Do you meditate? has it helped you with weightloss?

healthypelican
healthypelican Posts: 215 Member
edited November 19 in Getting Started
I've just started, and I'm on day3. I'm hoping it will help with my binge eating, and obsessive thoughts about food. I really just need to calm down my mind, lol.

Replies

  • jennifer_417
    jennifer_417 Posts: 12,344 Member
    I haven't tried it for weight loss, but I do find it helpful for alleviating stress, so if you're a stress eater, it could be helpful. I should probably try it myself.
  • JustRobby1
    JustRobby1 Posts: 674 Member
    Sorta. I am an big fan of ASMR, which is roughly based on similar principles. I listen to it almost every night before I go to bed. I even bought a special pair of sleep headphones contained within a bandana so I can pass out to it.

    I have never really viewed it as a method for improving my weight loss program, just a way to relax and reduce stress.
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    Definitely good to calm the mind. Once you get past the "OMG. Why won't my mind calm down" initial stages when first learning. Not sure about weight loss specifically though. Couldn't hurt.
  • LisaEatSleepRun
    LisaEatSleepRun Posts: 159 Member
    healthypelican wrote: »
    I've just started, and I'm on day3. I'm hoping it will help with my binge eating, and obsessive thoughts about food. I really just need to calm down my mind, lol.

    Keep with it! Mindfulness meditation research has shown some positive results in helping BED & other ED sufferers, as well as improving a whole range of other mental health concerns. There are some great mindfulness apps available, I use Smiling Mind. I have found that exercise is my best friend in managing my mental health, but meditation is also fantastic.
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    I wish. I tried so many times to get into it for various reasons, but I just fall asleep.
  • healthypelican
    healthypelican Posts: 215 Member
    amusedmonkey wrote: »
    I wish. I tried so many times to get into it for various reasons, but I just fall asleep.

    That happened to me three times today... I was lying down in my bed listening to the podcast, and I thought he'd finished speaking, so I closed my eyes and drifted off, then he started talking again and I woke up in shock, and realised I was supposed to be counting my deep breathes. Opps lol.

    I also tried meditating in the bath, but I got distracted with drinking cups of tea (I had a headache) and spilt it on myself.

    Maybe meditating is not something you can do while multitasking or super tired. I like lying down in my bed most, because its somewhat comfortable. Meditating while sitting upright does not seem comfortable to me.
  • amusedmonkey
    amusedmonkey Posts: 10,330 Member
    healthypelican wrote: »
    amusedmonkey wrote: »
    I wish. I tried so many times to get into it for various reasons, but I just fall asleep.

    That happened to me three times today... I was lying down in my bed listening to the podcast, and I thought he'd finished speaking, so I closed my eyes and drifted off, then he started talking again and I woke up in shock, and realised I was supposed to be counting my deep breathes. Opps lol.

    I also tried meditating in the bath, but I got distracted with drinking cups of tea (I had a headache) and spilt it on myself.

    Maybe meditating is not something you can do while multitasking or super tired. I like lying down in my bed most, because its somewhat comfortable. Meditating while sitting upright does not seem comfortable to me.

    Yes, when there are long pauses in guided meditation I get startled out of sleep when they start speaking again. I can't meditate sitting, either. I have a bad spine so I would be more focused on the discomfort than on meditation.
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    healthypelican wrote: »
    amusedmonkey wrote: »
    I wish. I tried so many times to get into it for various reasons, but I just fall asleep.

    That happened to me three times today... I was lying down in my bed listening to the podcast, and I thought he'd finished speaking, so I closed my eyes and drifted off, then he started talking again and I woke up in shock, and realised I was supposed to be counting my deep breathes. Opps lol.

    I also tried meditating in the bath, but I got distracted with drinking cups of tea (I had a headache) and spilt it on myself.

    Maybe meditating is not something you can do while multitasking or super tired. I like lying down in my bed most, because its somewhat comfortable. Meditating while sitting upright does not seem comfortable to me.

    Is there someplace locally where you can take some lessons? I started at a local temple. Free lessons. Having guidance was invaluable. They taught us about positioning and what to do when your mind wanders, etc. Well worth it, in my opinion.
  • nyponbell
    nyponbell Posts: 379 Member
    It helps me stay calmer and that is the only benefit right now that I can see. That said, I do a variation of meditation where I also use that time to think through my day and list all the things that I did that I am proud of (went to the gym, took a long walk, logged all my food) and although not everything is weight related, right now much of it is as that is currently my main focus. It helps me feel calm and proud of my achievements (even when they are so small as "I didn't eat that second bar of chocolate too").
  • healthypelican
    healthypelican Posts: 215 Member
    nutmegoreo wrote: »
    healthypelican wrote: »
    amusedmonkey wrote: »
    I wish. I tried so many times to get into it for various reasons, but I just fall asleep.

