Gas and bloating has affected everyone at one time or another. It is not only uncomfortable, but can also influence how you feel both physically and emotionally. Your personal body image may be negatively impacted by the presence of bloating, and this can be especially frustrating for people who are trying to lose weight.
Your Perception of Weight Loss
Though bloating and gas will not cause you to gain weight, it will cause your abdomen to be distended, giving you the appearance of gaining weight or adding inches around your waist. This may lead to extreme diet restrictions to try to reverse the inches instead of an investigation into the possible causes of the gas and bloating you are experiencing.
Negative Impacts Your Exercise Routine
Exercising is an important part of any weight loss plan, and also plays an important role in your emotional well being. However, when you are bloated, the discomfort that you feel will likely inhibit your exercise. It can be especially difficult to engage your core muscles (the muscles in your abdomen) when you are bloated. Working your core muscles is key to effective exercise, and thus an inability to work your core will lead to a negative impact on your entire exercise routine.
Might be a Symptom of a Problem in Your Gut
Your digestive system is a key player in your overall health. A properly functioning digestive system will break down the foods that you eat, absorb all of the needed nutrients, and eliminate out the remaining waste. This process keeps your body healthy, and knowing how to maximize the amount of nutrients to the amount of waste you eat will help you lose weight. However, bloating and gas can be a sign that something is “off” in your gut. An imbalance of gut flora or stomach acid can lead to gas and bloating. Bringing your gut back into balance will help you eliminate the unsightly and uncomfortable bloating and gas, and will help you feel better as well.
Pay Attention
While you are on your weight loss journey, or even if you are just on a journey to feel better, paying attention to how the foods you eat make you feel on the inside will help you achieve your goal. Focus on eating foods which make you feel great on the inside and you will look and feel better on the outside too.