MORE CHANCES TO GET OUTSIDE
When you feel confident and are capable of engaging in regular physical activity, the world becomes your oyster. When you find an exercise routine you love, a wealth of outdoor activities are suddenly open to you, whether your passion is running or mountain climbing. Better yet, all that time spent outdoors can have a positive effect on your mood — research suggests that spending time in natural light can help lower your risk of depression and improve your weight loss efforts.
BETTER WORKOUTS
Working out can help you lose weight, and losing weight can help you work out. When you’re carrying around fewer pounds, you reduce the amount of stress on your joints and muscles, and when you shed weight, you can increase your lung capacity, too, making it easier to get in a vigorous workout that’s a pleasure, not a pain.
REDUCED ALZHEIMER’S RISK
If you’re concerned about your risk of Alzheimer’s disease, slimming down may be able to help. Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine suggest a link between the development of Alzheimer’s and obesity, so if you’re worried about your cognitive capacity as you age, start improving your health by shedding some pounds.
A HEALTHIER FAMILY
Parents and caregivers are a child’s first role models, so set a healthy example for the little ones in your life by getting into healthier shape, especially if you’re overweight or obese. Not only will developing a pattern of healthy eating and regular exercise influence the habits of the kids in your life, research suggests that having an overweight mother can increase your risk of ADHD, proving that weight loss can make a major impact on entire generations of family.
MORE MONEY
If you’re an impulsive snacker, those little treats can really add up. If you spend just six dollars on snacks a day — that’s about the price of a latte and a candy bar — you’re adding nearly $2200 to your annual expenses. Opt for healthier foods you make at home, like tasty Zero Belly smoothies, and you’ll have a padded wallet by the end of the year.