1. You will be at a lower risk of developing an array of health issues. Being overweight or obese has been linked to a number of serious, life threatening health issues. Coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and Type 2 Diabetes are just a few of the many, many problems that have been directly linked to excessive weight. If you have or had experience dealing with these issues, you know how much your life changes. Your life becomes centered around medication, frequent trips to the hospital or to see specialists, and dealing with all the related symptoms (such as swelling and fatigue). The only way to resolve these issues is to reduce your weight. Even a bit can decrease the risk of developing a life-threatening condition.

2. As a woman, you'll have a more predictable menstrual cycle and improve fertility. Skipping periods and experiencing severe pre-menstrual syndrome can all be very distressing for women, particularly in the child-bearing years.

3. You won't be at a higher risk of developing gestational diabetes, high blood pressure or suffer from a long recovery period following childbirth. In addition, the babies of overweight or obese mothers are at a higher risk of being premature or developing defects of the brain or spinal cord.

Children of overweight or obese mothers are at a higher risk of being overweight or obese themselves.

4. You'll sleep better. Sleep apnea, a condition that refers to the pausing of breathing during the night, is very common in people who have excessive weight. This can cause irritability, sleepiness and headaches, as well as heart failure.

5. Your joints will thank you. Carrying excess weight can be very stressful on your joints, particularly your knees and hips. Over time, this stress can cause the cartilage in your joints to wear away, resulting in inflammation, swelling, and pain. One medical condition that refers to this is osteoarthritis, and according to the Arthritis Society, over three million Canadians suffer from it.

6. You'll sexually function better. A number of studies and reviews, including a 2012 review published in the medical journal, Obesity, confirms that erectile dysfunction is more common among obese men than those who are of a healthier weight. While studies on obesity and female sexual dysfunction aren't as plentiful, one study cited by Brown University in the US found that 60% of women who are seeking bariatric surgery have female sexual dysfunction.

7. You won't suffer as much heartburn or acid reflux. A study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine has found that obesity increases the risk of heartburn (gastroesophageal reflux disease). Long term sufferers are also at a higher of developing esophageal or throat cancer. The doctors conducted the study have gone as far as to say that all overweight patients with heartburn may be advised to reduce their weight to help improve their condition.

8. You won't have to wear adult diapers anymore. Excess weight pushes down on the pelvic muscles, which may weaken the valve on the urinary bladder. This can cause incontinence, particularly when coughing, sneezing, or laughing.

9. You won't be depressed. Dutch researchers found that there is an undeniable link between obesity and depression: obese people have a 55% higher chance of becoming depressed and people who are depressed have a 58% higher chance of becoming obese. The impact of social perception, failure with dieting, and unfair treatment in your professional and social relationships can cause you to experience sadness and depression. This can be devastating.

10. You'll have better self-esteem. Several doctors believe that weight issues tend to be directly connected with self-esteem issues. When you have low self-esteem, you'll probably make more bad food and lifestyle choices because you simply don't care enough to bother treating your body right. When you have good self-esteem, you take care to treat your body right by giving it the right food and exercise.

There is no doubt that as you achieve a healthier weight and maintain it, you'll feel so much about yourself. This is not only because you are finally able to be successful in your goals, but also because the positive impact on your physical health has a positive effect on your mental state as well.