Do you want to lose weight? If yes, then you would have come across numerous methods you can follow. Among the popular ways people try and achieve their weight loss goals is by participating in a challenge or a competition. As the name suggests, the challenge is to lose a certain number of pounds in a given number of days. The idea behind this is using competition as motivation. As people don’t like losing, they are likely to stick to their weight loss goals and work harder towards them. Now, weight loss challenges seem harmless enough, but should you participate in one? Let’s look at the pros and cons:
Pros
When participating in a weight loss challenge, you have other people watching you and keeping an eye on your progress. This can serve as strong motivation to work hard so you don’t end up embarrassing yourself. Not to mention, the added accountability means you have to stick to the goals or you wouldn’t be able to win. The fear of losing can also push you towards achieving your goals.
There is no dearth of motivation and you can also find support when attempting a weight loss challenge. Generally, experts advise that you should find a weight loss buddy who follows the same routine as you. This serves as a source of motivation and accountability and at the same time, you know you have someone you can count on to help you through the difficult phases.
You are more likely to keep track of your progress when attempting a challenge than if you are trying to simply lose weight. This means that you stay accountable to yourself as well. Moreover, the urge to reduce the number on the scale will also push you towards working harder.
Cons
Most weight loss challenges focus on weight alone and not on overall health. As you are likely to lose a lot of weight in a short span of time, it could affect your health adversely. However, this risk can be mitigated by consulting a doctor before you attempt a weight loss challenge.
The results of weight loss challenges are short-lived and you have to keep working out and eating healthy to keep the weight off, which can be a tad difficult.
In conclusion, it won’t be wrong to say that the benefits of weight loss challenges outweigh the cons. At the end of the day, the decision is yours to make. If you have tried other weight loss methods without success, taking on a challenge could just be what you need.
{ 0 comments… add one now }