Sunday, February 24, 2008
Life, Health + Fitness
Meditation: the new diet aid?
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Can you visualize yourself thin?
WHAT MEDITATION IS NOT
People often think that yoga and visualization are interchangeable with meditation. While some of the benefits among these three activities overlap (i.e., each is relaxing), the main benefits of meditation, yoga and visualization are, in fact, very distinct. Therefore, it’s best to apply all three when there’s a desire to improve wellbeing.
Can you feel it? Sensory overload. Modern urban living has its perks, but a major downfall is the cycle of anxiety and exhaustion from coping with the tsunami of noise, odors and images.
We contribute to this cycle by rushing. We rush through tasks and from place to place. We’re addicted to multitasking.
Yes, we accomplish a lot. But whooshing through life has consequences. Take eating habits for example. Snarfing food while driving, working or watching TV blocks the brain-digestive system “fullness” communiqué. Senses become dull from stuffing food down in a stressed, distracted state.
Eating way beyond hunger. Gobbling down fast food. (You know, the ones loaded with calories, fat, sugar and sodium. The very elements that we know contribute to a host of serious diseases like heart attacks, diabetes and high blood pressure and cholesterol.) Is it any wonder that so many Americans have weight and health issues?
Luckily, many benefits derived from meditation—such as slowing down and enhanced focus and awareness—also help clean up bad eating habits.
When meditating, we concentrate on just one thing, such as our breath, until all other distractions (particularly mental) fall away. The trickle-down effect means that soon we’re applying this über-awareness to everyday tasks, like eating.
It’s a gradual process, but you’ll find that as you appreciate the aromas, tastes and textures of food free of any other distraction, fresh, whole foods will become the most appealing. Savoring each morsel will translate to fewer bites needed to satisfy. The ability to distinguish between “full” and “stuffed” will develop, as will identifying which foods fuel you best. Before you know it, the pounds start to come off…
Of course, one of life’s greatest oxymorons is that although meditation techniques are easy to learn, the practice can take a lifetime to master. For this reason, and because it’s important to have a mentor to help you through the emotional openings, seek expert guidance before beginning to meditate. SP
Rebecca Friedlander is a certified personal trainer and a masters swimmer. E-mail her at rebecca@sundaypaper.com.