How Does Meditation Help You Lose Weight?

Why Consider Meditation to Help You Lose Weight?

Trying to lose weight can be stressful. That stress can lead to additional weight gain instead of weight loss. Meditation helps you lose weight by putting you into the right mindset to do so. For centuries, people have used meditation to clear their mind and calm their bodies.

Most doctors and psychologists recommend meditation as a stress reducing technique. Some of the benefits of meditation include reduced blood pressure, reduced stress, and enhance the sense of well-being and healthier arteries. All of these can help with weight loss.

How Does Meditation Help to Lose Weight?

Meditation is the healthiest way to release deeply stored stress within your body. When your body is stressed, it produces high levels of cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone in your body that is secreted by the adrenal glands.

The primary functions of cortisol are to metabolize glucose properly, to regulate blood pressure and to maintain insulin release in the body.

Cortisol is perfect for short periods of time. It is natural for high levels of cortisol to be in the bloodstream in the morning or during a fight or flight response.

Unfortunately, many people spend their entire day stressed. As a result, cortisol stays in the bloodstream for extended periods of time. Increased abdominal fat, blood sugar imbalances and suppressed thyroid functioning can occur.

Studies have shown that people who meditate have a significant reduction of cortisol levels, and they were able to lose deep belly fat as a result.

The thought of effective diet plan and exercise stresses people out. It can be hard to fit exercise into a busy schedule, and most people pick the wrong diet to use.

A good healthy diet should not be stressful to maintain. However, most people opt for a diet that alters their eating habits tremendously. It can be hard for them to stay on a diet and remember all the rules. This produces more stress.

One slip up from their diet can lead to a downward spiral, and they will binge eat. This leads to guilt and more stress.

For permanent weight loss, you need a diet that slowly changes your eating habits over a period. It will be less stressful, and you are more likely to stick to it.

Exercise does not work because most people are afraid they cannot do it. If you are used to being physically active, there is an adjustment period to incorporating exercise into your life.

If you pair meditation with exercise, you will be more successful. For example, starting yoga would be a great way to go.

The reflection portion of the training will get you into the right mindset to be-be focused and determined to lose weight.

What are Some Meditation Techniques to Help Lose Weight?

One of the best meditation techniques that are associated with healthy weight loss has you taking five breathes before eating. This relaxes your body, clears your emotional palate, and helps you to decide if you are emotionally eating.

Here is another technique that works:

1. Find a quiet, comfortable place where you can sit.
2. Close your eyes
3. Relax your muscles.
4. Start to breathe slowly and naturally.
5. If you get distracted, learn how to notice the distraction and quickly move away from it by returning to your breathing.
6. Continue breathing for 10 to 20 minutes.
7. Do this twice a day.

Results of Meditation

The biggest effects of meditation are the reduction of stress that can be determined by lower levels of cortisol in the bloodstream. Once meditation is introduced, it easier to see a reduction of weight loss.

Meditation can also affect brain activity. Dr. Catherine Karr, a Brown University meditation researcher, has found that meditation can change areas in the brain that are responsible for interpreting your body’s sensations.

The areas most affected are related to hunger and cravings. In other words, meditation can help you control your hunger and cravings by changing your brain activity. This result coupled with the reduction of stress can lead to significant weight loss.

Summary

Most people gain weight, because they are stressed, and they cannot lose weight for the same reason. Meditation helps you stop gaining weight due to stress and helps you garner the right mindset to start the weight loss process.

References:
www.consumerhealthdigest.com/depression/what-is-cortisol.html

About the Author
Meighan Sembrano is an enthusiast and a passionate writer. She is expertise in Beauty and Skin Care articles. Also, have contributed in the Health and Fitness field. Her work gives an enthusiast twist to the readers. She resonates the readers with her sincere and thoughtful words. You can follow Meighan on Twitter and Facebook.