Constant Health Challenge Day 4: Pick a Mindfulness Practice
Find a Mindfulness Practice That Fits Your Style
The diligent among our members may remember our crash-course in mindfulness newsletter back in January. No shame here – we’re big on recycling. So, why are we so intent on persuading you all to flirt with mindfulness techniques? Just look at the news: Studies continue to show remarkable health benefits.
Research supporting the benefits of mindfulness practices for emotional and physical health continues to inundate scientific journals and news outlets alike. Focused on creating an awareness of the present moment,
mindfulness practices come in countless shapes and forms dating back over 2,500 years.
Some of you may dismiss mindfulness as “not my thing,” yet most of you love good science. So hear us out – mindfulness practices have been proven to decrease over-active inflammatory genes, lower the risk of cardiovascular and Alzheimer’s disease, bolster creativity and compassion and more.
Today, isolate an area of your life that could use a bit more attention (think smarter eating habits, improved moods, reduced stress, chronic pain relief) and pick a practice tailored to your specific goals. You can take the first step now (it can be as simple as pausing for 10 seconds to close your eyes and take a deep breath!).
To help you, we’ve created resources for a variety of common concerns. Click here to take the first step toward a more mindful life.
Mindfulness for Weight Loss
Is weight loss where you want to focus your attention? Often, it’s not just about what you eat, but how you eat it. Mindful eating is grounded foremost in observation (of the textures, smells, colors, shapes, and flavors of your food) and turning off distractions (like the television, eating while driving, or multi-tasking). By slowing down and chewing food fully, you allow the body to begin digesting while you are eating. The result? Hormonal signals between the brain and belly fire off, alerting you to fullness before you over-eat.
- To start eating mindfully, try these tips:
- Take small bites and chew completely.
- Eat with your non-dominant hand or use chopsticks to slow you down.
- Take 20 minutes to eat a meal.
- Before snacking, evaluate whether or not you’re actually hungry.
- Make breakfast your biggest meal.
By recognizing the connection between feelings and food, you can positively alter your relationship to what’s on your plate. Additionally, heightened cortisol (stress hormone) levels have been linked to increased intake of sugary, fattening foods in addition to elevated risk of obesity. When we become less reactive and more emotionally stable, our minds open up to good choices.
Resources:
- Mindful Eating May Help with Weight Loss
- 5 Tips for Getting Started with Mindful Eating
- 7 Proven Tips for Weight Loss Success
- Stress Reduction and Mindful Eating Curb Weight Gain
- Love What You Eat
Want to uncover how you can use mindfulness to ease chronic pain, cope with cancer, calm anxiety and depression, quell job-related stress, become more compassionate, and more? Click here for detailed strategies for reaching your goals with the help of mindfulness.
Ahh…the power of a deep breath and a little self-love. We hope you found a mindfulness practice that you can incorporate into your daily routine with ease. Thanks for taking today’s Step Toward Constant Health! Keep up the good work!
Remember, each time you check in with us on social media or write to us equals another contest entry for you! You can either upload a contest-relevant photo to Facebook using the tags Our Health Co-op and #constanthealthchallenge, upload a photo to Instagram using the tags @cellnutritionals and #constanthealthchallenge, or write to our Challenge coach Hillary (our marketing manager) at hillary@cellnutritionals.com and tell her about your progress and experience completing the different steps.