Dhamma Wheel Buddhist Forum

Just thought I'd ask

Maybe in the sense that when you are more mindful you are less likely to overeat, especially if you are keeping the 6th precept and/or see the benefit in eating only what you need.

greggorious wrote:Just thought I'd ask

A lot of walking meditation would be helpful.

Burning more calories than one consumes is the only long term weight loss solution that I'm aware of. My understanding is that meditation slows the body's metabolism so on one hand I can see how it might put a damper on weight loss if eating/exercise habits aren't changed. If somehow one could use meditation to gain insight to the psychological roots of why they overeat or avoid enough exercise and then work diligently to resolve those issues, then I suppose it might. This is all theoretical on my part. I'm still trying to motivate myself to start meditating again after a 9 month hiatus that has been accompanied by a 45 pound weight gain. And though that might look like a cause and effect relationship in light of this particular conversation, I can tell you that its laziness on my part that has contributed to both.

Meditation can help bring your entire body into better balance. There is some evidence that it is even helpful in alleviating diabetes to some degree.
http://www.diabeteswellbeing.com/medita ... betes.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
I wouldnt think that meditation alone would be enough though.

it can help you do the things you need to do to lose weight if you lack self discipline. otherwise, it has nothing to do with it. exercise as intensely as possible, be active, eat like a bodybuilder (Paleolithic diet, 6 or 6 meals a day is great foundation). follow an ncaa certified cutting plan on oneresult.com on bodybuilding.com. make it part of your way of life.

Can meditation help you lose weight?
by greggorious » Mon Mar 11, 2013 9:41 am

Just thought I'd ask

other then mindful eating...... no

Meditation has been used as an antidote to "stress eating". The idea is to relieve stress before eating.

Fig Tree

The most effective way to lose weight is to maintain a calorific deficit so that calories burned is greater than calories eaten. I have received a lot of benefit by using the iphone/android app and website: myfitnesspal which has helped me to develop fitness and lose fat over the past three or more months. I do it as part of a total wellbeing "package" that also includes meditation and good sleep hygiene and is sustainable in the long run.
You can use meditation to counter craving (to over eat) and eventually it will be the only solution. But in the short term if you are looking at increasing your health and wellbeing and shed some excess fat than you should adopt a whole of life approach that includes a calorie controlled diet and an exercise regime that has regular periods of intense cardio-vascular and strength training.
kind regards,

Ben

It is much easier to restrict calories and thereby loose weight by simply eliminating processed food from one's diet. Simple food, fruits, veggies and whole grains, prepared simply with no added fats, can be eaten in larger quantities with fewer calories. Really, you can eat carrot and celery sticks with almost no restrictions. It is concentrated calories, found in fast food and fried food, that cause weight gain. Eating unprocessed foods may also help to eliminate cravings for fat, salt and sugar, as one's palate becomes accustomed to basic tastes and eating for health rather than cravings. Meditation may help one to concentrate the mind on what is important and also to discipline the mind so that it is easier to emotionally 'walk away' from stress eating. From a personal stand point, when I am meditating regularly I find that I am living more mindfully, which helps me to avoid many forms of self indulgence, including over eating and the eating of food that is not helpful.

corrine

You may want to consider cutting bread out of your diet if you're trying to lose weight.

my 60 year old mother follows my advice above (as taught to her independently by the healthy way) and she has lost tons of weight for the first time in her life and is keeping it off. i myself am in better shape then i have ever been in my life. what everyone else has said is subsumed in what i already said. oneresult.com is probably where i would recommend you go, given that i don't know your age or body type and they have free custom plans. moderate intensity cardio 40-50 mins a day, adequate caffeine, and a paleolithic diet more than 3-4 times a day will get you a long way.

meditation will help in sticking to a permanent change in diet and lifestyle. if you learn to control your urges by sitting and walking meditation you will stick to your diet and exercise routine and lose weight.

oh yeah, and WATER!!! you won't have urges if you cut out sugar and flour etc. with a paleolythic diet, with meals taken frequent enough (up to 7 times daily) to get your metabolism going. q.e.d.