I’ve been kind of obsessed with my dog this week. This started when I went with her to get an evaluation for obedience classes (sit and stay) and agility classes (running through mazes and hoops). Well, low and behold, my very food motivated dog overcame her shyness and conquered the agility obstacle. She got lots of treats and learned how to do a fun trick. And watching her put a big smile on my face.
This got me thinking about how much our dogs enrich our lives. And in enriching our lives, they can also improve our health. And the more I thought about it, the more I realized how the health benefits can translate to weight loss. In fact, having a dog can be really supportive for any weight loss attempt for multiple reasons. Well, 5 reasons to be exact.
1. They Keep You Active-
I decided to get the obvious one out of the way first. However, it isn’t just your dog’s walks and the trips to the park that will keep you in shape. Most dogs do require some extra activity inside the house as well. Your dog will want you to throw its favorite toy. Maybe she likes a good game of chase. Your small dog may want to be picked up and carried. She begs you to get up and walk across the house to get his favorite treat. While this might not take the place of formal exercise, you will most likely be more active with a dog than without one. I talk quite a bit in my Body & Soul Transformation Program about how even those of us who exercise tend to be way too sedentary in our down time. Having a dog is a good way to keep yourself moving when you’re at home and might otherwise be mindlessly sitting in front of the TV.
2. They Keep You Social-
Dogs make you get up and actually explore your neighborhood. These days, most of us don’t really know our neighbors. Dogs help ease the introduction by running to the nearest stranger and give them a big slobbery lick. Ok, so you might be thinking, that’s nice, but how will my dog’s social nature help me lose weight? Well, when we feel detached from our community, we can experience loneliness and depression. These negative emotions can create an internal chain reaction that will actually slow down the metabolism and create cravings for sugary, fattening foods. So your dog, by being your best friend and helping you get to know your community, will help make you feel more connected which can help you lose weight. All the more reason to get your dog out of the backyard so the two of you can experience the world together.
3. They Make Great Sleep Buddies-
Yes, there are experts that say that you’re not supposed to let your dog sleep on the bed. But most of us do it anyway because it is just so tempting to spend the night cuddling with our lovable pile of fur. Dogs never expect more from you when you start cuddling. They naturally sleep in packs, so they will keep you nice and warm on cold winter nights. They are excellent at spooning. And if you kick them or roll over onto them when you’re sleeping, they totally won’t hold it against you in the morning. When I was a little kid, I was scared to sleep alone, so my dog stood guard on my bed which allowed me to fall into a deep, restful sleep. So how will this help you lose weight? Studies show that we need good quality sleep to lose weight. Sleep deprivation leads to sugar cravings, inflammation and heightened hunger signals. Just make sure you don’t sleep with a dog who takes the whole bed or turns so much that they wake you. That will have the opposite effect on your weight.
4. They Lower Your Stress-
So, you’ve had a horrible day and you can feel the stress creeping into your shoulders. But when you get home, your dog is running in happy circles to celebrate your arrival. Or you just hung up the phone from an argument, and your dog, sensing the tension, runs over to lick your face. Or maybe you’re obsessing about this project, and your dog forces you to take a break with a game of fetch. Stress is one of the most undervalued and overlooked aspects of weight gain. Our stress hormones directly communicate with our hormones that store fat and send them into overdrive. Stress hormones also inhibit the signals that communicate with our brain to tell us we are satiated after a meal. Dogs help lower stress hormones which will help our waistline as well.
5. They Can Help You Stay On Track With Your Eating Goals-
Most dogs go bonkers for people food. And they can get much more excited by healthy food than we do. For instance, my husband got my dog addicted to carrots. And whenever we start eating carrots, she gets super excited because she knows we’re likely to share with her. So carrot time is a bonding time for the whole family. Find a healthy food your dog will be willing to share and make your shared snack a household ritual. Your dog will start to expect it and remind you when you’ve forgotten your veggies for the day. Just make sure to stay away from healthy foods like onions and grapes which are toxic to pups.
