3 Ways Having a Dog Can Help You Lose Weight

Did you know the simple act of getting a pet dog can help you lose weight? I'm going to show you 3 ways that you can lose weight just by owning a dog.

Serotonin Boost

Studies show that petting and cuddling a dog boost serotonin levels in humans. This boost of serotonin leads to many benefits, one of those is decreased appetite. You see, your brain releases chemicals that can make you feel either more hungry or less hungry.

Serotonin makes you feel less hungry. A serotonin boost would also reduce pain, depression, and anxiety. If you have trouble with emotional eating, owning a dog would also help with that by reducing your sadness. So all in all, you would end up consuming less calories if you owned a pet dog.

Dog Walks

If you own a dog, you should be walking your dog daily. This could result in weight loss. Not many people equate walking with significant weight loss, but I can tell you from experience I personally lost 20 lbs just by adding walking into my daily life.

Anything you do burns calories, and walking is no exception. You can actually burn a substantial amount of calories each week by adding walking to your daily routine. Walking reduces the circumference of your waist, essentially burning off belly fat. You may even meet your soulmate while out on a walk with your dog.

Playing With Your Dog

It's important that dogs get a lot of quality time with their owner. One way is to play with your dog. But did you know that playing catch with your dog also helps you burn more calories each day? Playing catch or Frisbee with your dog not only makes them happy, but it makes you thinner.

Plan to play a game of catch each day for at least 30 minutes. Use a Frisbee, a ball, or a chew/squeak toy.

Adopting Your Dog

If you are going to get a dog to enrich your life, consider adopting a dog that is currently in a shelter. There are many dogs without a home and these dogs need love. You can be their second chance at a happy life. So please visit your local shelter to see what type of dogs they have available for adoption. Know the dog's age, breed, health condition, and their past. If you don't happen to find one you like, try again at another shelter or at a later time.