Do you remember why you joined the gym? Can you recall the exact reason that compelled you to shed those extra kilos? Diets and exercises are begun for a variety of reasons. You may have decided to lose weight on your doctor’s recommendation to prevent future health problems. You may have realized that to avoid inheriting your family’s problems of diabetes and health diseases, weight loss is the only way. You may want to regain the stamina that you once had. You may be required to lose weight for an impending surgery. Or may just be looking forward to a great appearance.

Unfortunately, most people choose to lose weight for the wrong reasons. In this high pressure world of today, societal pressure plays a huge role in decision making. All the magazines that you subscribe to, all the radio channels that you hear and any television program that you see just reinforce your desire to lose to weight. Waif like models waltz down the runway. Glamorous movie stars talk incessantly about their diet. Actors work away maniacally to develop a ‘six-pack’ in record time. All in the name of looking good. Clothes are manufactured to fit these reed thin people. If your are overweight, you may have to walk from store to store in search of that one dress that you can carry off well. No one talks about health. The personality of the stars is such that you feel compelled to look at yourself in the mirror and examine each ounce of fat deposited on your abdomen, your arms and elsewhere. What you see horrifies you and you rush to the nearest gym and also starve yourselves.

What you fail to realize is that the standards that the stars set is not for everyone. They may be going through a rigorous regime to keep up their appearances, but they have the time to do it. You have a job to go to and a home to run- other priorities which take up most of your time. How do you find the balance?

And most importantly, is being thin equivalent to being healthy? Models frequently faint on the runways, overcome by hunger and sheer exhaustion. What you need to understand is that while appearance is fleeting, health is forever. You must not work yourself to lose weight just to look good. The ultimate aim should be to lead a healthy life.