Can meditation help you lose weight?

Although there isn't much research to show that meditation directly helps you lose weight, meditation does help you be more aware of your thoughts and actions, including those related to food. For example, a research review showed that meditation can help with both binge eating and emotional eating. Weight-loss meditation can help you overcome problems and limitations that prevent you from losing the weight you want. Meditation itself doesn't cause weight loss, but it can help with the underlying factors that limit your success.

For many people, these underlying factors make it very frustrating and almost impossible to get results. Remember that no meditation practice for weight loss can help you lose weight without making changes to your diet and activity plan. The end result when you're trying to lose weight is creating a calorie deficit. However, a mindful awareness program is likely to make the process easier and can help you maintain your weight forever.

Meditation is a daily practice that involves clearing the mind to return to a place of direct thought and calm emotions. For example, one study found that participants who practiced mindfulness-based meditation fell asleep earlier and slept longer than those who did not meditate. Incorporating meditation accessories and creating a relaxing meditation space could encourage your practice. Or if you prefer a personal approach, you can find a teacher in your area through the American Meditation Society.

Thirty days of using the Headspace app for daily meditation reduces stress by a third, making it a proven tool. There are several styles of meditation, but they all follow the same basic technique of quieting the mind and taking the time to breathe and become more aware of your body in the present moment. If you're not currently practicing meditation, you might imagine that the process involves sitting in an uncomfortable position for long periods of time, taking a deep breath, and not thinking about anything. They're small and sync with iPhone and Android devices, so you can listen to a guided meditation anywhere without disturbing your family and friends.

Aromatherapy has been shown to have a calming effect on the body, which is useful when you're meditating. During the mindfulness meditation process, you'll focus on these three areas without any judgment.

Marissa Anwar
Marissa Anwar

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