11 Things nobody tells you about losing weight

You are on a weight loss mission. You pack your gym bag every night so it is ready for you in the morning.

You have mastered the art of food preparation and your Tupperware collection is on point. You rack up your gym points and collect your smoothies weekly.

You are the reigning 10 000 daily step champion at work. The weight is dropping, you’ve dropped a pants size.

That’s all there is to it right?

Not really, you may think that the number on the scale and a smaller pants size are the only changes that you will experience. In fact, there are actually a few other weird and wonderful things your mind and body will go through

Here are eleven things you can expect when losing weight.

You may need new shoes

Yup, you carry fat on your feet so depending on how much weight you have to lose or have lost, your feet may get smaller. You may also notice that those calf-high boots aren’t so snug around your calves either.

The same principle applies to your hands and weight loss may make your fingers smaller and your rings in danger of falling off.

The good news is that your feet are having a better time bearing your lighter body weight. So are your joints.

You may lose your boobs or your bum

Your boobs may disappear when all you want are your thighs or arm wings to go. Your butt may disappear no matter how many squats you do. Your abs may not be beach ready regardless of how many sit-ups you do.

Unfortunately “spot reduction” is a myth and your body will lose weight from wherever it chooses based on things like hormones and genetic profile.

Jeans may be difficult to find

Building on the problem above, usually when we lose weight and thus centimetres off our waist we may run into the problem of finding jeans that fit both our smaller waists but kick ass quads and bum.

If you are developing that epic hourglass shape, you may need to convert over to leggings or jeggings. Not so fashion forward but a good problem to have to deal with.

Sex is better

According to a report by Duke University where a sample of people of varying weights were surveyed, the obese men and women report a less satisfying sex life than the leaner participants.

Satisfying sex is a great outcome considering that you may also become a lot hornier when trimming down as testosterone levels have been shown to rise with weight loss.

Weight loss also usually leads to improved body image thus making you more confident in bed.

You may be colder

Regardless of great sex, getting naked may now become an issue. You may feel that you rather bundle up to help stop you feeling cold.

Why do you get colder?

The extra layer of cushioning you may have been carrying around was providing your body with insulation, so you will now be more sensitive to drops in temperature.

You’ll sleep better

Regular exercise helps you sleep better and feel more alert during the day. According to research, all you need is about 150 minutes a week.

Sleep apnea which causes breathing to repeatedly stop during sleep is highly linked to obesity so by losing weight and reducing the risk of sleep apnea you will have a better night’s rest.

You may not be happier

Not because you are now constantly cold.

Often we think that being the ideal weight will make us happier but losing weight doesn’t negate anything else that might be happening in our lives.

Often times weight loss highlights other issues we may have to sort through.

People assume you are depressed or ill

“Are you ok? You have lost so much weight.”

Usually, it is our moms.

As one of our previous points highlighted you still may be a bit unhappy but not to the point where it is causing weight loss as most people automatically assume.

It is ironic that ill health is the first assumption considering losing weight is often times a healthy undertaking.

You are happier

You feel great, you look great, sex is great – what’s not to celebrate?

You are also sleeping better and you are in a much better mood. Research has shown that these benefits are long-lasting and effects could last up to two years after initial weight loss.

Your wrinkles become more prominent

As your face leans out, the fat stores that soften the lines and wrinkles will be gone. The once hidden fine lines will become more visible.

In a study that analysed facial rejuvenation in the patients who had lost a large amount of weight, it was suggested that in order to get better cosmetic outcome surgeons should replace the fat in their patients’ faces.

You don’t actually lose weight

So many factors can influence the weight on the scale these include the exercise you may have done the day before, the food you ate, the amount of water your drank or hormones.

Often the number of the scale doesn’t budge but our clothes and the mirror can tell us otherwise.

Losing weight and maintaining weight is hard work but definitely worth it. The pros outweigh any of the cons (getting new shoes can’t be considered a con). And while the aesthetic aspect of losing weight is most often thought of as the main benefit there are many health benefits to consider and perhaps focus on as well.