Lack of exercise makes you feel stiffened up and weak. It also allows fat to creep in and settle underneath your skin. So you finally make the decision and start exercising regularly. Good for you!

The momentum doesn’t last long, though, as soreness from exercise begins to kick in, forcing you to rest for extended periods of time until your sore muscles recover.

You start to wonder: how will I ever lose weight at such a slow rate? This leads you to explore different weight loss tactics; most popular of which is foam rolling.

Can foam rolling really help you lose weight, though? In this article, we go over all you need to know about the benefits of foam rolling for weight loss, so be sure to stick around.

Will Foam Rolling Help Me Lose Weight?

Yes, but in an indirect way. A foam roller won’t shed fat, but it’ll help you recover fast, and thus work out more often. This will translate to burning more calories, and ultimately losing weight.

A foam roller is a cylindrical tube whose surface can be bumpy at places and smooth at others. To move your body weight against such a surface is to literally massage yourself. That’s why foam rolling can also be called self-massaging, or a self-myofascial release exercise.

Known to be effective, a foam roller is used in most fitness programs. To get a grasp of what makes it good for weight loss, we need to dive into some science.

• Related Reading: Best Tools for Weight Loss

How Can Foam Rolling Help Me Lose Weight?

Foam rolling can ultimately contribute to weight loss in one of seven ways.

1.    Reduces Soreness

There are two types of soreness that happen due to a workout. First, there’s acute muscle soreness, which happens during or immediately after exercising. This is the one you push through to get that one last rep.

The second type of soreness is called delayed-onset muscle soreness (DOMS). As the name implies, this type takes place 12 to 24 hours after a workout, peaking between the second and third day.

While only the second type will delay your return to the gym, foam rolling decreases soreness from both types. Thus, you can resume your efforts at the gym, and also do better while you’re in there. At the end of the day, this will mean losing more weight.

You might ask, isn’t this soreness a sign that I’ve done a good job at the gym and now I’m growing? Well, contrary to popular belief, pain doesn’t have to be in the equation for you to achieve your fitness goals. It could even be an indication that you should rest, and maybe use a technique like foam rolling.

2.    Relaxes Tense Muscles and Fascia

What causes soreness after a workout isn’t just your muscles. Fascia, which is the layer surrounding muscles, is a major cause of post-workout discomfort. This layer is particularly prone to tightening, which leads to pain.

This tightening of fascia is called adhesion; a process in which the stretchy fascia is rendered sticky. This can put you out of the gym for a while until the fascia returns back to normal. Here is when foam rolling comes to the rescue, as it can reduce this unwanted adhesion.

3.    Releases Trigger Points

Simply put, trigger points are hotspots of pain residing within a muscle. When an examiner puts their finger on exactly that point, a person will most likely jump or make a movement indicating intense pain.

Left untreated, these trigger points can cause long-standing pain, which can keep you from exercising and losing weight. Depending on the severity, trigger points may require seeing a physiotherapist; however, I’ll tell you how a foam roller can help you release them.

To treat a trigger point, roll on the foam roller until you feel sharp pain somewhere in the muscle. This means you’ve spotted a trigger point. Upon feeling this sting, rest on the roller in that same position for 20 seconds before continuing to roll.

4.    Relieves Pain

Apart from relaxing muscles and releasing trigger points, foam rolling can relieve pain in another way. Research suggests it can do so by acting directly on the nerves coursing within the tissues. Thus, foam rolling has the ability to promote pain relief, putting you back on track with exercising as soon as possible.

5.    Increases Muscular Efficiency

There’s research proving that foam rolling enhances the communication between your nerves and muscles. In other words, it enhances what’s known as neuromuscular efficiency.

What does this translate to? This means you’ll need less work from your muscles to achieve the same task. Of course, that’ll give you space to practice more, and thus lose more fat.

To add to the efficiency, foam rolling also increases the range of motion of your joints and muscles.

6.    Increases Blood Flow and Metabolism

When you contract your muscles during exercise, you increase the blood flow going to them. When you massage yourself with a foam roller, you also increase the blood flow. In the latter case, however, the increase in blood flow doesn’t come with straining the muscle.

The increased blood flow brought about by foam rolling will greatly help with the recovery process. There’s more than that. Since metabolism and blood flow are notorious for being coupled together, there’s a chance that your metabolism may increase. This will lead to more calories burnt, and more weight lost.

7.    Prevents Injuries

The effects of foam rolling compelled researchers to state that the activity can prevent injuries, leading to a rise in the use of that technique.

In their client-centric programs, many coaches include foam rolling to both prevent injuries and recover from them.

Anything that prevents injury helps you lose weight and get in shape. Because if someone’s body can’t exercise or move adequately, then losing weight will be that much harder.

Which Foam Roller Should I Get for Weight Loss?

Any foam roller will aid in your weight loss efforts in an indirect way. However, we can offer you some recommendations.

Best Foam Roller for Weight Loss for Beginners

We recommend the STOTT PILATES as a soft foam roller option. It’s built from high-quality EVA foam. This specific foam roller is durable and withstands rigorous, repeated use, because of its durability, its price is a little higher. However, it is worth it to have a soft roller that will not quickly fall apart.

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Best Foam Roller for Experienced Users

If you are already used to foam rolling, we recommend the Amazon Basics Foam Roller. You can read our full review of this foam roller here.

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Other Buying Guides to Help You Pick the Best Foam Roller for You

Check out these very helpful buyers guides directed at helping you to decide which foam roller is best for you and your unique needs.

• Best Brand of Foam Roller

• Best Foam Roller for Back Pain

• How to Choose a Foam Roller

• What Size Foam Roller Should I Get?

• Best Vibrating Foam Rollers

• Best Portable Foam Rollers

Final Words on the Benefits of Foam Rolling for Weight Loss

Weight loss can be quite challenging, which is why using all the help you can get is a good idea.

General weight loss methods such as healthy nutrition and regular exercise are imperative, but there are more subtle approaches that are often missed.

Foam rolling is one of those subtle, often-missed techniques that can help you lose weight very quickly. That’s as it enables you to exercise as best you can.

Without techniques such as foam rolling, people will be at more risk of trigger points, excessive soreness, and even injuries. That’s why foam rolling can save the day when it comes to losing weight!

The post 7 Benefits of Foam Rolling for Weight Loss appeared first on Body Mind Wellness Tools.

This is an educational article on how to use ghee for weight loss and how it used in Ayurveda.

Have you ever been told something like this? “Ghee or Clarified butter should be avoided while you’re on a weight loss diet plan.” Well, this statement is nothing but just a myth.

“Ghee” or “Ghrit”, also known as “Clarified Butter” is made by intensely churning the buttermilk and heating the butter at a certain temperature until it turns golden. This process leaves a part of the nonfat milk solids in the product, giving it a typical flavor. It has been used in India since time immemorial. It is an inseparable part of the rural Indian diet.

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Ghee (Ghrit) And Ayurveda

Ayurveda, the most ancient traditional system of medicine (TSM), has given much importance to Ghee, especially to Cow’s Ghee. It has been widely used in the system as the base of Ayurvedic medicines ¹. The reason behind this is its ability to reach the deepest tissues in the body and to target specific sites. It is often used as a nourishing, extracting, assimilating and/or absorbing agent ¹. It is also considered as one of the best Rasayana (Anti-aging agents) and is mainly used in the treatment of chronic and degenerative diseases.

Our Ghee Choice – Check Price Here

Properties Of Ghee

Ghee is considered as one of the Panch-amrita (Five divine nectars) in Ayurveda. This holy form of butter has very high nutritional values. It is rich in Fatty acids, Saturated, Monosaturated, Polysturated & Trans fats, Omega fatty acids, Cholesterols and Vitamin – A, B, D, E, & K ². It has a very low moisture content which makes it ideal for a very long shelf life.

According to Ayurveda, Ghee has a Sweet taste, Cold nature and Sweet after-taste (Vipaka) ¹. It is considered soothing, soft, oily, nourishing and moisturising. Ghee is considered excellent for balancing Vata Dosha and Pitta Dosha ¹. It is Sattvic (Healthy) food which promotes physical, mental as well as spiritual health.

