How Do You Know If It Is Time To Lose That Excess Weight?

Are you one of the many millions of people who look in the mirror each day and say to themselves "I have got to lose a bit of weight"? Almost all of us have done this at one time or another and in a lot of instances you really do need to lose a bit of weight. This is not however always the case and so just how do you know whether or not you really ought to get rid of those extra pounds?

One big problem with weight gain is that it tends to creep up on you when you are not looking and this is being seen especially in countries such as the USA where obesity has now become an epidemic. As however your weight normally rises slowly over many months, you often simply do not notice the increase in terms of changes to your looks and are only conscious of it when you weigh yourself on the bathroom scales. Therefore, it is good practice to get yourself into the habit of weighing yourself regularly (approximately once a month is generally sufficient) and when you notice that it has increased noticeably then it is time to lose some weight.

There are differences of opinion about just what amounts to obesity but for our purposes here if your weight has increased by in excess of about thirty pounds or so then you are probably heading towards obesity and a raft of associated health problems.

The next sure sign that you probably should to go on a diet is if a friend tells you that you are overweight. Now it is possible that you will be offended if a friend tells you that you need to go on a diet but do not forget that they most probably found it hard to find the courage to tell you and are also more likely than not demonstrating a heartfelt concern about your state of health and not passing a comment on how you look.

A further sign that you have gained too much weight is seen when you start having difficulty with normally simple tasks like climbing the stairs or running to catch a bus and find yourself getting short of breath all too quickly. Of course this will not necessarily be a consequence of being overweight and could be caused by other medical problems, but you will be surprised at how often the cause turns out to be weight. If this happens your body is starting to sound its alarm bells and these should most definitely not be ignored.

A final and very simple, but often dismissed, indication that you are gaining weight is quite simply finding that your clothes do not fit like they used to. A slightly tight waistband following Christmas is usual for a lot of us but when it continues getting tighter and tighter and you find that you are buying larger and larger sizes each time you go shopping then it is time to diet before your waist stretches not only your clothes but also your credit card.

These are of course just some examples of the many indicators that you are overweight and need to take steps to correct the situation. Excessive weight has a tendency to creep up on you gradually and it is all too easy simply not to notice it at all. But the secret to looking and feeling good is relatively simple - know your ideal weight and jump on the scales regularly to make sure that you are not putting on too much weight.

Obesity, and particularly obesity in teens, these days is a rising problem and one which can result in serious medical complications. It is also wise therefore to learn how to calculate BMI which is the medical indicator for obesity.