The Long Term Benefits of Being Lean

Everyone knows it’s not good to be overweight, but sometimes that’s not enough to keep us motivated to start or continue our fat burning program. Here are some reasons why a lifetime investment in fitness and a healthy diet will pay big dividends in the long run.

Self Esteem

It’s all in you mind - but you know you feel better when you look better. And when you feel better, you are better. Better for those around you - better for yourself. We carry enough mental baggage without having to be fat on top of it, so being trim can change your quality of life far beyond the physical – in fact, being in good shape can be a truly transcendental experience.

Self esteem certainly comes from a lot more than being lean, but being able to look in the mirror and see somebody who obviously takes care of them self can give you a feeling of accomplishment that nothing else will. Even on the road to being lean, a program to burn fat will let you know you’re doing something positive and help you feel better about yourself.

More Money

Did you know fat people make less than skinny ones? It’s true: studies show the fat make 5 to 7% less on average. Add the lower lifetime productivity in, and the total jumps to 10%. Why lower? Fat people die sooner. It’s also harder for fat people to get jobs and clients – so lose some weight in the waist and gain some in the wallet.

Don’t forget to factor in your lowered medical costs and insurance rates – these items could add up to a bundle over a lifetime.

Lower Incidence of Cancer

Dying is bad enough, but getting killed by cancer really sucks: Chemo, horrible pain, the loss of dignity, the long term battle that you never win – you know the drill. How about this:

Being overweight can increase your risk of cancer by 50%. That’s the conclusion of a study by the American Cancer Society of 900,000 men and women published in the April 24, 2003 edition of the “New England Journal of Medicine.”

The study is being touted as a definitive link between obesity and increased risk of cancer. Weight control could reduce cancer deaths in the US by 14-20% and save the lives of 90,000 a year.

Wow, scary, huh? It should be. Cancer rates are way high thanks to our need to eat too many fat laden foods and ignore the gym. Don’t do it to yourself and don’t do it too your family – the only thing worse than dying of cancer is watching a loved one perish from this disease.

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