How To Use Ghee For Weight Loss

Buffalo’s Ghee is known for healthy weight gain, Ayurveda recommends consumption of Cow’s Ghee for weight loss. “Ashtanga Hradaya Samhitha” considers Cow’s Ghee as the best thing for enhancing intelligence, memory, keen digestive power, long life, sexual vigour and good eyesight, for children and old people ³. Today, we will discuss how you can use Cow’s Ghee for weight loss and other health benefits of Ghee as well.

Cow’s Ghee is nutritionally excellent as compared to other oils and fats because of its medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs) content. The anti-obesity and weight loss properties of these MCFAs are very well recognized ⁴.

Constipation and indigestion are some of the major rising concerns due to the lack of healthy lifestyles. Indigested or partly digested food sticks to the walls of intestines and forms “Ama” in the body, which contributes to the development of weight gain. Correcting the digestion system can help us to get ride of Ama and reduce weight by enhancing metabolism.

Cow’s Ghee is considered one of the best natural lubricant laxatives. It aids in digestion by providing lubrication and moisture to the walls of the small intestine which aids increases the bowel moment. Vata Dosha is responsible for the dryness of intestine walls. The Vata-pacifying and slimy qualities of Ghee will help in correcting the digestive system.

You can include Cow’s Ghee in your diet in the following ways:

Cow’s Ghee with Hot water

Cow’s Ghee and hot water is some of the magical remedies for weight loss. Hot water is known to promote metabolism⁵ and cleanse the gastrointestinal tract. Thus, promoting digestion, Cow’s Ghee and Hot water together act as excellent GI tract cleanser and digestion enhancer.

Ayurveda recommends taking a tablespoon of liquified Cow’s Ghee mixed with hot water empty stomach every morning. It will help to get rid of the dryness of your GI tract and will make you feel moisturized throughout the day. For better results, it is advised not to consume anything for thirty minutes after taking this holy combination.

Cow’s Ghee With Milk

Cow’s milk is famous for its low-fat content and high nutritional value as compared to other kinds of milk. Remember, along with Cow’s Ghee, Cow’s milk is also considered as one of the five divine nectars due to its exceptional nutritional values and health benefits. If you are not comfortable with drinking Ghee with hot water every morning then you can use this method too.

Add a teaspoon of liquified cow’s ghee to a glass of milk and consume it every day on regular basis. You can also add ghee to your coffee if you are not a milk person. You can convert your coffee into a latte just by adding this nectar to it. There are emulsifying blenders available in the market that will help you to create an interesting frothy drink.

Cow’s Ghee with Triphala

“Triphala” is one of the famous Ayurvedic herbal compounds. Triphala is a mixture of three fruits – Amla (Emblica Officinalis), Haritaki (Terminalia chebula Retz.) and Baheda (Terminalia bellirica). Triphala is known for its wide range of applications and is primarily used as a digestant. It aids in digestion by correcting the digestive fire and also balances the metabolism, thus decreasing the weight.

Triphala cooked in Cow’s Ghee, known as “Triphala Ghrit” is one of the famous Triphala formulations in Ayurveda. Triphala Ghrit offers the combined therapeutic properties of Ghee and Triphala. Also, triphala ghrit is readily available in the market or you can prepare it at home. You can consume 1 to 2 teaspoons of Triphala Ghrit once or twice a day depending on your body constitution.

Include Ghee In Your Meals

In India, it is common to find Ghee applied over the piping hot Chapatis (India Breads). Many Indian recipes and sweets also include Ghee as their major ingredients. You can also add Ghee to your daily diet by replacing the butter with Ghee. You can add apply it over bread or prepare your daily meals with Ghee.

Other Health Benefits Of Ghee

Apart from Weight loss, there is a wide range of health benefits of consuming Ghee on daily basis. Wrinkles and dry skin are the indications of increasing Vata with old age. Ghee is a Vata pacifier and Rasayana (anti-ageing agent), thus it helps in achieving glowing and wrinkleless skin. Cow’s Ghee is  also Medhya Rasayana which helps in enhancing memory and brain functions.

Cow’s Ghee has a spectrum of health benefits, but as the saying goes – “Anything in excess is a poison”, it should be consumed in limited quantity only. Furthermore, it should also be taken according to your Doshic constitution.

Final Thoughts on How to Use Ghee for Weight Loss

Using ghee can be a great way to bolster your weight loss efforts. We have been using it for years, and not just for weight loss, but for every day life. (It makes the best popcorn!)

We hope you have benefited from our article and would love to hear how you use ghee as well.

All the best. hyp-yoga.com

Article References

1. Ankita Mahakalkar, Bhushan Hatwar. “The Versatility of Cow Ghee- An Ayurveda Perspective”
2. Kodituwakku, Sewwandi Darshika. “REVIEW ON GHEE AND IT’S AYURVEDIC USES.”
3. Pisharodi, S. (2016). Acharya Vagbhata’s Astanga Hridayam Vol 1: The Essence of Ayurveda. India: Purnarogya Holistic Healing Centre.
4. Kumar, Anil, and S. Naik. “Ghee: Its Properties, Importance and Health Benefits.” Lipid Universe 6 (2018): 6-14.
5. Hoekstra, Sven P., et al. “Acute and chronic effects of hot water immersion on inflammation and metabolism in sedentary, overweight adults.” Journal of applied physiology (2018).
6. Baliga, Manjeshwar Shrinath, et al. “Scientific validation of the ethnomedicinal properties of the Ayurvedic drug Triphala: a review.” Chinese Journal of Integrative Medicine 18.12 (2012): 946-954.

The post How to Use Ghee for Weight Loss – An Ayurvedic Aspect Of Clarified Butter appeared first on Body Mind Wellness Tools.

Dry brushing, also called Garshana, is a staple of traditional wellness and a part of Ayurveda.

First, we need to back up to understand Ayurveda, where dry brushing comes from. Ayurveda is the ancient life of science that believes that prevention of disease is as important as curing it. Ayurveda is a holistic science of life that works on the principles of balancing the Vata, Pitta and Kapha Doshas that governs our body. It has gained popularity in the west due to its therapeutic efficacy and its ability to cure lifestyle disorders. It has also earned fame in the area of cosmetology and rejuvenation.

What Is Dry Brushing?

Dry Brushing is one of the Ayurvedic detoxification techniques that has been used by people since time immemorial. Ayurveda has described various types of massages and rejuvenation techniques that can be even used today for the treatment of various ailments. “Garshana” (pronounced gar-shun-uh) is a term used in the Ayurveda texts for dry brushing which means “friction by rubbing”. Vasant Ritu (Spring season) is the best time for the detoxification of the body and thus Garshana can show its highest efficacy in this season.

Dry brush is known to have numerous health benefits. It is done by rubbing a brush with coarse bristles usually made up of natural-fibres. The rubbing is done in a particular pattern and it works on the principle that rubbing will peel off the dead skin cells and will help in draining the toxins through the pores. It also stimulates the lymphatic system and aids in internal detoxification.

Why To Do Dry Brush?

Dry brushing is a revitalizing treatment. It is mainly used for the pacification of Kapha Dosha. People having Kapha Dosha predominance and aggravated Kapha Dosha must do it. Also, it is said to expel the toxins out of the body through sweat. It is a wonderful exfoliating and skin rejuvenating technique which can open up the clogged pores. Furthermore, the key benefits of dry brushing are briefly discussed below that will provide you with more reasons to do Garashana.

Key Benefits Of Dry Brushing

This ancient practice has a plethora of health benefits. It also adds more beauty to your skin by peeling off the dead skin cells, opening the pores and increasing blood circulation. The key benefits of dry brushing are briefly described below.

1.    Kapha Dosha Shaman

Kapha is the Dosha having qualities such as oilyness, sliminess, etc. Feeling of heaviness, lazy, sleepy, etc can be the premonitory symptoms of Kapha Dosha aggravation. Such aggravation can lead to more complex diseases such as high cholesterol, obesity, obstruction in capillaries that can lead to a drug-dependent life.

“Garshana” can help you to pacify the aggravated Kapha Dosha as it encourages opposite properties to that of Kapha. Dry brushing increases the qualities such as dryness and roughness that nullifies the effects of aggravated Kapha Dosha.

2.    Detoxification

The lymphatic system is a network of tissues and organs that helps in the elimination of unnecessary toxins, waste products and transport of the white blood cells throughout the body. Dry brushing stimulates the lymphatic system and helps in draining the lymph from the lymph capillaries towards the lymph nodes. Thus, “Garshana” enables us to expel out the “Ama” i.e. cellular toxins internally as well.

