Meditation for Weight Loss?

Okay, so losing weight requires lots of energy and movement and sweat.  Grueling exercise and more sweat.

Right?

Maybe not.  A lot of losing weight is in the mind.

So, the question then becomes, how do we use our minds to lose weight?  Because, believe me, I want to use every tool I can to fight my way through this journey.

As you remember from my Tools post, I've used some of the weight loss hypnosis type apps on my ipad.  I've kind of petered out on those (and I've become stuck at this weight ... any correlation??) but maybe it's time to dust them off and get them out again.

What got me thinking about this is that I've been having a hard time sleeping (averaging about 2.5 hours per night).  Lack of sleep often leads to weight gain (for whatever reason - that's a blog for another day) and I was thinking that maybe it's because of all the chaos in my life and it keeps me up thinking about it all.  So, I decided it would be good to try and center myself.  So I listened to a podcast of a chakra meditation this morning.  I rode my bike and then did the meditation.  And I feel wonderful.  I'm energized and focused in a way I have not been in a long time.

So, maybe I need to go back to listening to the weight loss hypnosis cd.  I was losing weight when I listened to it and now I'm struggling (while not listening to it).  Maybe there is nothing magic about that cd itself, but rather the mental discipline that comes from the act of meditating. I believe that just focusing on yourself for even a brief period of time can make you stronger.  It can help you focus on what you need to do (because we all KNOW what we are SUPPOSED to do - it's just finding the mental strength to DO IT that's hard).

For me, just this morning's chakra meditation made me feel more motivated and clear.  I feel elevated somehow.  And that's just after one session!

I'm going to keep this up and I will report back on any success.  I'm really hoping I can start getting some better sleep.

Maybe this "thinking outside the box" and bringing in the meditation is what it will take to get me going again.

Maybe meditation will be where my magic happens.  Who knows?  I will keep you posted!

Tools

Tools.

Here are the tools I am using to help me lose weight.

1.  52 Weight Loss Missions - Ipad app

     I really can't say enough about this one.  It has 52 "Missions" to follow that actually make you DO things towards your goals.  It's not just a "read-it-information" type thing.  It really gives you things that you do so that you feel like you are physcially doing something to move towards you goals.

2.  Subliminal Hypnosis cd - Power Weight Loss and Self Esteem - Appetite Supression ( I listen to this every night as I fall asleep).

     Not sure if it works, but I listen to it every night.  Doesn't seem to have any adverse affects on me so far.  If it really works, then great.  All I know is that I am riding my bike every day and doing my bowflex every other day.  And I'm making smarter choices in my food intake.  Is it because of this cd?  I have no idea, but it can't hurt and it might be helping ...

3.  Body Compare - Ipad app

     This is an app where you take a before picture and then you can take pictures as you go along to compare.  It places them side by side for you and has 4 angles for you to take (front, back, left and right sides).  It's pretty cool.  It's very easy to use.  I had my "before" pictures done on 2-8-12 and I took another set today, just to see.  I can already see a difference just 19 days later.  Pretty neat tool.  Looking forward to more pictures and comparisons later!

4.  Weight Loss Brainwave - Ipad app

     This one is music/noise that you play when you are feeling a craving coming on.  Supposedly it staves off the cravings.  You can set it for 5 minutes or 30 minutes (and in between) depending on your need.  I've used it a few times in the afternoon when I'm working.  I just play it in the background.  Don't know if it really works, but it can't hurt!

5.  WebMD - Food and Fitness Planner

     This one is fantastic.  I use it daily.  It's where I log all my food intake and my exercise.  It tells me how many more calories I can eat in a day (based on what I chose as my goal for weight loss) and it tracks it all with cool graphs and stuff.  I highly recommend this one.

6.  Slim Month - Ipad app

     This one is just a daily "tip" about weight loss.  Some are interesting and some are just common sense that we all already know.  What's helpful about it is that it's a daily reminder of my attempts.

7.  My blog

     This is also a daily reminder of what I'm trying to do.  Makes me focus on my weight loss every day.  It also helps to think that I might be inspiring someone else and that what I'm going through might help other people work towards their goals.

8.  Homemade exercise log and graphs

     I have an exercise log that I can put in the amount of time on the bike and the bowflex exercises including the weights I'm using and the reps I'm doing.  I have a spot to comment so I can remember the next time if the weight was too easy or hard or whatever.  And I've also got a graph that I have printed out for each month and I fill in my weight on the days I have a chance to weigh myself. 

9.  Inspirational Pictures

     I put inspirational pictures and comics all over the house.  The ones on or near the bike really help me.  Just this morning I was having a really hard time riding and I kept looking at the pictures thinking, "That's what I'm working for.  That's why I'm doing this.  Keep going!"  And I was able to ride for 60 minutes and 14 miles today! 

I'd love to hear what other people use for their tools.  And as I find more, I'll pass them on here.  I'm open to anything and everything!  I want to make this work this time!

  Whatever works, right?