TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT? TRY MEDITATION

The latest National Health Survey shows that 58% of men and 42% of women are either over-weight or obese. While medical conditions such as an under-active thyroid or polycystic ovary syndrome do have an impact on levels of body fat, many weight issues can be addressed by lifestyle changes. Most of us are aware of what those changes are. But the big factor is whether we consistently apply them.

The struggle is to actually follow that regular exercise program, and to keep our intake of food balanced with our energy output, by cutting down on fats and sugars and eating a healthy diet high in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, etc.

How can meditation help? Consider the following scenarios. Each of them gives a situation where many of us “fall off the wagon” in our attempts at healthy living. Meditation can help with them all.


• You have an argument with someone, or hear some bad news, or feel sad and you reach for the (you fill it in … chocolates, ice cream, sweets, biscuits, etc.)

We are reaching for that sweetness because it releases endorphins in the brain and makes us feel good. That’s why it’s called comfort food. Meditation also releases those endorphins, so in the same scenario we might reach for our meditation beads or our meditation CD. Meditation is a stress buster. It is calming both for the body and mind, lessening the emotional impact of the inevitable difficult times in our lives.

• You love food that you know is going to put on weight, you know you shouldn’t eat it but it tastes so good, so you do it anyway. It’s a moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips.

With meditation we gain both the perspective and the inner resources to make intelligent decisions about our food intake and life in general. We also gain a positive source of happiness which eclipses the temporary pleasure which eating comfort food gives.

In these and similar situations meditation gives us awareness of how our mind is working, and we develop the ability to step back from what our mind is telling us. Meditation also gives us bodily awareness so that we develop an appreciation of how good we feel when our diet and exercise are balanced nicely. Then meditation gives us the strength of mind to follow what we know we should do. There are many wonderful benefits of meditation and helping us to lose weight is just one of them!

Try some of the many free meditation classes held at the Australian School of Meditation and Yoga West End.

Gayatri
Instructor
Australian School of Meditation and Yoga