3.    Rejuvenates Skin

It is a known fact that our skin sheds its outer layer every 2-4 weeks. Dry brushing our skin sheds the outer layer of our skin cells which mostly contains damaged and dead skin cells. It helps in the growth of fresh skin cells. Garshana also exfoliates the skin cells by opening the pores clogged by dead skin cells, dirt, etc. Massaging the skin with a brush or gloves also increases the blood flow to that certain region, thereby providing you with fresh glowing skin and enhancing the skin tone.

4.    Combats Cellulite

Cellulite is an interesting looking dimple-like dent formed on the skin. Typically, you can find it over the hip and thigh regions. It develops when the fat tissue pushes out the covering connective tissue. Often, you will find it more in women than in men, and it is a symptom of increased Meda Dhatu.

Happily, dry brushing or “Garshana” will help you to combat the cellulite by dissolving the excess fat tissue in that region and by increasing blood flow. It can also aid in lymphatic drainage which helps in further prevention of cellulite in the prone areas.

Our Recommendations for a Dry Brush

Now, maybe you are wondering, what dry brush do I buy? If you have never purchased a dry brush before, we got you covered. Here is the dry brush (affiliate link) we have been using for years and still love to this day.

How to Dry Brush?

Dry brushing should be done vigorously over the skin by using a brush having natural-fibers bristles. Alternatively, Garashana gloves are available in the market that can be used for it.

Dry Brushing Patterns

Before performing the dry brushing, know the types of brushing patterns used in it. It includes two types of patterns:

1. Circular Motion:
   Dry brushing should be performed circularly over the joint areas such as Neck, Elbow, Knee, Wrist, etcetera. The brushing should follow only a unidirectional pattern either clockwise or anticlockwise for better results.

2. Long Strokes:
   Over the areas of long bones, the dry brushing should be done with long strokes directed towards the heart. It is necessary to perform the brushing towards the direction of the heart to drain the excess lymph.

The dry brushing should be performed in the morning before bath. The skin should be dry and free from any kind of oils or lotions. It is also advised not to perform it in case of any kind of skin disease or pregnancy. Expert advice is highly recommended in such cases.

Dry Brushing in Simple Steps

1. Start the dry brushing by vigorously massaging your wrists and the tip of your elbows circularly. Then, massage your hands from the base of your fingers towards the upper side in the direction of the armpit.

2. Do the same on the other hand too. You can take the help of an assistant too if you are not comfortable doing that with your off-hand.

3. Now, massage your abdomen and buttocks with the brush or gloves in a circular manner. Avoid brushing over the heart and chest area.

4. Proceed towards your ankles and feet circularly and complete the procedure by massaging the thigh and calves region in long strokes directing towards the heart.

5. After dry brushing your whole body, take a shower and feel your rejuvenating skin.

Other Notes

You can also perform Garshana on the face. However, it is not recommended as it may also cause serious problems if done incorrectly.

In addition, it should be performed on regular intervals as per one Doshic constitution (Prakriti), Season and Age.

Finally, it is mainly preferred in the Spring season as the all the body is all set for detoxification in this season. However, the person with the vitiation of Vata Dosha (Vata Prakop) should strongly avoid it.

Conclusions on Dry Brushing

Using this ancient cleaning practice to bolster your health and beauty routines can add vitality to both your body and your mind. We recommend starting in the spring, or at any time you need to detox and refresh. Enjoy!

Related Reading

• Our Complete (and Free) Weight Loss Program

• Hypnosis for Weight Loss

The post Dry Brushing, A How to Guide to Garshana in Ayurveda appeared first on Body Mind Wellness Tools.

More than a just a tool for losing weight, Ayurveda has been a guide to living a balanced, healthy life for thousands of years. Ayurveda weight loss techniques, tips and tools are powerful body balancers – especially in regards to diet. We will show you how in this guide.

Ayurveda is the “sister science” to yoga. It gives us guidance on how we can eat healthy (and promote weight loss when it is needed). All of its techniques are natural, and modern diet science has recently circled back to Ayurvedic principals. These include:

• Eating Seasonally
• Eating Locally
• Intermittent Fasting
• Eating to Balance your Body’s Needs

Ayurveda is very in-tuned with eating with the seasons. This means paying attention to what your area of the earth is currently providing. In this guide, we will go through how to eat, when to eat and of course what to eat. However, the biggest component to our ayurvedic eating is that it should NOT be stressful. So, if something we discuss is not working for you after trying it out, you should try to find a stress free solution that is comparable.

Ayurvedic weight loss has been there waiting for modern science to catch up! What we eat, how much we eat, and when we eat has all been a part of ayurvedic medicine for weight loss. In this guide, we will cover what you need to find the balance you need to lose weight (or maintain) with Ayurveda’s help.

• This guide is a part of our free online weight loss program. This part of the series is focused on “diet” or the food that we eat.
• Please visit our main program page to experience the program as a whole: body, mind and behavior change.

Ayurveda’s Food Philosophy

This guide is for all of you that are tired of the shenanigans of the “diet” industry and their lies and claims. It’s time for us all to reclaim our health. Ayurveda can help you to take control of your weight loss, maintenance, and weight PREVENTION journey.

Following the food philosophies of Ayurveda, you can lose weight in a safe way that will not destroy your metabolism for later. Most diets destroy your metabolism by restricting your calories too much and completely throwing off your hormone cycles. You need to keep your hormones (like insulin and cortisol) happy to stay fit for life.

Additionally, Ayurveda is also about detoxing. Daily detoxing through our food and exercise, and then bi-yearly detoxing for keeping our bodies free from disease.

As we know, no two bodies are alike, and so no diet fits all, but all bodies do share similar characteristics that set-up our framework for creating a unique diet tailored to your needs. Ayurveda characterizes these differences in “doshas.” So, that is where we will begin our Ayurveda weight loss journey.

Books We Recommend on Ayurvedic Diet and Lifestyle

But! Before we begin, these are the books we recommend for getting more in depth in your Ayurveda lifestyle and weight loss journey. Much on this free online guide we put together for you here is based on our use of these books over the last 10 or more years.

Check Price	Eat – Taste – Heal: An Ayurvedic Guidebook and Cookbook for Modern Living, by Thomas Yarema, Daniel Rhonda, and Johnny Brannigan This book still includes the science, but also includes delicious recipes, beautiful pictures and a complete guide to balancing your body type. It’s a favorite among our visual learners.
Check Price	The 3-Season Diet: Eat the Way Nature Intended: Lose Weight, Beat Food Cravings, and Get Fit by John Douillard A great introduction to how Ayurveda can help you to lose weight. This book gets more in depth than our other cookbook options. It is great for those that enjoy “nerding out” a little.
Check Price	Eat Feel Fresh: A Contemporary, Plant-Based Ayurvedic Cookbook by Sahara Rose Ketabi (Author), Deepak Chopra MD (Foreword) Not just a weight loss book, but a cookbook for everyone looking for the balance and health that can come with an Ayurvedic diet. The famous Deepak Chopra even makes an appearance in the introduction of this book! Like our other recommendations, this book also guides you through discovering your dosha (body type) and how to eat to balance it.

Body Types “Doshas”

Ayurveda is the sister science to yoga. It focuses on the root of the problem, not just the symptoms of a problem (symptoms = weight gain, energy loss, depression). Ayurveda is focused on healing and prevention. It is different than a yogic diet, which has its focus on making the body less in the awareness in order to reach enlightenment.

Ayurvedic teaching helps us to become aware of our individual body, mind and spirit and work with those elements in a very proactive manner to prevent illness. We all are different, and because of our differences we all need an individual approach to wellness and weight loss. We all have different constitutions that change throughout our lives.

Dosha Explanations

Please keep in mind as you read the dosha explanations: You can be more than one at a time! In fact, we have all three doshas in us at all times. Moreover, you probably will have one or two that speak to you more right now.

Doshas change/fluctuate over time.

Vata Dosha Qualities (Winter Type, Air Element)

Vata is the creative, free spirit in us. It is also the drying element. Moreover, we all become more Vata as we age. If Vata is out of balance, we can feel anxious or flighty. Our mind, body and spirit can become dry, brittle or fragile if vata is not balanced by our other doshas.

