Can You Lose Weight Through Meditation?
Can You Lose Weight Through Meditation?
Meditation requires little to no movement whatsoever - so, is it possible to lose weight through meditation?
What is Meditation?
The core principle of Meditation are becoming aware, being mindful and receiving a healthy sense of perspective.
Practicing 'mindfulness' meditation can also help you develop ways to connect to the present moment more. Once we do that, we become more aware of our thoughts and how they affect us, that way you can choose how you respond.
Meditation is like learning any other skill, it takes practice to find your groove and be comfortable. You can utilise online or app resources for learning how to meditate, such as:
Why do people meditate?
Whilst meditation isn't for everyone, for some it can provide some much need space in their lives. People will meditate for reasons such as:
- Reducing stress levels
- Connecting better with others and themselves
- Improving focus
- Developing concentration
- Promoting better sleep patterns
- Helping with anxiety
What are the health benefits of meditation?
1. Reducing stress
This is probably the number one reason why people meditate.
Mental and physical stress can cause increased levels of the stress hormone 'cortisol' - which produces harmful effects of stress. A study found that meditation, in particular 'mindfulness' meditation, reduced the response caused by stress.
Research has also shown that meditation can also improve symptoms of stress-related conditions such as IBS, PTSD and fibromyalgia.
2. Controls anxiety
A study found that 8 weeks of meditation helped reduce anxiety symptoms in people with generalised anxiety disorder.
In moments of anxiousness, practising 'mindfulness' meditation alleviates any negative thoughts and can bring harmony and peace to your mind.
3. May reduce age-related memory loss
Improvements in attention and clarity of thinking has been linked to a youthful mind.
A review found preliminary evidence that some meditation styles can increase attention and memory in older participants, and can partially improve memory in patients with dementia.
4. Improves sleep
By meditating and practicing mindfulness, this can alleviate negative and stressful thoughts - thoughts that would usually keep you up at night.
Meditation also relaxes the mind and the body, leaving you in a more peaceful state in which you're more likely to fall asleep.
The connection between Meditation and Weight Loss
For some, stress can be linked to overeating and therefore weight gain. A recent study showed that adults reported eating or overeating as a coping mechanism to deal with stress.
As meditation is known to reduce stress levels, this may help develop a better relationship with food. Instead of over-eating to cope with stress, meditation can help reduce stress levels which ultimately will help you develop a better relationship with food and prevent weight gain.
Meditation enables us to become more aware of our thoughts and actions, for some this may relate to food.
Specific practises and techniques such as mindful eating and initiative eating can help us learn and relearn how to have a healthy relationship with food.
Meditation can help us become more mindful eaters and address emotional issues with food, this helps by:
- Removing the shame and guilt
- Maintaining weight loss and a healthy weight
- Lowering stress and inflammation levels
- Better control of cravings
Shop The Skinny Food Co Range today!
Share