While having a dog is certainly not a prerequisite for weight loss, dogs can become our partners in our weight loss endeavors. It’s important to note however that you should never adopt a family member just to lose weight. Dogs provide a lot of love and support, but they are also lots of work. And when you commit to a dog, you commit to them for life.
So one last thought.
What is the best way that dogs help us lose weight? They remind us how perfect we are as we are right now. They remind us that we are lovable, whether we lose the weight or not. And these feelings of self-worth are invaluable to our entire well-being. Of course we should already know how fabulous we are, but to be honest, it’s nice to have the reminder.
Ahhhh… I love dogs! I can’t have any pets in my building, but I my view, in addition to the water, is the biggest lease-free dog park in the city! I get wrapped up completely, just watching them! It may not contribute to MY weight loss, but thankfully I don’t have that problem. But it sure is great entertainment and I find myself watching for the same dogs every day:)
I used to actually go to the dog park to watch dogs before I had one of my own. I always felt a little bit creepy, but I just wanted to play with other people’s dogs!
Have never been on a diet but had a dog for a while.
They really force you to be active no matter how cold the weather is. Had a dog when I lived in Spain where it’s warm but people in Scandinavia with dogs sometimes have to go out in horrendous snowstorms simply because they have a dog. Because of that aspect one woman I know who has a dog says she has never been so fit in her entire life.
There isn’t snow where I am now, but I imagine trekking through the snow with your dog is fabulous exercise. It would be even better exercise with my dog because I would have to drag her the entire way!
My husband and I LOVE dogs. Sadly over the years, we’ve had to say good bye to two of them, each 16 years old. I totally relate to all the benefits of having a dog. And to your point, are you aware that HeartMath Institute did some research: as much as the dog helps reduce our stress, when we are petting them, we reduce their stress. I love dogs. (I know I repeated myself!)
How great that you got 16 years with your dogs, but it is still so sad when they go. I believe I’ve heard about that research with dogs and stress. It is so nice to know that they get just as much out of their relationship with us.
I like dogs – from afar! I doubt I would ever own a dog as they require a lot of care and I do not have the time or patience. My two children are more than enough to keep me busy!
I can see why dogs keep you fit as they need to go on long walks daily. They also like to play – a lot.
Yes, you definitely want to make sure you want to dedicate the time to taking care of a dog. Parents get them because their kids beg, and then they end up taking care of them.
Preaching to the choir! Great photos by the way. 🙂 I LOVE my little girl Lucy and yes she definitely keeps me moving. One thing she also does for me is when I get engrossed in writing she’ll come up next to my chair and stand up on her hind legs and place her paws on my leg and just stare at me. I can’t help but think it’s her way of saying, “Enough already, time to take a break!” And that’s my signal to stand up and we head outside for some fresh air and sunshine.
That is a great story, Marquita. Dogs really do help us create more balance in our lives.
I don’t think our dogs helped much with physical fitness. They were a small breed that didn’t need a lot of exercise. Walks seemed to include as much standing around waiting for them to finish sniffing and exploring as walking. But they were fun to have around and we miss them. We recently got our “dog fix” by dog-sitting a friend’s dog.
I think even an inactive dog gets you moving more than you would on your own. You still have to stand with them when you could be sitting. That wouldn’t take the place of real exercise, but the little things can add up, and anything that makes us less sedentary is a plus. By the way, my dog loves to play in the house, but she can be super lazy on walks.
I couldn’t agree more about a dog forcing you to get out in your neighborhood and be social. We don’t have a dog right now but I would say we know everybody within a 1/2 mile that does. Tough not to get to know someone who walks by you 3 times a day.
That is so true, Kire. I’ve gotten to know some of my non-dog owner neighbors the same way.
Aren’t dogs great! OUr pets help us in so many ways. When I was going through a very rough period in my life a number of years ago, I got my little guy, Plot. I knew that If I did nothing else I’d take care of a puppy. Going out for walks, buying him toy, taking him to the beach, and keeping him fed got me out of myself and back on my feet. And now that I think about he did get me back on a regular eating schedule I was so down, I just din’t get out to the store for myself. Once he came along I had a reason to go to the market. Soon I was back on track with a healthy diet and thats when I got into yoga.