Body – Dry Skin/Hair/Nails, Light, Cool, Rough,, Good at quick activities (i.e. sprinting)

Mind/Spirit – Creative, Global Thinker, Changing, Daydreamer, Scattered, Nervous, Fidgety

Imbalances – Insomnia, Dryness, Constipation, Underweight, Anxiety, Fatigue, Hyperactive

Balancers- Moisture, Quiet, Grounding, Warmth, Oil, Stabilizing Routines, Sweet things,

Yoga Practice – Slow, Meditative, Grounding

Pitta Qualities (Summer Type, Fire Element)

Pittas are driven, motivated individuals that are usually leaders. A good amount of Pitta will keep your passion for life brilliant, but too much Pitta leads to frustration, anger and an out of balance life leaned toward too much work and not enough rest.

Body – Oily, Sharp, Hot, Light, Warm Body, Acidic, Strong

Mind/Spirit – Fluid, Convincing, Aggressive, Passionate, Firey, Focused, Angry, Frustrated

Imbalances- Inflammations, Acne, Rashes, Acid Reflux, Heartburn, Irritability, Aggression

Balancers- Fresh/Raw, Cooling Foods, Sweet, Bitter and Astringent Tastes, Meditation

Yoga Practice – Medium Paced, Focused, Reflective

Kapha Qualities (Spring Type, Earth/Water Element)

Kaphas are slower to react in life and in the body. Kaphas are loyal, sweet spirits that take their time making decisions, friends, etc. When out of balance, Kaphas can be lethargic and have a slowed metabolism with an excess of earth and water. Kapha bodies hold on to any extra weight so metabolism needs to be jump started with lighting the inner fire.

Body – Retains Water, Mucus, Cool, Heavy, Slow, Smooth/Thick, Good at endurance

Mind/Spirit – Static, Loyal, Generous, Compassionate, Indecisive, Slow,

Imbalances- Slow Metabolism, Congestion, Stagnation, Weight, Depression, Lethargy

Balancers- Pungent, Bitter/Astringent Foods, Activity, Heat, Drying, Lightness of Mind/Body

Yoga Practice – Invigorating, Faster Paced, Detoxifying

Weight Problems and Doshas

Typically (but not always) Kapha will be the dosha out of balance when we have excess weight. For this reason, weight loss diets in Ayurveda often focus on foods that decrease heaviness in our bodies.

What Food to Eat to Lose Weight and Balance Kapha

Here are the foods that make Kapha problems worse (aka the foods that will not help you to lose weight at all):

• Highly processed foods
• Sugar, desserts, anything sweetened (look for hidden sugars, 75%+ of processed foods have added sugars)
• Simple Carbs (especially processed ones)
• Starchy foods
• Fried Foods (especially in unnatural oils)
• Snacks (outside of meal times)

What Foods Make Kapha More Balanced (foods that help aid weight loss):

• Whole foods
• Vegetables and some fruits (if you are really trying to lose weight, focus on low sugar options)
• Complex Carbs in small portions
• Fats! Natural, not processed, fats from all whole food sources – don’t be afraid of fat. It is good for you, and it is not true that fat makes you fat.
• Proteins from unprocessed sources – organic preferably (on everything).
• Skipping meals or opting for supplemental smoothies to lead into intermittent fasting

Food Cravings

Why we crave certain foods. If you have ever been on a diet, which most of us have at some time in our life, you find you crave certain foods. If you are following a diet that is low fat you may crave French fries or ice cream. If you are following a low carb diet you crave bread or pasta. This is natural and pretty predictable because our bodies need balance and foods of all types to function properly.

We need protein, carbohydrates, fruits and vegetables and healthy fats to bring all the nutritional value to our body for digestion and metabolism. If you restrict one food group from your diet your body will miss it and tell you loudly that it needs to be brought back in to balance. This message tends to get louder and louder the more deprived your body feels and eventually when you do relent you will probably fall off of your diet and feel bad about another diet failure. The reality is your diet didn’t fail, you didn’t fail, your body just won the battle to bring itself back into balance.

The secret to avoiding cravings is to eat healthy clean foods in balance. We all need complex carbohydrates from whole grains, lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, and natural plant based fats. If we have all in balance your body will be happy, grateful and healthy!

Balancing Kapha often does mean staying away from simple carbs and focusing more on fats and proteins. However, complex carbs can help to keep you satisfied and away from the true “evils” of simple, processed carbs and sugar.

On that sugar note, sweet is hard to kick. If you need extra help getting rid of sugar from your diet, then start here.

HOW TO QUIT SUGAR – FREE 10 DAY DETOX

When We Eat

The last element to consider is when we eat. Ayurveda suggests and science has proven that our digestive system runs on a daily cycle. When we wake up in the morning, our digestive system is also waking up. It’s strong but not at its strongest. So eating a good breakfast of wholegrain or oat cereals, fruits and light proteins is a good idea to sustain us to lunch.

Our digestive process is strongest at lunch time so this is the time to eat your biggest meal of the day. Eating lots of fiber, proteins and sustaining nutrients at lunch is very important to keeping your energy up for the rest of the day. We all have a lot to do and it makes sense that this is the time when our bodies need the energy.

Note, eat without stuffing yourself, still being mindful in your eating process, but knowing that this is the time to eat what you have been craving. (By now we are thinking about good foods all the time, so we should be craving foods that are good for us.) When in maintenance phase, if you are going to eat sweet or rich foods, this is the time to eat it when your digestive system can handle it best.

Ayurvedic Intermittent Fasting for Weight Loss

Supper is the time to eat a smaller meal that will sustain you until the morning. Soups and salads are wonderful options for this time. Eating before 7 pm will insure that your digestive system will be up for the challenge, after that your digestive process slows down. I am sure you have experienced in the past eating too much late at night and then feeling gross the next day. The body just can’t handle a big digestion project like that at night and it will sit in your body until the next day.

Many generations before ours have eaten lunch as their main meals and dinner or supper as their smaller meals. It makes sense – also, think about how much money you will save if you eat out on lunch prices for your big meals and dinner prices for your smaller soup and salad meals.

When you are first starting out on your weight loss journey, begin with the small supper. Then, when you are ready, you can skip dinner altogether. This is how Ayurveda has always approached weight loss, and what we now call “intermittent fasting.”

How to Use Your Body’s Natural Rhythm to Lose Weight

• MORNING – Your cortisol starts to rise at about 4 am, which signals your body it is time to wake up. Your body wants to work on getting stronger in the morning, so this is a great time to eat protein and also to workout by doing yoga, walking or lifting weights.

• AFTERNOON – Your metabolism is at its highest from 11 am – 2 pm, so this is the BEST time to eat the MOST food of the day. Lunch should be the biggest meal to stabilize your glycemic index (blood sugar levels) so that you have consistent energy throughout your day and evening.

• EVENING – Dinner is the smallest meal of the day since the metabolism has slowed ++ Use to be called “supper” – which meant “supplemental meal” ++ Your metabolism keeps slowing down from 2 pm on, and really shuts off after 8 pm. If your metabolism did not “go to bed” then you would never sleep! You need this cycle to happen in order to sleep well. Any thing you eat after 8 pm can just sit in the stomach overnight and make you feel sluggish in the morning.

• NO SNACKING – all calories should be moved eventually into meal times so that the body is not constantly having to focus on digestion and can instead work on other important systems. This is especially important to KAPHAS because kaphas have a much slower digestive process than people with pitta or vata being stronger.

• PHASE 2: SKIP DINNER FOR WEIGHT LOSS – Since dinner is just a supplemental meal, we can eliminate it completely when possible. Maybe try only eating breakfast and lunch a couple times a week. Make sure you are eating a complete meal for lunch with healthy, flavorful foods. SLOW DOWN when eating and be completely mindful – all this will help you in being able to skip dinner. Start with just skipping dinner maybe once or twice a week, then build up to skipping more as needed.

Ayurveda Weight Loss Daily Plan

This is a starting point for you to see how your body feels, and you will adjust as you become more familiar with your body’s cues. The foods listed on your seasonal shopping list will help you to make choices resulting in weight loss and management. The foods listed are not the only foods you can eat, but they are the most balancing for your body and the season. We eat according to the spring shopping list any time we want to see even greater weight loss results regardless of season unless we start to see an imbalance in the body.

