COVID-19 has caused yet another difficulty: the average American has put on about 29 pounds since the pandemic started.

This data comes from the February 2021 results of the Harris Poll, conducted by the American Psychological Association.

And even though the average gain was 29 pounds, 10% of respondents said their weight increased by 50 pounds!

Since our focus is podiatry, we feel the responsibility to bring this issue to light so you don’t find yourself experiencing serious pain in your feet because of the additional weight gain.

Some of the additional dangers posed to your feet include:

1. Fallen arches or “fat fleet,” which can be quite painful on their own and can expose you to the risk of additional injury
2. Disabling foot pain
3. Plantar fasciitis, which is the painful inflammation of the plantar fascia which runs along the bottom of your foot
4. Diabetic neuropathy, which has a wide range of symptoms, such as: pain and numbness in your feet, and even problems with your digestive system, urinary tract, blood vessels and heart
5. Gout, which is a common form of arthritis that may also include sudden and intense bursts of pain and swelling
6. Muscle, bone, and ligament stress and damage

How Do You Motivate Yourself to Lose Weight? 

You know being overweight isn’t healthy. Everyone understands that.

Awareness is not the problem. The issue is motivating yourself to actually lose weight – and keep it off.

You’re unique. Ultimately, you have to figure out how to keep yourself motivated. For now, here’s a brief guide to get you going on the right track:

1. Figure out why you want to lose weight
2. Focus on a realistic expectation of losing 1-2 pounds per week
3. Eat a healthy diet that you also enjoy (otherwise you won’t stick to it)
4. Set your eyes on the actions you need to take to lose weight
5. Only create a plan that you know you can stick to long-term
6. Keep a record of everything you eat, even if it’s as small as a piece of candy
7. Celebrate all your successes, no matter how small, and especially at the start
8. Keep in touch with a support group who can pick you up when you struggle
9. Assume setbacks will happen, but don’t let them completely derail you
10. Forgive and accept yourself when you make mistakes
11. Do exercise that you enjoy
12. Involve your dog because they love to walk and run. And they’re great emotional support too!
13. Work with a professional dietitian if you need to. Most private insurance companies cover this benefit, especially if you have an underlying condition such as diabetes. A referral is usually required from your pcp or specialist.

Losing weight, and keeping it off, isn’t easy. If it was, we wouldn’t have any overweight people!

The more help you accept from others, whether emotional, professional, or otherwise, the more likely you are to succeed.

Not only will your feet appreciate it, but the rest of your body will too!

And you’ll feel so much better about yourself also.