Meditation and weight loss

krwjohnson

I've started and stopped with fitness and dieting many times in the past. This time around I have had the most success and attribute that to meditating daily. It seems to have a major impact on my impulse control. I have noticed lots of benefits from meditating but the link between that practice and diet success is the most interesting. Anyone else ever experience this or have any thoughts on the matter?

leanjogreen18

I don't meditate but I do believe in the mind body connection. In fact one of my mantras is "make up your mind and your body follows", saying this has helped me understand I'm in control of my eating not the other way around.

I understand meditation for some helps with stress and anxiety which are 2 big reasons people turn to food to help alleviate.

codename_steve

I use it to help me realize if I'm truly hungry or just bored/tired/stressed. I find it helpful in that regard.

krwjohnson

It gives me a lot of clarity. It lets me focus on the bigger goals I have. It has also decreased my cravings for junk food. It's like being mindful makes me realize that junk food isn't what I really want or need.

tulips_and_tea

krwjohnson wrote: »

It gives me a lot of clarity. It lets me focus on the bigger goals I have. It has also decreased my cravings for junk food. It's like being mindful makes me realize that junk food isn't what I really want or need.

Completely agree! Same for me as well. Just slowing down your mind and your breathing for a set amount of time each day helps me in all aspects of my life. Good for you OP for discovering this and learning to use it correctly!

susanmc31

I find meditation causes me to focus better on my work and deal with my anxieties. I haven't gotten to the point that its helped me with overeating but I hope it will someday.

cottonanddust

Can we get a good definition of meditation here?

Seffell

cottonanddust wrote: »

Can we get a good definition of meditation here?

I don't think there is one. It isn't science. It could mean everything from a simple relaxation to some, I imagine, mantra chanting.
It doesn't really matter what exactly it is. Just time you spend in a relaxed or concentrated or mindful way that makes you feel less stressful.
Anything could qualify really. Even a bath.

leanjogreen18

There are several...

Mindfulness - Breath and Body awareness - can be seated, standing, sitting
Zen - Observe breath and thoughts - usually seated
Transendental - repeated mantra usually given to you by a teacher, usually seated

These are the ones I'm aware of.

cottonanddust

Thank you!

krwjohnson

Being present. I achieve it by sitting with my eyes closed and focusing on my breath.

"We could say that meditation doesn't have a reason or doesn't have a purpose. In this respect it's unlike almost all other things we do except perhaps making music and dancing. When we make music we don't do it in order to reach a certain point, such as the end of the composition. If that were the purpose of music then obviously the fastest players would be the best. Also, when we are dancing we are not aiming to arrive at a particular place on the floor as in a journey. When we dance, the journey itself is the point, as when we play music the playing itself is the point. And exactly the same thing is true in meditation. Meditation is the discovery that the point of life is always arrived at in the immediate moment." - Alan Watts

owaisha

Plz let me know how can I reduce my belly fats

trigden1991

How many calories does it burn?

krwjohnson

trigden1991 wrote: »

How many calories does it burn?

Ha ha

laur357

Mindfulness meditation - has helped me greatly in terms of my relationship with food. It's also helped me with stress reduction. It's not the reason I've been able to lose weight, but it's an enjoyable and useful addition in some aspects (binging, handling cravings, slowing down and enjoying the food I'm actually eating).

I've also recently started practicing yoga, and I find that I like it for many of the same reasons. It's refreshing to focus only on your body and breath and not let the past and future weigh on you.