Ayurveda Weight Loss Tips and Notes

• Focus on eating protein and fat for breakfast
• Lunch is the largest meal – 60% off all calories for the day, harder to digest foods should be eaten at this time as well
• Dinner is the smallest meal of the day since the metabolism has slowed
• Limit snacking – can have small snacks in the beginning (Ayurveda wants to meet us where we are at!) but trying to get away from eating ALL DAY, limit snacks to nuts or fruits/veggies of the season
• Then, NO SNACKING – Eat only at meal times: 3x a day, then 2x a day
• Add Supplements If Needed – Trim Support for Metabolism/Ridding excess Kapha (heaviness) and Triphala for Detox/Antioxidant
• Continue hot water flush in the morning and warm water or tea throughout the day
• Continue Protein for Breakfast, Bigger Lunch, Smaller Dinner
• Remember, your body runs efficiently. Which means it needs less food to do more than the average individual. Eat to feed your cells.
• Food Focus: EAT THE SUN.
  • Focus on eating foods in this order:
    • 1. Direct: Foods that get their energy directly from the sun. (i.e. plants, nuts)
    • 2. Secondary: Foods that get their energy from group #1. (i.e. fresh meats)
    • 3. Dead: Packaged, processed foods that have lost their energy from the sun by being altered, added to and shelved for who really knows how long. (i.e. candy, canned foods, frozen dinners, long labeled boxes of food.) LIMIT or ELIMINATE these foods.
• Remember the 1/3^rd Rule:
  • When eating a meal, eat to fill 1/3rd of the stomach with food, 1/3rd with water, and 1/3rd with air (leave space for air so the stomach muscle can have room to work).

Ayurveda and Stress (A hormone discussion)

Let’s take a moment to appreciate how wonderful our human body is. We have so many chemical reactions, systems and processes that make up who we are physically and these processes have an effect on how we feel emotionally. When we treat our body lovingly and carefully, all of these systems function correctly and produce chemicals that keep us happy and healthy. When we treat our body poorly by eating incorrectly and not exercising enough, our systems are compromised by stress hormones and survival chemicals.

Why We Have to Manage Our Stress to Lose Weight

Your body will only burn fat as fuel if it thinks that life is not an emergency. This is due to your hormones. They regulate your body (and your weight) and keep you healthy. If you are stressed all the time, you will produce the hormone cortisol. Cortisol tells your body to access quick energy, so you will burn glucose as fuel. Over the years, this makes you even more insulin resistant (another hormone that regulates weight) and then it will be even more difficult to shed the pounds.

So, what to do? Make sure that you find ways to stay relaxed. You will only burn fat when your body says that it is safe. Fat has been called the “gold under the mattress” your body will only spend it as a last resort. Here are ways to lower cortisol and make your body more sensitive to insuln:

• Exercise – walking, yoga, weight lift, anything you find fun that moves you
• Deep Breathing (through the nose)
• Meditation
• Hypnosis
• Enjoying Yourself
• Being in Nature
• Massages

You have permission to treat yourself right, and make sure your weight loss efforts are not stressful – take it all in small steps.

Ayurvedic Diet for Weight Loss: Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most frequently asked Ayurvedic diet questions we receive in regards to weight loss.

Is Ayurvedic Medicine Effective for Weight Loss?

In Ayurveda, “medicine” encompasses everything we do to and put into our bodies. While supplements can be involved, our food is medicine, our breathing is medicine and our daily exercise and activity is medicine. When people are asking “does ayurvedic medicine work for weight loss?” they are usually referring to Ayurvedic supplements.

• Which Ayurvedic Medicine is Best for Weight Loss? Your food is your first medicine in Ayurveda. If you are looking for the best supplements for weight loss, then you can read about them more on our weight loss tools list.

Ayurvedic Detox for Weight Loss – What is it and Does it Work?

Ayurvedic Detoxes are very popular and also effective when done right. First, understand that your body is highly effective at detoxing itself. However, our modern lifestyle and diet can overwhelm our systems. An ayurvedic detox is more of a way to give your body a break, and let it catch up with its natural detoxing process. Detox programs typically include natural, mild, whole foods, ways to destress, and ways to help your body metabolism and eliminate properly.

Part of Ayurvedic Detoxing are the signature massages that have been preformed for hundreds of years, which leads to our next question…

Does Ayurvedic Massage Help in Weight Loss?

There are many cleansing and destressing benefits from ayurvedic massage. Some of the benefits include

• Stimulation of the lymphatic system to help with detoxing
• Reversing negative hormone cycles that are affected by stress
• Body type (dosha) balancing

All of these benefits have associations with weight loss, and can be very beneficial for staying healthy.

Conclusions and Final Thoughts

In summary, Ayurveda is the sister science to yoga that is based on prevention and living a full abundant life. Typically, the western medicinal system is based upon treating our ailments instead of looking to root causes and working towards prevention.

Next, Ayurveda sees everyone as an individual and not one size fits all. There are 3 doshas or 3 major characteristics that define our body type as well as our personalities. People may be of a predominant dosha or constitution, but all doshas have the basic elements within them. We eat foods to help us balance our doshas, and as a result, if we need to, we will lose weight.

You can do this!

There are no excuses good enough to keep you from your right to health and longevity. It is your right to feel good in your body and confident in your ability to take the best care of yourself that you can.

At Hyp-Yoga.com, we want to help get you closer each day to your ideal self using powerful tools that will GET – YOU – THERE – FASTER.

In addition to Ayurveda, check out our recommended tools in the areas of psychology, fitness and modern and ancient medicine. And I guarantee you that specifically…..through the power of yoga and hypnosis – you can lose weight, change behaviors, attract success, become a better parent … or lover… or business person … or you can just be a more alive, vibrant version of yourself

You are right where you are suppose to be. Right now. I truly believe that.

More Resources:

The post Ayurveda Weight Loss – Ultimate Guide on How to Eat to Lose Weight appeared first on Body Mind Wellness Tools.

Your essential weight loss tools, gadgets, supplements, books, foods and more. After working in health and weight loss for over 15 years, and testing for results at our centers and studios, we have a solid list of weight loss tools that actually work. Plus, they are helpful, simple to use, and clear in their function. If you are looking for our free weight loss program, please click here.

Here is what we cover. If you want to skip ahead, please click on a section link to be directed to its place on the page.

• Best Weight Loss Supplements

• Everything You Need to Go Zero Sugar

• Everything You Need to Go Low Carb

• Best Smart Scales for Weight Loss

• Best Weight Loss Tools – Hypnosis (opens on a new page)

• Best Foam Rollers for Weight Loss (opens on a new page)

Best Weight Loss Supplements

We all want a magic pill included with our weight loss tools. That would be great, but it doesn’t exist.

Here is what we do have: lifestyle changes, healthy eating habits and stress management. These are the most important aspects of your journey.

After that, there are a few things that science as told us that have correlations or supporting roles in keeping us healthy and even losing weight. Remember, these are all supports. They are supplementary to your hard work. (Hence, supplements.)

We will look at two kinds of supplements. Standard health and Ayurvedic supplements. So first, what works in our standard lexicon.

Remember, weight loss supplements are not regulated by the FDA, so make sure you that you choose carefully and research the manufactures that you use. Also, be sure to ask your doctor about your plans and do not use our recommendations as medical advice.

Fiber (+ Probiotics)

To start, fiber keeps your digestive system running smoothly, and it keeps you full longer. We should focus on eating foods that have lots of fiber in them. However, if you are looking for a way to increase your fiber intake, then adding a powder version to water or a smoothie does the trick. According to webmd, “A recent study found that overweight and obese people who took a fiber diet supplement each day reported less hunger after meals than people taking a placebo, and there was a trend for those using a fiber supplement to lose more weight.”

We are recommending a fiber product that also has probiotics – another hero of your digestive system. Make achieving gut health a priority for not just weight loss, but for life.

Probiotics 60 Billion CFU – Dr. Approved Probiotics for Women, Probiotics for Men and Adults, Natural, Shelf Stable Probiotic Supplement with Organic Prebiotic, Acidophilus Probiotic, 30 Capsules

Green Tea Extract

There are many reasons to drink green tea. To start, it has antioxidants! In addition, green tea contains catechins, moderate caffeine and theanine. Note, that more research is needed on the relationship between Green tea and weight loss. However, the research we do have has shown a positive connection between the two.