I’ve heard similar stories from people when going through a time of grieving. You can’t let life stop because dogs truly live in the moment. I’m glad Plot has been such an addition to your life and that he’s helped you get through the tough times.
Couldn’t agree with you more. Only thing that doesn’t work for me is the sleep better item. My dog is up with the sun and while he doesn’t wake me up at the first movement in my bed he jumps up and starts licking my face. One the other hand he keeps my throwing arm in shape tossing balls in the park for him to chase. I know everyone in my neighborhood who as a dog. Those that don’t, not so much.
You make a point, Ken. Certainly not all dogs help you sleep better. Though sometimes some morning motivation to get out of bed (once you are already awake, of course) can be what you need to get the most out of a full day.
I totally agree! Thanks for sharing. I think dogs give you so much more than other animals. They are definitely, man’s best friend.
Yes, I’ve had many animals as pets in my life. I’ve loved them all, but there is something special about a dog.
My dream has always been to have a couple of dogs. I travel so much I don’t dare but it will happen one day. I have been an uncle to a couple and they have stayed with me on and off for weeks at a time. All your points are spot on and I look forward to the day.
I would imagine that having a dog right now with all your travel would be almost impossible. My dog is my husband’s first dog and I think he loves her all the more because he had to wait so long to have her.
The charity where I worked started the Dog Therapy Program here in Canada. the Dogs and handlers have to go through quite vigorous training to qualify but once they do they are used in all kinds of ways – Hospital and Nursing home visits, Universities at exam time when the students are totally stressed, with developmentally challenged individuals. One result that brought tears to my eyes was when an Alzheimer patient who hadn’t talked sang “How much is that doggie in the window” when one of our dogs visited her. Amazing power these dogs have so yes, I can totally understand how they can be beneficial in a weight-loss program.
Wow, the story with the Alzheimer patient and the dog really is moving. My friend brings her dog into hospitals as a therapy dog and I think it is very rewarding. We really do have a special bond with dogs and it is amazing that they can play a role in healing us.
Godh now I want to go our a get a dog. I do have a cat who does much of what you say. but not the exercise and socialization part. It’s something to think about. 🙂
If you have the time in your life to take care of a dog, I say go for it!
A dog is a good way to exercise and socialise. My children keep asking for one but as we are out all day, I think it would be a bit unfair to have one at this stage of our life. They tend to help my friends and take their dogs for walks -not as exercise but for the pocket money and fun part. It’s always sad when we have to return the dogs to their owners.
The downside to having a dog is that you can’t spend huge chunks of time away from home without hiring someone to take care of them. It is really important to evaluate whether you can accommodate a dog’s needs with your schedule before getting one. I’m glad you at least have dogs you can “borrow”. I used to “dog sit” before I got a dog and I loved it.
I do miss having dogs around. I was raised with hound dogs and then had several coyote dog mixes. Living in an apartment, and then driving 4 hours to take care of a house on the weekend, does not make for a happy dog, so I did not have one now. I do miss having a dog around.
This is a wonderful post, and thanks for sharing it with us.
Thank you, William. I’m sure there will be a time in the future that will be right for having a dog again. I’m glad you have those great memories from growing up with dogs.
Hi Erica. I’ve never had a dog, but I always thought they’d be a great exercise buddy as well as companion! How can one not feed off the energy of a furry friend?
I love taking my dog for walks. On a non-jogging day she gets a 35-40 minute walk in which I also listen to an audio book. She’s a high energy girl, so I do start to feel guilty if I skip too many jogging days. I know I need to job, but if she doesn’t jog, she bugs me a lot more. A tired dog is a happy dog 🙂
Ahhh, it sounds like your dog is keeping you in shape! You should never get a high energy dog unless you’re willing to expend some energy yourself. She sounds like a happy dog with a responsible owner.
that’s the key difference between dogs and cats. Dogs like to go places with you. Unfortunately, cats generally can’t, as we’re too likely to meet a dog along the way. I always feel bad when we go for a walk and have to leave our cat at home for that reason.