9 Things to Expect from Your Weight Loss Journey

Losing weight accomplishes more than just giving you an opportunity to buy new clothes. Dropping only 5 to 10% of your body weight can improve your general wellbeing and lower your risk for heart disease and diabetes. It can also have social impacts according to Adam Tsai, a doctor at Kaiser Permanente Colorado and a representative for the Obesity Society. Here are the benefits as well as the disadvantages you could experience along your weight loss journey.

Your energy levels will skyrocket

Increased energy levels is one of the first things you might notice when you begin to lose weight. When you’re hauling around less weight, you utilize less energy to approach your day, according to Dr. Tsai. The weight reduction also increases oxygen, so you don’t wind up feeling exhausted as quickly when you climb stairs or hustle to grab a bus.

Your memory may improve

In a 2013 Swedish study, older women scored better on memory tests six months after following a weight loss plan. Brain activity showed greater action during encoding (where memories are shaped) and less action during memory recovery, suggesting that memory actually improves. Study creator Andreas Pettersson, MD, noted that weight loss helps the brain store new memories while using less power to recall older ones. Other studies have shown links between obesity and memory loss, particularly in pear-shaped women who carry their weight around their hips.