• Green tea has been said to help with weight loss metabolism and digestion support, boosting brain function, and even curbing cravings.

• We recommend drinking good quality green tea to make sure you get the best benefits. However, if you do not like the taste, you can also try a green tea extract supplement. Here are the two we recommend.

	Pique Tea Organic Green Tea Crystals Sampler – Immune Support, Gut Health, Fasting – 42 Single Serve Sticks (Pack of 3) CHECK PRICE
	Nobi Nutrition Green Tea Fat Burner – Green Tea Extract Supplement with EGCG – Diet Pills, Appetite Suppressant, Metabolism & Thermogenesis Booster – Healthy Weight Loss for Women & Men CHECK PRICE

Ayurvedic Herbs

Ayurveda is the sister science to yoga. It has been around for thousands of years. It’s main focus is to bring our bodies into balance. According to Ayurveda, if we are overweight, it is due to an imbalance in our body. These Ayurvedic herbs have been used for centuries in helping to balance our elements and achieve our best health.

Not all Ayurvedic Herb Brands are alike. We have trusted and used Banyan Botanicals at our weight loss centers and yoga studios since 2007. They have a dedication to using pure ingredients and taking care of the earth in their growing process.

For weight loss, here are the Ayurvedic herbs we suggest:

	Banyan Botanicals Sweet Ease – Certified Organic, 90 Tablets – Reduces Kapha and Promotes Healthy Blood Glucose Levels CHECK PRICE
	Banyan Botanicals Trim Support – Certified Organic, 90 Tablets – Promotes Proper Metabolic Function & Weight Management CHECK PRICE
	Banyan Botanicals Triphala – USDA Organic, 90 Tablets – Balancing Formula for Detoxification & Rejuvenation CHECK PRICE

What you need to go ZERO SUGAR

If you are embarking on a zero sugar weight loss (or just get healthy) journey, then these tools will help you be successful.

Stop Eating Sugar Books

To begin, there are two books I recommend to help you stop eating sugar and entertain you along the way. The first, Year of No Sugar, is a memoir by Even Schuab that details her family’s sugarless adventure. There are lots of inspirational and relatable stories woven along with helpful advice and statistics.

The second, I Quit Sugar, is more of a guide with steps, recipes and tools for quitting sugar and eating healthier in general. These two books compliment each other. I read both, and got different tools and information from both books. (In addition, we have a free sugar detox guide on our website here!)

	THE BOOKS: Year of No Sugar: A Memoir Paperback – April 8, 2014 by Eve Schaub (Author) – CLICK TO CHECK PRICE
	I Quit Sugar: Your Complete 8-Week Detox Program and Cookbook Paperback – April 8, 2014 by Sarah Wilson (Author)- CLICK TO CHECK PRICE

Zero Sugar Cooking/Eating Supplies

There is one area you really need to be careful with when it comes to reducing sugar: artificial sweeteners. Many of these sweeteners have weird chemical make-ups, or even if they are “natural” your body may still treat them the same as sugar. If the sweetener makes your blood sugar rise or stimulates insulin production, then there is not a whole lot of benefit to using it.

Science is still studying how foods affect our insulin levels. However, we do know that insulin is a determining hormone in how we store or burn fat. So, we want to keep it down as much as we can.

If you are looking for a protein powder that tastes okay but doesn’t have sweeteners, we suggest starting with an unflavored protein powder. Then, you can add pure, powdered vanilla to it in your drink or smoothie if you like that vanilla protein powder taste.

	Cook’s Premium Quality Pure Vanilla Powder, 4.5 oz. – Check Price
	NOW Sports Grass-Fed Whey Protein Isolate Unflavored Powder – Check Price

Larabar Gluten Free, No Sugar Added

If you are just trying to go sugar free, but are not concerned as much about carbs, then here is a bar suggestion. We like the Larabars that have just a few ingredients and no added sugars. There are lots of different flavors to try, but stay away from anything with “juice concentrate” it it. It’s just added sugar. Maybe start with Applepie or Banana Bread. (Blueberry has juice concentrate in it, which we count as added sugar).

CHECK PRICE

What you need to go Lose Weight and go LOW CARB

Going low carb isn’t just a fad, it is a lifestyle choice that some people choose full-time and some choose seasonally. It is a healthy way to lose weight for most people and it pairs easily with cutting out sugar from your diet.

Here are the tools that will make a low carb diet easier for you.

Best Low Carb and Weight Loss Books

First, take a look at the recommended “how to eliminate sugar” books if you have not already. Then, here are a few for you to add in for weight loss and succeeding at a low carb lifestyle.

Gary Taubes – Why We Get Fat: And What To Do About It

CHECK PRICE HERE

This book really helps. It was my first introduction to the “why” behind how we get fat and how we can lose weight. Together, my husband and I lost over 140 lbs after our second child. That was three years ago, and we are still healthy and fit. It is a statistical anomaly to be able to keep the weight off, 3 years after losing it. However, it doesn’t have to be. I am confident that Gary Taubes book, Why We Get Fat and What to Do About it can help you too.

The Obesity Code By Jason Fung

If you are someone who needs to understand the science behind why things work, then this is your book. I have read this book at least twice. It is fascinating. It will teach you not just how to lose weight, but how to use your biology to your advantage to keep it off.

The Obesity Code introduces the concept of your body having a “set point.” If you want to keep the weight you lose off, you must first reset your weight’s set point. Otherwise, your body will just try to go back to its previous weight. You know what? The title is right. After reading this book, you will understand how to “unlock” the secrets of weight loss. Dr. Jason Fung is the real deal.

In addition, The Obesity Code has a Cookbook Edition. If you would rather get the condensed version of the science in the Obesity Code original book, plus get a bunch of actually do-able, delicious recipes, then opt for the Cookbook accompanying book. Personally, I read both. They compliment each other well. I have a friend who’s husband read the original book, and she read the cookbook. It fit their personalities, and they both got what they needed to make lifestyle changes and lose weight.

CHECK PRICE HERE	The Obesity Code: Unlocking the Secrets of Weight Loss (The Wellness Code Series Book 1) By Dr. Jason Fung
CHECK PRICE HERE	The Obesity Code Cookbook: Recipes to Help You Manage Insulin, Lose Weight, and Improve Your Health (The Wellness Code) By Jason Fung

Low Carb Supplies

If you are planning on eating low carb, or embarking on a Keto diet, then these are the supplies we recommend to make your experience easier.

Our Recommended MCT Oil

MCT Oil is a staple of the ketogenic diet. It is said to help you achieve ketosis faster when paired with a keto diet. (Ketosis is a state where your body burns fat for fuel – which is good for weight loss.) It is tasteless, and you can put it with your coffee, smoothies or other drinks.

Premium MCT Oil derived only from Coconut Oil – 32oz BPA free bottle | Ketogenic and Paleo diet approved ~ Non-GMO Project Verified  – Sports Research

Here are some of our other go-to keto and low carb essentials:

	Swad Butter Ghee (Clarified Butter), 16.0 Ounce – Higher smoke point for healthier low-carb cooking with healthy fats
	Blue Diamond Almond Flour, 3 lbs. – Low carb baking staple
	Anthony’s Organic Coconut Flour (4lb) Gluten Free & Non-GMO – Another low carb baking staple
	Nurse Hatty Ketone Strips – For testing to see if you are in Ketosis.
	Swerve Sweetener, Bakers Bundle, Granular and Confectioners, 12 Ounce, pack of 2 (Ethritol) – Sugar Replacement

Best Scale for Weight Loss – Smart Scales

Weight loss tools can make the journey fun! Especially for people that love to track and observe results in real numbers. These new generation scales let you do just that. We included our favorites. They are easy to use, integrate simply with your phone and are all not too expensive. All of them are highly rated as well.

Wyze Scale, Bluetooth Body Fat Scale and Body Weight Composition BMI Smart Scale, Digital Display, Heart Rate Monitor Tracker, Wireless Body Fat Percentage Tracker, Analyze with Smartphone App, Black

Very reasonably priced scale for all it tracks: Weight, Body Fat %, Heart Rate, Lean Body Mass, BMI, Muscle Mass, Visceral Fat, Basal Metabolic Rate, Bone Mass, Metabolic Age, Protein level, and Body Water %. The heart rate tracking is a unique feature.

