Alternative Approaches to Weight Loss

The problem of being overweight is mainly caused by poor eating habits. There are many ways, conventional as well as non-conventional, that can help you lose weight. These ways work on a simple principle - burn more calories than what you ingest. However, not all of these methods have the same level of success rates. The alternative natural weight loss methods are more popular than ever, mainly due to the fact that these are considered as safe options. So let us take a look at some of the alternative ways of managing your weight:

• Hypnosis: Hypnosis is a highly effective yet simple method of increasing willpower. The process helps people change their behavior patterns that cause them to remain overweight, such as emotional eating. In other words, one needs to mentally rehearse on how he would react to food and exercises. Hypnotherapy works by tapping into the subconscious mind, and helps people to overcome eating addictions. It may help you lose extra weight when used along with other weight-loss methods, such as diet and exercise. Many studies have shown an average weight loss of about 6 pounds (around 2.7 kg) through hypnosis, but the quality of some of these studies has been questioned. Also, hynosis is often combined with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as an adjunct therapy for weight loss. A study conducted in 1996 found that people using both treatments lost more weight than people using CBT alone.
• Acupressure: Using acupressure for weight loss is easy. There are some key points in your body that are in direct relation with the hunger center of your brain. So by simply massaging these key points with your finger tips, you can stop these urges from reaching your brain. So acupressure acts as an appetite-control mechanism. A 24-week study conducted in 2007 showed that the participants, who adopted this technique, experienced a greater amount of weight loss (around 1.2 kg) in comparison to the ones who sought help from a support group. However, further research is needed to support acupressure as an effective weight loss method.
• Acupuncture: Acupuncture is a form of Chinese medical treatment that involves insertion of very fine sterile needles into the skin at specific points. It is based on the belief that living beings have a vital energy, called "Qi", that circulates through twelve invisible energy lines known as meridians on the body. Stimulation of the appropriate acu-points through acupuncture treatments helps remove blockages in the flow of Qi, thereby restoring health and balance to the body. Acupuncture promotes weight loss by suppressing appetite, boosting metabolism, and reducing stress. Acupuncture works by incorporating a feeling of relaxation. This proves to be useful when you are a victim of emotional overeating.
• Ayurveda: Ayurveda, the healing system of India, centers on a person's constitution, their "dosha", which is split into three types: Vata, Pitta and Kapha. According to Ayurveda, everybody is composed of all three doshas, but usually 1 or 2 are dominant in a given individual. Many factors can disturb the dosha balance, such as stress, an unhealthy diet, the weather, and strained family relationships. This imbalance leads to various diseases and illness, including weight gain. The foods has the power to increase/decrease these elements to bring harmony and balance between body, mind, and spirit. For weight loss, an ayurvedic practitioner will probably recommend specific foods to rebalance your doshas. For example, ginger is considered a herb which can increase the pitta power so a person with weak pitta (a weak digestion) is advised to take ginger.
• Meditation: Meditation has a similarity with mindfulness. When you eat mindfully and savor each bite, you achieve a feeling of fullness very soon. Mindfulness helps amplify the volume of your body's cues so you can hear loud and clear when you are hungry and full. Meditation makes you relax and increase your mindfulness by allowing you to focus your attention. It increases self-awareness and will power, so you're less likely to succumb to emotional eating when you're practicing meditation.
• Qigong: Qi Gong (pronounced Chi Kung) is an ancient Chinese system of prescribed physical exercises or movements performed in a meditative state. It is known to improve digestion and overall health. In Qi Gong, people learn exercises combining mind, body and movement to unify and cleanse "Qi" (a vital life force in the body). This brings about a harmonization in the systems of the body. Your body gets to understand its requirements better and you tend to get more satisfaction from what you eat, so your intake decreases.

In short, you don't have to go on crash diets and do endless amount of cardio in order to achieve weight loss. Alternative therapies, like the ones mentioned above, can also help you to lose weight and guide you toward a much healthier, happier and joy-filled life.