Body Changes During Weight Loss: What to Expect

Once you begin to see weight loss results, you may experience changes in your body as you adjust to this new way of eating and increase in daily activity. Don’t be scared to tune into your body at this time. When you tune into your body, you can identify what is right and comfortable and what is wrong and needs attention. YOU know your body best. Some possible changes that you may notice: Differences in the shape of your body. One obvious change after you lose some weight is that the shape of your body begins to look different. You might realize this suddenly after doing something ordinary that you do all the time. Maybe one day you’re relaxing for a long soak in the tub when you suddenly realize that you have one less tummy roll than you used to. A discovery like this is certainly bound to make your day!

Or, maybe you notice that, if you’re a woman, your shape is transforming into more of an hourglass which is a very exciting discovery. Maybe your jeans fit differently and they’re buttoning more easily. Next you might even imagine yourself fitting into that new bathing suit and looking great in it! You can make it happen.

How your body reshapes itself has a lot to do with the amount of exercise as well as the forms of exercise that you choose. For example, if you run all the time but you don’t do much of anything else, you will lose weight and gain some muscle in your legs and butt for sure. But it’s likely that

the top half of your body, such as your midsection and arms, might not tone up as much as you’d like. If you’re losing a lot of weight, you might even start to see flab up top even as fit as you’re becoming down below. The good news is that the more variety of exercises you choose, the more likely you are to have control over the shape and size of your various parts. Take roller skating, for example. This is a type of exercise that works your quads and glutes. You might even end up with quite a large, strong and firm backside and thigh area if skating is your main go-to sport. But then if you feel like it’s time to slim that core and do some movements that elongate rather than bulk up your muscles, you can get into yoga. Yoga is both relaxing to the nervous system and a healthy way to work out your core.

Here’s quick list of different types of exercises and which parts of the body they affect: • Belly dancing: core, abs • Running: legs, butt • Swimming: shoulders, arms

• Hula hooping: waist, core, calves, quads • Aerobics: all over body workout • Stair master or stepper machine: glutes, legs • Yoga: all over body workout • Free weights: Depends on the area you’re targeting. • Biking: butt, legs • Skating: glutes and legs • Hiking: legs

Differences in your skin.

Eating healthier and getting more exercise typically does incredible things for your skin. This happens because you’re moving more, eating better, and becoming more regular. Daily BMs and a healthy gut (less sugar, more fruits and veg, avoiding fried foods and processed fatty meats) definitely improve the condition of our skin.

Another way that being on a weight loss and fitness plan seems to help your skin out is that you’re probably making it a habit to drink more water. Staying hydrated keeps your skin supple and you may feel like you’re However, if you’re just starting to see weight loss and fitness results then the exact opposite may happen. Your skin may seem to get worse - for example, breakouts and rashes may appear on your face and other areas. If this happens, it’s very likely only temporary. Your body may be purging itself of excess toxins that built up during the time when you weren’t taking care of yourself. If you continue on the right track with eating lots of veggies and fruits and exercising, you should start to notice your skin clearing up.

Another affect that weight loss can have on your skin is increased sagging. You may feel disappointed in your facial appearance if you lose a marked amount of weight but then notice that your neck and chin area seems loose, or that your face seems to have an increase in fine lines or wrinkles if you’re middle aged or older.

You may feel like your breast size has reduced after a substantial amount of weight loss, which can be disappointing. The good news is that you can choose exercises which

help with body shaping. For example, focusing on core exercises such as crunches and stretches can help you whittle your middle which means that the fat may transfer to your breast and hip area, making you appear more shapely which is what some women hope for. Heredity, smoking, and other factors play a part in the appearance of our skin. If weight loss seems to have increased facial skin sagging for you, there are things you can do to help yourself. Certain yoga poses such as upward dog, cobra pose, neck stretches, camel pose, and others help to firm up the neck and chin area. Other parts, such as the back of the arms, breasts or tummy area may sag as well. Toning and targeting exercises usually help with this. You can also try increasing your intake of beneficial foods that keep the skin looking healthy and supple as well as drinking more water. Which foods improve your skin?

• Omega 3 fatty acids - found in fish oil, coconut, avocado, nuts and seeds

• Berries - get the blood flowing to the capillaries - think rosy cheeks • Vitamins A, C and E - antioxidants, abundant in green, yellow and orange veggies • Plain yogurt - probiotics balance your gut which can help reduce yeast in the body and clear up rashes or acne • Beans and whole grains - both help you become more regular, improving the appearance of your skin • Bone broth - the collagen in bone broth, especially when combined with vitamin C, increases elasticity of the skin and promotes healing

Occasional pain or soreness of muscles.

Increasing exercise and working out different muscle groups of your body can certainly result in a temporary increase of pain. The difference between the kind of pain that means you’ve injured yourself versus the “good sore” that comes with a beneficial workout, is that the former can seem much more uncomfortable as well as chronic, meaning the pain doesn’t seem to be lessening even though days are passing.

The latter seems typical of a fitness regimen. We all know that feeling of sore muscles after working out. This type of “good hurt” clears up in a short amount of time, maybe a day or two or even sooner if you’re taking time to stretch before and after any cardio or strength training you may be doing.

What kind of pain is “bad pain” when you’re trying to increase your physical fitness levels?

Pain in the joints such as hips, knees or ankles may indicate a misalignment that needs adjusting or point to injury. Sometimes a good yoga session can realign the body and make this type of pain go away much sooner than you might otherwise expect. If it hurts when you rub your muscles such as your