Check Price

YUNMAI Premium Smart Scale – Body Fat Scale with New Free APP & Body Composition Monitor with Extra Large Display

A bit for expensive than the first scale, it tracks 10 features and the Yunmai App Syncs with Apple Health, Fitbit and Google Fit. It is also on the FDA’s approved list.

Check Price

WITHINGS Body+ – Digital Wi-Fi Smart Scale with Automatic Smartphone App Sync, Full Body Composition Including, Body Fat, BMI, Water Percentage, Muscle & Bone Mass, with Pregnancy Tracker & Baby Mode

A great scale for tracking weight loss and also pregnancy progress! It is a best selling scale and on the upper end of our price list.

Check Price

FitTrack Dara Smart BMI Digital Scale – Measure Weight and Body Fat – Most Accurate Bluetooth Glass Bathroom Scale

Also a little more expensive. However, it tracks 17 different measurements and can have up to 8 different users. It also looks nice!

Check Price

RENPHO Body Fat Scale Smart BMI Scale Digital Bathroom Wireless Weight Scale, Body Composition Analyzer with Smartphone App sync with Bluetooth, 396 lbs – Black

This scale is one of the least expensive options. It can accommodate up to 396 lbs and still tracks 13 essential measurements.

Check Price

Conclusions

We know, weight loss is not easy. However, we hope these tools will help! This is not just a thrown together list. This is a strategic list of what has actually helped us and our clients to see real results over the years. We hope you will enjoy them too.

The post Weight Loss Tools: Your Ultimate List for Best Results appeared first on Body Mind Wellness Tools.

Is there a relationship between sleep and weight loss? Yes, a very important one.

Your body needs 7 to 9 hours of good, uninterrupted sleep each night. Researchers and sleep experts all agree that sleep is a powerful regulator of our hormones. As a result, your sleep has a significant part in your wellness and efforts to stay healthy or even lose weight.

How Sleep Affects Hormones

Sleep specifically impacts two of our hormones that are involved with our eating behaviors: Ghrelin and Leptin. You have probably heard of these hormones if you have ever asked yourself the question, “Why am I not losing weight?”

• Leptin tells our brain and body when we are full.

• Gherlin tells our brain and body when we are hungry.

When your body does not get enough sleep, then your Gherlin hormones will increase. As a result, you will feel hungry more often.

Simultaneously, when you are sleep deprived, your leptin levels decrease. This leaves your body and mind feeling like you are not full, even after eating enough food. It often leads to snacking and craving certain foods. (For example, comfort foods, junk foods, and of course… sugar.)

As you can see, not getting enough sleep can lead to a damaging cocktail of hormones released into your body that can derail the best, healthy eating plans.

In addition to regulating eating hormones, this sleep rhythm is important to so many different processes in your body and brain. Sleep allows us to heal and reprogram for the next day, so we are our most productive and happy selves.

Make Sleep a Priority for Weight Loss and Health

Make sleep a priority. In order to keep your hormones balanced and your cravings low, we need to make sleep a priority. Try your best to go to sleep at the same time each night, and to wake up the same time each morning. Also, avoid things that can disrupt your sleep. For example, avoid the blue lights emitted by TV, laptops, phones, tablets, etc. right before bed. Additionally, avoid eating a few hours before bed to help you fall asleep faster.

If you need some help with falling asleep, try our guided meditation for sleeping better!

The post Sleep and Weight Loss – What is the Relationship? appeared first on Body Mind Wellness Tools.

Yes. Journaling is good for you. Journaling is good for stress relief, processing, making changes and reaching goals, and appreciating your life more. Let’s look at why journaling is healthy, and how you can get started journaling today.

Transformational Journaling

The benefits of journaling are so numerous that many books have been written about it. One of the most basic benefits to a person’s life is that it has been proven that people who write down what they eat (the food journal) lose twice as much weight. For many of us, that is reason enough to journal. In addition by jotting down how you may be feeling at the times that you eat, or if you have any cravings, etc., it also becomes a powerful tool to help you overcome the various aspects of emotional eating (one of the most overwhelming reasons for overeating).

Journaling is a wonderful form of stress relief and as we actually write down our problems, many times as we look at our written words, the answers to our problems become more readily apparent. An additional benefit of the stress relief that journaling provides is that it strengthens the immune system thereby preventing many illnesses.

How to Get Started

All you need to journal is paper and pen or pencil. This can be as simple as a scratch pad and pen or as fancy as a beautiful leather journal and fountain pen. All that matters is that you write down your thoughts. Don’t be all or nothing. It’s ok to journal faithfully for 2 months, to be followed with nothing for 2 weeks or even months. The key is to pick it up again and start writing. It’s time to begin reaping the benefits of this simple practice.

Something else I like to do is to pick up the journals of famous people or the loved ones of famous people in the library. I’m currently reading the diaries of Sofia Tolstoy. If you’ve ever read Anna Karenina or War and Peace you will be astounded by the journal entries of Tolstoy’s wife who wrote and edited every word of his extremely long and detailed manuscripts. One of the couples major ways of communicating in their early years was by reading each other journals. That’s a thought, isn’t it?

The Power of the Gratitude Journal

Gratitude journals are becoming more and more popular as people realize that when they regularly write down the things that they are grateful for, they BECOME grateful. Grateful people are happier, more joyful people.

Moreover, it has been proven that the practice of gratitude can change your life. Studies have shown that writing down just 3 things that you are thankful for daily can increase your happiness quotient significantly. Gratitude makes you see life in a whole new light. It opens you up to the abundant life. There is an ancient spiritual law that the more you are grateful for the things you have, the more you will receive.

Gratitude is very important to living successfully in the here and now…in this present moment. Gratitude brings health to your mind and to your body. Cultivate the habit of writing in your daily gratitude journal. This one act can make an enormous difference in your life. Do you have enough to eat? A home to live in? Friends, family, good health? Look for the small things that make your life abundant. When we start teaching ourselves to be grateful for even the smallest moments in our life, we become more appreciative of our life as a whole.

Start Your Gratitude Journal

Select a journal and start your own Gratitude Journal. Each day, faithfully write down at least 3 things that you are grateful for. As you begin writing, you will be amazed at the abundance of blessings in your life. Meditate on or say a prayer of thanksgiving for the things that you have, and you will slowly see yourself changing to a more satisfied and fulfilled individual.

Final Thoughts on Is Journaling Good for You

In yoga we set goals, then let them go, releasing them to God or the universe. Make it your goal to journal, and then try to be patient with yourself as you work on developing the habit. As we journal, it is amazing to look back on our journals and see how these goals have come to fruition on our journey.

There are so many reasons to journal and many books have been written on this subject. I guess in conclusion my question is: “Why would anybody NOT journal?”

The post Is Journaling Good for You appeared first on Body Mind Wellness Tools.

Water is an important, if not obvious, part of staying healthy and functioning properly. However, the answer to the frequently asked question, for weight loss how much water should I drink, may not be as obvious of an answer.

The Magic of Water = Drink Water to Drop Weight

Are you really hungry or are you thirsty? Most of us are dehydrated and do not take in an adequate amount of water each day. Our body is telling us to drink more water but we mistake thirst for hunger.

• We should be taking in one ounce of water for every kilogram of body weight.

• Translation –  if you weigh 150lbs you are 68kg so you should be drinking 68 ounces or 8 glasses of water per day.

The next time you feel hungry try drinking a large glass of water first. Wait 10 minutes and you probably find that you are satisfied. Also drink a large glass of room temperature or warm water 20 minutes before a meal. It will help to fill your stomach up and give you a sensation of fullness more quickly as you eat.

Action Steps

• Drink one large glass of HOT water every morning before you do anything else.

• Hot water helps you flush your kidneys and opens up the digestive process for business. This is a simple first step in line with Ayurveda (our sister science to yoga.) Warm water is also very calming to your body, which will help you relax and keep your stress hormones down.

• Proper assimilation and elimination = weight loss!

Water Weight Loss Drink Recipes

When you are trying to lose weight, there a a few water recipes that can help you enjoy the experience of drinking your water.

• Water mixed with lemon and cayenne: Your warm water in the morning will taste great with one shake of cayenne and juice from half a small lemon mixed together. You will also get some Vitamin C and Potassium from the lemon. The spicy concoction is said to help wake up your body’s metabolism and help flush out the toxins so you can start your day fresh!

