cherry_point
Losing weight is, of course, important to the health of many people. If your health is in danger because of excess weight, then yes, dropping pounds is a priority. But if it's simply an "extra" ten and purely out of vanity, there are so many better goals to aim for.
For example, if you are an occasional smoker, then make 2013 the year you totally quit. If you suspect you may have a food allergy, prioritize getting checked out and fixing your diet. These types of things are much more important than fitting into a size smaller pair of jeans and should take precedence accordingly.
Photo: Flickr / Serge Melki
When you want to lose weight fast and you've tried plenty of other means before, a whole lot of options become more evident just after New Year's (when companies know people will be attempting to lose weight). These are often expensive, unpleasant and don't really offer all that much help losing weight anyway.
Photo: Flickr / Sikachu
Making a weight loss goal versus a healthful living goal pulls the spotlight from the more significant effects of a good diet and exercise. Rather than concentrating on the health benefits or how eating healthily is making you feel, prioritizing the weight aspect will often result in disappointment in oneself when, in fact, you should feel proud.
Photo: Flickr / mhaller1979
