By: Michael Glatter
Believe it or not, this is true. In a 1999 pilot study conducted by Jean Kristeller, PHD, a psychology professor at Indiana State University, and Brendan Hallett, a grad student, showed that mindfulness practice [meditation] increased feelings of self acceptance and control around food, decreasing binges and reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression in just six weeks. Taking twenty minutes out of their day to meditate helped the men and women in this study to overcome their psychological and emotional issues that have caused them to overeat for years. Some individuals who began meditating to calm their appetites have accounted for losing twenty pounds in just a few weeks. Oh, the power of meditation!
So, how do you begin? It’s simple. First, you must dismiss all notions that associate meditation with religion. Even though the practice originated under Buddhism, don’t read into it. It is not a religious conversion method. Look at it as taking time out of the day for you, and only you. Next, find a quiet comfortable spot. This can be in your bedroom, office or car. Then, relax. Focus on letting go. Empty your thoughts while focusing on your breathing. Do this for ten to twenty minutes. Relaxing your mind will allow you to sort through all of the added stress in your life and will allow your mind to focus on what is real and important, providing you the clarity to see things in a different light. Positive side-effects include: a clear head and a relaxed body; which leads to: an alert mind, improved decision making skills, lower blood pressure, a positive demeanor and happy thoughts; which means: fewer trips to the kitchen and less time spent in the snack drawer.
But don’t jump off the treadmill and cancel your afternoon personal trainer just yet. Even though meditation promotes weight loss, it will not burn nearly the same amount of calories as twenty minutes on the elliptical. There is a healthy balance for everything, and it is the same with weight control and meditation. Meditation is not a work-out replacement; it is as a void-filler. Whether you’re at the office or at home, the next time you find yourself mindlessly reaching for something to nibble on, stop –and take a few minutes to meditate. You may find that you just need to clear your mind, not fill your belly.
Michael Glatter is a certified personal trainer through the National Strength and Conditioning Association and through the American Council on Exercise. He is a bootcamp instructor based out of Richmond, VA. You can read more about him at www.glatterfitness.com.