Z. Johnson
In honour of all the effort it takes to achieve a better version physically, mentally and emotionally, I decided to put together the top wellness results that are underrated. Being in a healthy weight is important, but sometimes we put too much stress on the scale numbers. There is way more than just how much you weigh. Whether you’re on a weight losss or fitness journey, you may not have noticed some important changes going on in your progress. So, if you feel stuck on your wellness journey or that is going slower than what you expected, keep reading.
Underrated wellness results. Why do we focus so much on the scale?
Well, here is a fact. It’s not your fault. We were all taught that the only way to measure a weight loss or fitness progress is on body weight. Of course, this is the easiest way to indicate whether you’re in a healthy range or in risk of developing other diseases. And, don’t get me wrong, measuring your weight is necessary to know where you stand. But, apart from that, you need to focus on other aspects of your physical wellbeing. I’ll talk more about that below.
The media, the diet industry, your famous doctor, that instagram model, or those social media influencers mostly focus on how many kilos you can lose in x amount of time. I personally coach people to pay attention to how they feel besides losing some kilos. Why? Because our bodies are biology, not math equations. There’s a lot behind losing some weight or getting lean. Let’s look at some of the most common underrated wellness results that you may not be paying attention to.
1. More energy
This one is so often overlooked when people are trying to lose weight or get fit. Because you’re learning to eat better, which means choosing more whole foods, your body is getting the right nutrition to fuel your metabolism. If you’re in this journey and haven’t noticed any change in your energy levels, then you might need to still make adjustments. But, overall, I love how I feel when I wake up every morning or after a typical day. Of course, this doesn’t include stress and other daily things that can happen in between, but in general, energy levels improve when you’re eating more mindfully and with proper whole foods.
2. Better digestion is one of those common underrated wellness results
This is another big one! What happened with all those sensations of feeling bloated, inflammation, constipation and leaky gut? Hopefully, you’ve improved these issues by eating healthier. Remember, that eating enough fiber, drinking a lot of water, and reducing over processed foods are not only to lose weight, but will definitely help your digestion. You see, the media stressed so much emphasis on weight loss and fitness, that oftentimes we forget to address our gut health. By the way, if you didn’t know, the better your gut health is, the more you’ll lose weight or get fit and keep the results for good!
3. More confidence and self-esteem
Being healthier also reflects how confident you become and your own self-esteem. These are other common underrated wellness results. When you lose weight, it feels great to fit in those tight skinny jeans, or even feel flattered when your butt grows as you get fit. You can’t take these feelings for granted, it just has to do with how having a better body image can boost your confidence and help you feel to your best. Apart from that, you’ll have more motivation to keep pushing for long term results.
4. Your body composition is also part of those underrated wellness results
Well, this one should be obvious, right? Mm, unfortunately, is not always the case. People often forget that our body is made of muscle, fat, bones, body water and organs. When you’re on a wellness journey, whether you want to lose weight or get lean, the main goal should be to change your body composition. In other words, besides how much you weigh, you want to focus on increasing your lean mass (muscle) and lose body fat. Remember that too much body fat is related to a higher risk of having chronic diseases.
If you just started going to the gym, for example, after a month or so, you’ll notice that your weight can have little to no change, but it’s because your body is gaining more muscle while at the same time losing fat. Our muscles are more dense than fat. This is the main reason why many people get frustrated about their body not changing, but you know what?, as long as you’re getting leaner, that’s all that counts.
5. How low can you squat? Better workout performance
From my personal experience, this is hands down one of my best wellness results. Being able to be more flexible, improve repetitions, core exercises, squat lower (yes, I love to squat) are just a few things that you can gain once you start getting healthier. When you get in a better position physically and mentally, your body performs to its best. Because we’ve been so focused on the scale, we forget how our body movements improve with time. So, having better workout performance is definitely one of those underrated wellness results that we should pay more attention to.
6. Less food anxiety
Having less food anxiety is another big win-win situation. If you’re learning how to eat right, which means, choosing the proper nourishing foods, then you’ll notice how you’ll have less food anxiety. This is one of the major things you gain when having proper nutrition and eating according to your needs. In my article about how to deal with binge eating, I cover some important steps to avoid this issue.
7. Increased productivity
Well, this is one of those underrated wellness results nobody really talks about. Have you noticed how you focus better when you’re working or simply get more creative? Studies show that when your body is healthier, your brain works better, simply because you are nourishing your cells and stimulating better blood flow.
8. Increased sex drive
I bet you weren’t thinking about this one! But actually, just as everything else in our body, our sex hormones depend on proper nutrition and exercise. There are studies that show that a good diet can boost your libido and ensure your body is working well. A poor diet can lead to a lot of health issues, which affect your sex life. For example, erectyle dysfunction is linked to diabetes, obesity and high blood pressure.
Another thing that improves your sex life is practicing exercise regularly. Evidence shows that being active not only boosts your libido but helps to produce the known “feel good” endorphins. Exercising also lowers cortisol levels. When you workout often, you also become physically more attractive, which enhances your sexual life.
9. Better sleep is another big one of those underrated wellness results
Being healthier also improves the quality of sleep. If you eat healthy, train right, take time to rest, you’ll notice how falling asleep becomes easier. Not only that, but you’ll be able to feel more rested the next day when you wake up. Actually, sleep quality is one of the main goals when being on a fitness or weight loss journey. Make sure to get at least 7-9 hours of daily sleep and make resting a priority.
10. Less infections:
Eating better boosts your immune system. In my previous article, about ways to boost your immune system, I cover some of the most important foods that will help you have less infections. As a personal experience I can say that living a healthier life has helped me to stay away from flus, infections and other diseases.
11. More radiant skin
Skin health is also a great passion for me. Helping people to feel better and also look younger is my go to. One of the other things I noticed when getting more active and keeping a healthier lifestyle is how my skin glows. When you’re nourishing your body correctly, you can notice how smooth and radiant your skin gets with time. Your skin is clearly a reflection of how your body is on the inside, therefore, taking care of all your health aspects ensures that your skin will noticeably improve. Less breakouts, more hydrated, less risk of premature aging (early wrinkles), better skin texture and less dark spots are just a few examples. This is one of those underrated wellness results that we should also look out for.
12. Better mental health
Last but not least, you cannot forget about how mental health improves by having a healthier lifestyle. Seems like a no brainer, but again, sometimes we think about the physical aspects of getting fitter that we underestimate our mental wellbeing. In my previous blog about mental health, I cover more on this topic of how fitness can definitely enhance your mental health on all levels. Exercising helps to reduce anxiety, stress, depression and boosts a better mood.
The bottom line is…
These are just a few main underrated wellness results that are part of our daily life. If one of these brought your attention, maybe it’s time to start focusing on your whole wellbeing besides the numbers on the scale. As I’ve said before, there is nothing better than just having a great quality of life. Eating healthier, exercising, resting, and simply having fun will boost your lifestyle for the long term. What are your thoughts about these wellness results? Have you overlooked any of these? Comment below. Make sure to share this with your friends.