    That happened to me three times today... I was lying down in my bed listening to the podcast, and I thought he'd finished speaking, so I closed my eyes and drifted off, then he started talking again and I woke up in shock, and realised I was supposed to be counting my deep breathes. Opps lol.

    I also tried meditating in the bath, but I got distracted with drinking cups of tea (I had a headache) and spilt it on myself.

    Maybe meditating is not something you can do while multitasking or super tired. I like lying down in my bed most, because its somewhat comfortable. Meditating while sitting upright does not seem comfortable to me.

    Is there someplace locally where you can take some lessons? I started at a local temple. Free lessons. Having guidance was invaluable. They taught us about positioning and what to do when your mind wanders, etc. Well worth it, in my opinion.

    There's Christian meditation in a few places near my house, I might go with my Dad. I was freaked out about doing Meditation because I thought there was a spiritual component, and the only spiritual component I want is one I agree with, lol.
  • healthypelican
    healthypelican Posts: 215 Member
    nyponbell wrote: »
    It helps me stay calmer and that is the only benefit right now that I can see. That said, I do a variation of meditation where I also use that time to think through my day and list all the things that I did that I am proud of (went to the gym, took a long walk, logged all my food) and although not everything is weight related, right now much of it is as that is currently my main focus. It helps me feel calm and proud of my achievements (even when they are so small as "I didn't eat that second bar of chocolate too").

    I need something for when my mind races. I haven't tracked my food for a while, but I would freak out when I got to 600-100 calories left for the day, because I didn't want to stop eating. I also obsess over the numbers and find them upsetting.

    And once I think about some kind of unhealthy snack, I can't stop thinking about it. And usually it isn't one thing, but ten.

    Thought meditation might help with those things, and some other unhealthy obsessions I have.
  • nyponbell
    nyponbell Posts: 379 Member
    healthypelican wrote: »
    nyponbell wrote: »
    It helps me stay calmer and that is the only benefit right now that I can see. That said, I do a variation of meditation where I also use that time to think through my day and list all the things that I did that I am proud of (went to the gym, took a long walk, logged all my food) and although not everything is weight related, right now much of it is as that is currently my main focus. It helps me feel calm and proud of my achievements (even when they are so small as "I didn't eat that second bar of chocolate too").

    I need something for when my mind races. I haven't tracked my food for a while, but I would freak out when I got to 600-100 calories left for the day, because I didn't want to stop eating. I also obsess over the numbers and find them upsetting.

    And once I think about some kind of unhealthy snack, I can't stop thinking about it. And usually it isn't one thing, but ten.

    Thought meditation might help with those things, and some other unhealthy obsessions I have.

    I do it right before I go to sleep; turn off the lights, sit on my bed and just think. Sometimes it might make me feel hungry for real, in which case I do eat (I try to stay with something healthy). I think meditation can help you with your problems; even if at the start it's something as simple as breathing in and out and counting slowly to ten over and over again until the initial NEEDITNOW passes.
  • nutmegoreo
    nutmegoreo Posts: 15,532 Member
    healthypelican wrote: »
    nutmegoreo wrote: »
    healthypelican wrote: »
    amusedmonkey wrote: »
    I wish. I tried so many times to get into it for various reasons, but I just fall asleep.

    That happened to me three times today... I was lying down in my bed listening to the podcast, and I thought he'd finished speaking, so I closed my eyes and drifted off, then he started talking again and I woke up in shock, and realised I was supposed to be counting my deep breathes. Opps lol.

    I also tried meditating in the bath, but I got distracted with drinking cups of tea (I had a headache) and spilt it on myself.

    Maybe meditating is not something you can do while multitasking or super tired. I like lying down in my bed most, because its somewhat comfortable. Meditating while sitting upright does not seem comfortable to me.

    Is there someplace locally where you can take some lessons? I started at a local temple. Free lessons. Having guidance was invaluable. They taught us about positioning and what to do when your mind wanders, etc. Well worth it, in my opinion.

    There's Christian meditation in a few places near my house, I might go with my Dad. I was freaked out about doing Meditation because I thought there was a spiritual component, and the only spiritual component I want is one I agree with, lol.

    Meditation can certainly be undertaken without a spiritual teaching. I went through a Buddhist temple, but there was no spiritual elements added to it. If you wanted to learn about Buddhism, they offered that separately. Maybe try it. Having someone guide you through the how can be very helpful.
  • aribel95
    aribel95 Posts: 32 Member
    I meditate for a lot of things, and I've tried binaural beats subliminal weight loss meditations before.
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