The case to lose weight and get healthy is rooted in a better life and not just better looks. People all over the world are presented with different fad diets and exercise regimens that are supposed to help them lose weight.
Weight loss sure has lots of benefits that transcends from being healthier generally to being able to fit into that size x dress you bought for a party.
While the benefits of weight loss are thrown to us via books, social media and even well-meaning friends or relatives, people hardly talk about the down side of losing weight.
Surprised? I was too.
Now let’s see 7 not so fun things that happen to our body when we lose weight.
1. You May Develop Sagging Skin and Stretch Marks
Loose, sagging skin and stretch marks is the product of losing lots of weight too fast. Registered dietitian nutritionist Malina Linkas Malkani, creator of the Wholitarian™ Lifestyle, told INSIDER that this happens because the skin isn’t able to shrink as quickly as the body.
She advises that those who want to lose weight should “focus on slow, steady weight loss, at a rate of about one to two pounds per week to give the skin time to shrink along with the body.
She also recommends implementing resistance exercises to prevent the loss of lean muscle mass. According to Prevention, building muscle could help prevent sagging skin during weight loss as well as eating more produce, using sunscreen, and using collagen-based serums or retinoid.
When weight loss does happen quickly and there is a lot of loose sagging skin, some people opt for surgery to remove it. It’s worth noting that the process will result in visible scars and will take a few weeks for recovery, according to the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.
Moreover, it also depends on the exercises that you engage in; so always consult your fitness expert or gym instructor to make a workout plan accordingly.
2. Your Taste Perceptions Could Change
“It’s not an act of growing out of anything, it’s that your interest in food is hormonal,” and ghrelin secreted from the stomach makes you very hungry, and you find different food more appealing.”
This theory is supported by a study that found people who had lost weight via bariatric surgery had a change in taste. According to Time, almost 87% of patients reported this change post-surgery, and half of those people said food didn’t taste as good. Those who had dulled taste buds also lost more weight than their peers who reported their tastes sharpened.
That’s because of hormonal changes that influence how taste receptors relay information to the brain, according to Health.
3. You Might Feel Colder
This common weight loss complaint has to do with your metabolic rate and hormone changes.
“Your body is going to lower your metabolic rate when you lose weight to try to conserve energy,” and in conserving energy, it doesn’t have a lot of extra calories to keep you warm.”
Another reason you might feel colder is because you no longer have fat acting as an insulator. Shape reports that without that extra layer your body becomes more sensitive to temperature changes as you lose weight.
You might consider investing in new blankets as you burn those calories.
4. May Also Affect Your Skin
Sure, your diet may keep your body slim, but it may impact your skin health, too. The foods you eat decide what will show up on your skin. Poor nourishment may lead to break-outs, acne, dull skin, fine lines, et al. The idea is to add foods that are rich in antioxidants that help block skin damage, especially from the sun.
5. May Cause Constipation
If you are following a certain diet, your constipation maybe related to the dietary changes you have made. So, it is always good to add up on more fibre-rich foods, including whole grains, salads, raw fruits and vegetables, et al, to get your bowels moving. Also, it is important to keep yourself hydrated all the time, which helps keep constipation at bay.
6. This May Also Affect Menstrual Cycle
The stress placed on your body during weight loss could also impact your period. According to VeryWell, the more weight you lose and the faster you lose it, the more likely your period will be affected.
Caroline Apovian, director of the Nutrition and Weight Management Center at Boston Medical Center, explained that this happens because your body thinks it’s starving hormonally.
“Lectin will shut off your menstrual period because your body thinks it is starving and it’s not healthy for women who are starving to have a pregnancy at that time,” she told INSIDER. “So your body doesn’t conserve your period so that you don’t get pregnant and really have a problem.”
It is always good to consult a dietitian to construct a healthy diet plan for you to lose weight in a proper way without having to affect your monthly cycles.
7. You May Have Trouble Sleeping
The relationship between sleep and food is complicated. Not only does what and when you eat affect sleep, but sleep also affects your food choices, NBC’s Better reports.
The basics of sleep come down to a chemical called adenosine, which builds up in your body before a rise in melatonin, according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke. Although we know that sleep is key to successful dieting and weight loss, it might be harder to sleep during weight loss because of dietary changes.
“If you want to sleep well at night you want your tryptophan levels to go up, and the way to do that is to have a little carbohydrate with protein and, that will increase tryptophan levels in the brain and melatonin. When you don’t eat enough or you’re eating less calories, that hormonal balance changes and so you’re not lulled to sleep instead you’re activated, and your body is looking for food.”
To have a healthy sleep at night, make sure you are loading up on carbohydrates along with protein in order to make your tryptophan levels go up.
Side effects aside, reaching and maintaining a healthy weight is important for your overall health.
Emily DiNuzzo