• Water with cucumber and mint: For a more cooling and refreshing drink, try chopping up some mint and cucumbers and dropping them in a pitcher of water. You can have them sit in the fridge for a few hours to infuse the flavors before enjoying it.

• So many different sparkling waters: These last few years have blessed us with a plethora of choices when it comes to sparkling waters (think la croix, and the likes). These are great choices to satisfy a craving since they have interesting flavored options that are sugar-free, calorie free and sodium free.

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Just like our hypnosis tools or EFT, an NLP Weight Loss Script can offer another door into our subconscious mind. NLP allows us to change unwanted behaviors with self-reprogramming. It accomplishes this with a very focused type of visualization. Targeting our negative beliefs and allowing us the opportunity to replace them with positive beliefs, thoughts and habit.

We have a few different NLP inspired weight loss scripts we have been using through the years with our clients. We will get to those next. However, first we must address, what is NLP? (For those that might need an introduction, or even a refresher.

What is Neurolinguistic Programing? (What is NLP?)

If you are new to NLP, you many be wondering just, what is Neuro-Linguistic Programming? NLP is a behavioral technology, which simply means that it is a set of guiding principles, attitudes, and techniques about real-life behavior, and not a removed, scientific theorem.

It allows you to change, adopt or eliminate behaviors, as you desire, and gives you the ability to choose your mental, emotional, and physical states of well-being. NLP is a very “pragmatic technology based on an ability to produce your desired results.” As a result, it allows you to become proficient at creating your future!¹

1What is NLP

We have two NLP Weight Loss Scripts for you. Note, that they are inspired by NLP and have been adopted by NLP trained professionals for our weight loss program needs for behavior change.

Transcendence Circle – An NLP Inspired Weight Loss Script

Feel free to use your own words and use this as a guide. The script is worded for working with a small group of people, but you can adopt it for yourself or for an individual session.

Standing straight and tall with your chest open and arms relaxed (in yoga’s mountain pose). Taking in our next deep easy breath and allowing our exhale to relax our entire body. We are moving into our Transcendence Circle. This is an empowering technique that uses Neuro-linguistic Programing (NLP) to let you train your mind to see and feel yourself as you would like to be – your ideal self.

I know that we all have excellent imaginations. So let’s use them to aid in our weight loss efforts. So close your eyes and we’ll begin. Picture or imagine a circle right in front of you. Picture your circle big enough so that you could fit inside it. In that circle is all the tools, emotions and visions you will need to bring yourself to your ideal you.

Imagine first what the circle looks like – notice its color, shape, movement, its feelings and sounds. Now imagine that inside that circle is a vision of your ideal self. Imagine what your ideal self would look like, what it feels like, the emotions it has. Now mix all those visions and feelings into your circle so it all becomes part of the circle. So that when we step into the circle in a moment you can take on all these ideal qualities at once. Good.

On the next breath, we’re stepping into the circle drawing our fingers together into our hearts in prayer (or another mudra – hand placement – of your choice). Stepping in NOW. Experiencing our transcendence circle and allowing ourselves to take on all the qualities of our ideal self. Notice the wonderful feeling of your ideal self empowering you with the tools to bring our vision to a reality. Good. Stepping out.

Let’s do that again. On the next breath, we’re stepping into the circle drawing our fingers together into our hearts in prayer (or another mudra – hand placement – of your choice).

Feeling strong, capable, slim, beautiful (or handsome). Keeping our anchor mudra (hands) together this time as we step out – keeping all the circle’s power in our hands and with us always. Let’s bring that empowerment to our hearts (bring hands to heart). Good. Relaxing.

Now just drawing our hands together into our anchor mudra and still experiencing the power of your ideal self. Relaxing. Bringing this anchor mudra with you and using it though out your day whenever you need inspiration or the strength of your ideal self. Good.

NLP Weight Loss Script for Getting Rid of a Food Craving

• Feel free to use your own words and use this as a guide. We wrote this script so you can do it on yourself (as well as with a client if you are a weight loss coach). We have you read, then close your eyes and do it. So, feel free to give a try by yourself!

• Cravings for SPECIFIC foods are totally emotionally based. When your body is hungry, you will not crave only a specific food (like chocolate or pizza) you will crave food in general. In other words, true hunger is open to options. This script will help you to pre-emptively get rid of one of your routine comfort foods.

• Remember, this script is something you do not in the heat of the moment, but to beat a craving before it even happens. If you are actually in the moment of a craving, then we suggest using the EFT tapping technique. (The EFT tool helps you to fight the cravings that come on like waves.)

• You can use any visualizations that you find disgusting such as maggots, rotten meat, whatever is the most repelling thing you can think of – for liquids try putting in other gross liquids.

This NLP Weight Loss Script helps you turn off a specific food craving.

To start, think of a food that you know is bad for your body. Don’t think of your favorite dessert, but just a “junk” food that you automatically reach for at times that you know you should not. For example, if you get home from work and automatically reach for potato chips – this would be a good food habit to replace. A food you would not want to choose is a food you absolutely adore but only get a couple times a year.

Close your eyes and picture the food that you would like to replace; notice where this food is located in your mind. Notice how it looks and smells. Then open your eyes. Go ahead and do this…

Now close your eyes again and this time picture _________. (Insert your item that disgusts you.) For example, picture rotten meat that has been sitting in the sun and it so smelly and utterly disgusting. Put this gross image in a different location but still in front of you in your mind’s eye. Go ahead and do this…

Finally, close your eyes again and picture both images at the same time. They will be in their respective locations where you first imagined them. You will now begin to move the _____ (disgusting thing, i.e. stinky meat) over to the food you choose and move it on top of the food. Let them begin to merge into one image until the food takes on ALL of the qualities of the stinky, gross meat (or other visual you picked).

Open your eyes when you are done experiencing this terrible, smelly image. Go ahead and do this…

Now repeat this procedure a few times in a row if needed. In addition, you can repeat this daily for as long as you need to. Then, use it again on another junk food you want to get rid of.

Final Thoughts on our NLP Weight Loss Scripts

NLP has a thousand different applications. It is a fascinating “brain hack” that people all over the world use to change behaviors. As an addition to hypnosis, and our other behavior changing tools, you can take your weight loss efforts to the next level.

Further Reading and Other Tools:

• Holistic Weight Loss Program

• Emotional Freedom Technique – EFT for Weight Loss

• Hypnosis Scripts for Hypnotists / Hypnotherapists

• Five Powerful Weight Loss Tips

• How to Quit Sugar

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Reducing Food Cravings

Now what is EFT Weight Loss? At Hyp-Yoga.com, we draw on a variety of techniques to aid us in our mind/body journey to weight loss including EFT weight loss tools and tapping techniques.

The mind/body connection is powerful and thanks to experts over thousands of years reaching beyond what is considered conventional knowledge we have a variety of different tools to work with to help us be successful in aligning our mind’s wants with our actual behaviors. EFT falls along the same lines as self-hypnosis. It is a tool to help you change your thought patterns and shape your subconscious mind.

EFT or the Emotional Freedom Technique is especially powerful in helping us to curb food cravings.

Emotional Freedom Technique Founder

Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT) was created by Gary Craig in the mid 1990s, and is a psychotherapeutic alternative medicine tool based on a theory that negative emotions are caused by disturbances in the body’s energy field and that tapping on the meridians while thinking of a negative emotion alters the body’s energy field, restoring it to “balance.”¹

Free Your Mind, and Weight Loss will Follow

For our purposes, we will be dealing with a tapping technique that will if anything serve as a way to refocus your mind and free you for other more healthy tasks.

Tapping Away a Craving – EFT Weight Loss Script

Here is the technique to use when you feel like you are starting a craving. To practice, think about this craving and the emotions with it, then start this tapping pattern below:

Use this sequence in your day whenever you have a craving. Cravings come like waves, and EFT gives you a powerful tool to subdue the wave, and then move on with your life.

At the end of your tapping you will feel relief from your craving. If you need more reinforcement, you can do the sequence again.

If you need more information on EFT, please start here.

We use EFT and other powerful behavior change tools in our free, Online Weight Loss Program.

You can also compliment your work with EFT, with our Hypnosis Audio Scripts for Weight Loss.

1Wikipedia 2008, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Emotional_Freedom_Techniques

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