You need to lose weight?

Rather than raise your index of guilt every time you step on the scale, you might want to ask if you need to lose weight. Nowadays, it seems that everyone wants to lose weight. A host of articles, programs and reality shows tell us what to do to get there. While nearly 60% of Canadians run the risk of suffering from various diseases due to their overweight and of obesity, it may not be your case. Here are four signs that could indicate that your weight is quite normal.

1. You don't know why you're dieting

"When my patients tell me they want to lose weight, I always ask them why," says Arya Sharma, MD, Director of Cardiovascular Obesity Research and Management at the University of Alberta. This is a question you should ask yourself if you are still in the plan. You need to lose weight because you are at risk for a disease such as diabetes or high blood pressure? If this is the case, your doctor will help you determine how much weight you need to lose to improve your health. By cons, if you want to slim down for the sole purpose of entering into a dress a size smaller then you must recognize that this has nothing to do with your health, says Dr. Sharma.

If you do not know why you are on a diet (and for many women, it does so usually is docked), consult your doctor. Thus, instead of following a diet without reason after another, you will maintain a healthy weight.

2. Your goal is unrealistic

Like it or not, we're not all dummies podium is essentially heredity that determine whether we will have the silhouette of a Naomi Campbell or Oprah Winfrey (two beautiful women, way). "Take two people in different genetic makeup, put them in a room and give them exactly the same amount of calories one gain weight, keep the other his. This is, genetics, "says Dr. Sharma.

Thousands of genes regulate body functions: metabolism, appetite, satiety, fat storage, etc.. Whatever you do to lose weight, "there is no guarantee that you can wear a size 0 day," says she.

Even if you were a fabulous slimming in your youth, it is not realistic to diet in order to wear your jeans high school. "If you're one of those women who insist on going into the clothes they wore in their teens or early twenties, then it is likely that you do not have to lose weight , "says Jessica Begg, dietician Vancouver. "Among teens and early twenties, it takes normally a kilo per year." Therefore, faded Levis refilez your your teenager and put more emphasis on maintaining a healthy weight for your age and your body type.

3. Looking to improve your image

According to the Canadian Network for Women's Health, nearly 90% of Canadian girls and women combined, do not like their appearance. Almost all we believe to be too big. However, it is necessary to distinguish between the need to lose weight for health reasons and need to lose weight in order to silence the incessant little voice that reminds us we are ugly and fat.

"The weight and the image of oneself are two completely different things, says Dr. Sharma. I a healthy weight? This is a question that can be answered easily. I weight beauty? That is a matter dictated by culture, specifically the fashion industry, and has nothing to do with healthy weight. "

It's time to do some self-criticism: ask yourself what drives you to be constantly regime. Are you satisfied with you when your doctor tells you that your health is excellent or not you are when you lose a few more pounds? "In the second case, I can assure you that this is not your health is at stake, but strictly your appearance," says Dr. Sharma.

If you feel good when you lose weight, maybe you should consider seeing a health care professional. "Eating disorders, said Jessica Begg, manifested primarily by the desire to lose some weight, then the person ends up losing all sense of proportion. All this seems to be triggered by a regime seemingly harmless. "

4. Your lifestyle is healthy

With all the emphasis on weight loss, we seem to forget sometimes that is not the only reason to adopt a healthy lifestyle. "If you eat right and exercise every day, you can be healthy even if you have some curves, says Arya Sharma. Most people gain weight throughout their lives without much of a problem for this side. Healthy weight allows a relatively large variation. "

Perhaps the results of your weigh-they put you in a bad mood, but keep in mind that the figures do not determine your health. According to Jessica Begg: "If there is no family history of illness in your family and your weight is stable for years, why would you suddenly lose weight? This makes no sense. " Therefore, if you do not see your weight fall sharply, do not blame your eating habits, rather store the scale in the closet for a while.