Very few people are able to accurately differentiate between immediate cost and long term value of losing weight and staying healthy.

Weight Loss Will Cost Money, Time and Effort

Immediate cost is usually more tangible and is measurable in the short term. Long term value on the other hand, is sometimes more intangible but requires a much longer view of life.

Trying to achieve sustainable weight loss will cost money, time and effort. These immediate costs are usually easily measurable. However most of us do not take the trouble to have a slightly longer term perspective. We miss out on the long term value of of losing weight and being healthy.

The Long Term Values of Weight Loss

The following is a list of the possible long term values that one could derive from losing weight;

• Significant savings in terms of health care cost which far outweighs any monetary cost incurred in getting in shape

• Potentially a longer life which more than replaces the time spent exercising

• Better quality of life with the ability to enjoy life better. This provides more comfort than any discomfort one has to go through to get in shape.

• Being a source of comfort and inspiration to your loved ones which is probably psychologically a lot more rewarding than the mental discipline needed to accomplish our goals.

Every Immediate Weight Loss Cost has a Longer Term Value

As weight loss is concerned, every aspect of short term cost has a longer term value that provides some of the best return of investment on the planet. The challenge is that most of us have certain areas of weakness that haunt us the extent that we are unable to see the longer term real values of weight loss.

Penny Wise Pound Foolish

For instance if someone has scarcity mentality, he or she will be very focused on the immediate monetary cost. These people think of a treadmill as a luxury. They rather not spend money on supplementation as they do not see real benefits. They invest in cheap running shoes.

They struggle to appreciate the healthcare savings that they could benefit by losing weight and being much healthier.  Someone who is unhealthy and overweight may have to pay much more in health care cost at a later stage in life. There could also be immediate monetary savings from paying lower insurance premiums.

The Most Precious Commodity is Life

If someone views time as too precious a commodity to spend on taking care of themselves, they may have to pay the price of a potentially shorter life. Do we forget that life is the most precious commodity?

If someone who abhors physical discomfort just wants to feel physically comfortable all the time, they may soon have to pay the price of discomfort due to illness or disability later on.

If someone does not make the effort to build the mental discipline to regularly and consistently invest in taking care of themselves, they may have to face the psychological pain of being a burden to their loved ones

It is ironic how life usually makes us either our best friend or our worst enemy. Investing a small amount today usually provides generous dividends in the future. However it requires a slightly longer term thinking which usually comes with maturity. Unfortunately, growing older does not necessarily bring added maturity.

Quick Fix Weight Loss Solutions

We are bombarded by savvy marketers who sells quick fix solutions. It is human nature to look for quick fix solutions that require minimum effort.

We forget that it usually takes years of slowly creeping weight for us to reach whatever stage we are at. Of course genetics and hormonal changes due to age, inactivity and improper diet play an important role in weight gain.

That is why only a lifestyle program which addresses all aspects of weight gain can achieve sustainable results. A well designed lifestyle program should cover exercise, nutrition, supplementation and mental aspects of weight loss.

Most quick fix solutions do not work. Even if these do work, it usually leads to rebound in weight gain after a short while.

If fact sticking to a well designed lifestyle program is probably the most economical, quickest, health enhancing and psychologically rewarding activity anyone can engage in. It is certainly a lot better than the highs and lows of quick fix solutions. We need to differentiate between immediate cost and long term values of losing weight and being healthy.