9 Things That Happen To Your Body After You Lose Just 5 Pounds!

from the Eat this, Not That e-zine

Let's be real, losing weight can be challenging. Sometimes, it can feel like you don't see any results, no matter how hard you try. But, even if you don't see the fruits of your efforts in the mirror (yet!), subtle changes are starting to happen in your body—even if you just lose 5 pounds.

That's right, you don't need to lose a dramatic number of pounds for your body to start to transform. Here are 9 things that happen to your body when you start shedding fat. If you lose more than 5 pounds, you'll rack up the health benefits and see even more noticeable differences.

1). Your Fat Cells Shrink: To lose weight, you take in fewer calories than you expend. Where does your body get the extra energy it needs? Your fat cells. "As your body starts to pull energy from your fat cells to make up for the energy from the food you're not eating, your fat cells will shrink," says Dr. Mike Roussell, PhD. If you need more incentive to keep the weight off, Roussell says that rapidly regaining weight can hyper-inflate your fat cells. "They become bigger than they were before you lost weight," he says.

2). You’ll Help Get Your Blood Sugar In Check: Shedding a few pounds may improve your body's ability to dial into your blood sugar. "Eating less and exerting yourself more will lead to greater insulin sensitivity, which allows your body to better control and stabilize blood sugar levels," says Roussell. Keeping your blood sugar levels balanced can help you manage and avoid related health conditions and avoid hunger pains.

3). You’ll Tame Inflammation: While inflammation is part of your body's natural defense system, carrying extra weight can cause it to go into overdrive, leading to chronic health conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. In a study published in Nutrition Research, researchers found that losing an average of just 6 pounds decreased inflammation by reducing the production of pro-inflammatory proteins. It also improved immune system function.

4). You’ll Have Less Achy Joints: It makes sense: the more you weigh, the more force you exert on your bones and joints when you move. Over time, that additional strain can lead to joint damage and osteoarthritis. Losing just 5 pounds of excess weight could mean 20 fewer pounds of pressure on your precious joints.

5). You’ll Decrease LDL Cholesterol: According to a study published in Cell Metabolism, dropping a few pounds was enough to decrease not only liver fat but also intra-abdominal fat. That's the unhealthy fat that clings to your organs and can trigger the release of molecules linked to a variety of health conditions. Reducing the amount of intra-abdominal fat may lower your risk for cardiovascular disease and diabetes.

6). Your Heart Health Will Improve: Slimming down boosts HDL cholesterol—the one you want to be higher—and lowers triglycerides, decreasing your risk for heart disease. In a study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, overweight and obese women who lost weight over a two-year period dropped their total cholesterol levels, regardless of the number of pounds dropped.

7). You’ll Sleep Better: Who couldn't use some more quality sleep? One study from the University of Pennsylvania found that even a small amount of weight loss can improve sleep. That means you'll have more energy and a better mood, too!

8). Your Blood Pressure Will Likely Drop: When you're carrying around extra weight, your heart has to work harder to pump blood, which can mean higher blood pressure. Lowering the number of the scale can drop systolic and diastolic blood pressure in people who are overweight or obese and had Type 2 diabetes, according to a study published in Diabetes Care.

9). Your Mood Will Likely Improve: Losing five pounds may make you feel happier, even if it's just the kick-off to your weight loss journey. One review of published research found that people experienced positive mental health benefits, such as higher measures of self-esteem, when they shed a few pounds. Even if you aren't seeing drastic results on the scale just yet, lifestyle changes like eating better and moving more can have countless positive impacts on both your mental and physical health.