How Meditation May Help with Weight Loss
Meditation is gaining popularity with time. What most people may not be aware of is its ability to have a positive impact on weight loss. efforts. Scientific research on the effects of meditation on the brain indicate that meditation helps the rational brain to curb the emotional brain more effectively. The rational brain is also known as the cold system. The emotional brain is our primitive reptilian brain, also known as the hot system.
Some individuals may be helped by counting from 1 to 10 when faced with an emotional impulse. This was elaborated in an earlier article on the reptilian brain.
Counting 1 to 10 may help certain individuals curb an emotional impulse such as eating junk food. A person who meditates will more easily and effectively overcome this emotional impulse. Someone who does not meditate could still use the technique of counting from 1 to 10 but will require more will power. Meditation may actually increase the ability of the rational brain to more effectively curb the emotional brain. This means less will power is required to accomplish the same task.
This obviously would lead to better self-discipline as far as compliance to a weight loss program is concerned. When trying to lose weight, one not only needs to curb a negative impulses but also overcome inertia and lethargy to do exercise on a regular interval. Here the emotional brain, which is designed for survival, has to be overcome with will power to take action. Meditation reduces the amount of willpower required. Therefore the chances of success in complying with the exercise requirements are higher.
The emotional brain tries to sabotage any weight loss efforts. Meditation increases clarity of thought of the rational brain. As such one could more clearly recall the reasons as to why they are trying to lose weight in the first place. This will lead to better compliance and better results.
Instead of just hard work, it may make more sense to work smart by incorporating meditation into a weight loss program.
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// Categories: Mind & Motivation
// Tags: cold system, exercise, hot system, lose weight, meditation, reptilian brain, weight loss, will power Back to top
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01/12/2009
This is so inspiring & motivating. Very well written.
03/12/2009
i found this very interesting to read. i am on a low fat diet with weight-watchers. have lost 51b in weight. i only recently started. i do regular exercise daily. my metabolism is very slow. why?
04/12/2009
You may want to read our earlier articles on
http://correct-weight-loss.net/2009/11/11/6-symptoms-of-a-sluggish-metabolism/
and
http://correct-weight-loss.net/2009/11/24/10-ways-to-fire-up-a-sluggish-metabolism/
Hope you find the information useful.
31/12/2009
Hi there I am not much into reading, but somehow I got to read lots of articles on your website. Its amazing how interesting it is for me to visit very often.
31/12/2009
Thanks for a new good blog post. Where else can anybody get this kind of information in such a perfect way. I actually enjoyed reading it.
11/01/2010
I have found that meditation has been incredibly helpful for me as I have sought to get into better shape. Meditation has decreased my levels of stress and it has also helped me to have a much clearer mind. All of which have contributed to a much healthier lifestyle for me.
14/01/2010
Meditation is often underestimated by a lot of people but its benefits are tremendous. Your testimony proves this. thank you for your comment.
25/01/2012
Thanks for the connection between weight loss and meditation. It certainly makes sense.